Replacing radiator core preventatively?

I've had 2 leaks on my '83 over 20 years. both were pinhole in the top tank. The core was and is fine.
If it's been pressure tested, should be fine.
It's not a terrible job pulling the radiator. Getting it past the A/C radiator is the toughest part. pulling the hood helps, but isn't necessary.

 

It isnt something you can't do later if you want. It's an easy R&R in the garage. No big deal.

 

Not replacing something that is not broken does not equate to lazy or cheap.

 

Invest the money in some gas and a road trip!

 

If the existing radiator core is original I would change it out without discussion. You can get a modern core with slightly higher efficiency and close to same look and drive happily the next many years. The radiator is a wear part and the efficiency drops over time and the solder will eventually give up and leak. Classical Ferrari’s are prone to overhead and one of the reasons are often old radiators with reduced capacities. Your biggest problem may be to find a shop you can trust the work… accuracy is a must to ensure fitment.

best, Peter

 

It will be. But I don't blame you for waiting till it does.

 

The like from rifledriver on changing it out counts for a couple votes. Maybe more than a couple.

 

Agree on not spending money unnecessarily, but you've already got more than your money's worth out of the old lump. Replace it and enjoy some extra peace of mind...

Signed: The Guy Whose Radiator Failed Suddenly

 

To the C-Bus OP: Maybe a decade ago I had my OEM radiator re-cored by Hendricks Radiator on Morse Road, pretty close to the Cleveland Avenue area, due to a leak. They kept the top and bottom "shells" and inserted a new core, so the radiator pretty much still looked OEM. The end result was that the car ran notably cooler, based upon my VDO water temp dash gauge (far more accurate than the OEM Veglia gauge ... but that's already been discussed in another thread).

I don't know if Hendricks is still in business here or not, but I agree with those folks who suggest doing a pre-emptive strike "as long as you are at it" and to either replace or re-core your now 40+ year radiator.

Do it once, do it right.

DM

 

I was told by another F guru that if you change radiator core, make sure to also keep and reuse the original top and bottom tanks because they are baffled or has chambers inside, it’s not just an empty tank.

 

Radiator shops can disassemble and reassemble a radiator and it can look untouched.

I had a minor leak at the top of my radiator so brought it in for repair. Despite me thinking my car cooled satisfactorily (that is, at the poor level so often complained about here), the shop reported that about 50% of the passages were plugged. I was surprised. Fortunately, in my case, the shop was able to “rod” all of the passageways and save my factory core. The shop (San Jose Radiator) does a lot of vintage Ferrari rads and said my case was rare; more often they need to replace to core.

My point being, after a bit of a war story ramble, that your radiator might be in worse shape than you believe and a good shop and open it up and either fix it or confirm it was good without affecting its appearance.

 

Highly recommend replacing the core or using an upgraded Radiator. I did this on my 308 - and it was a world of difference ... no more watching the temp gauge as it goes past 195 ... etc.... back then it was $500 - if its $1000 today totally worth it.

 

I think I paid $1200 earlier this year for Wizard aluminum radiator. Don't buy the extra thick or heavy duty model or you will need to remove the spare wheel tub to make it fit.

 

The original radiator cores on these cars have very thin passages that can easily clog over time especially if the coolant is not replaced often or the car sits a lot. If the records are not really good showing the coolant history I would change the radiator core. These cars often have a reputation of over heating but it is nonsense. With a good rad they cool perfectly well even in the hottest of weather.

Don't bother with having the radiator boiled as the passages are much smaller than a regular radiator making it a waste of time. As Peter said the big problem is finding a competent rad shop to build you a new rad as accuracy is very important for the rad to fit correctly.

 

I think Nick Forza’s aluminum radiator is the same price except Nick Forza is plug and play and very well designed, really made to fit the 308.

 

The Wizard radiator is plug and play as well. Just not the extra thick model.

 

BTW- Doesn't Wizard make Nick's radiators? I know they make one for another vendor.

 

Ron, I’m not really sure who makes Forza’s radiator but here’s the website.
https://www.nicksforzaferrari.net/nff-performance-radiators.html

 

Well it has Wizard Cooling engraved onto the top of it so pretty clear who makes them. It also came straight from NY even though my payment went to NFF.