weld on aluminum radiator

HISSIN50 · Jun 7, 2005

Hello,

Got a quick one for y'all. I just got an aluminum radiator and was wondering how clean the welds on yours look. Some are perfect - nice rows of overlapping half circles but others are not quite so pretty (some are a little irregular and there are a couple of burn marks on the adjacent aluminum). I am pretty anal about this kind of stuff and just wondering if this is typical or need for concern. These radiators dont come with much of a warranty period.

Also, near the bottom hose bung is an arrow drawn in marker. I am thinking perhaps something was found in QC or testing and it was rewelded. Should I be worried? I would do pics if i could.

Thanks for any thoughts.

Rick 91GT · Jun 7, 2005

Most I have seen and recieved have been pretty good as far as the weld. Sometimes tight area and corners are not perfect but still very nice. I understand how much of a PIA it can be in those areas since I weld as well..

What brand is it? Definitly sounds like they caught a spot that failed the pressure check, you could have it pressure checked cheap at a local rad shop.

NosPony · Jun 7, 2005

I got a Ron Davis for my 89 coupe and the welds were perfect. Great quality IMO.

srothfuss · Jun 7, 2005

If it looks strange or you are unsure, I would have it pressure tested just to make sure that it's safe... There isn't anything worse than working with coolant (save for gear lube.)

Rick 91GT · Jun 7, 2005

NosPony said:
I got a Ron Davis for my 89 coupe and the welds were perfect. Great quality IMO.

I agree I've run them in the past, custom and standard units, very nice piece

HISSIN50 · Jun 7, 2005

Thanks guys. It is a 26 X 19" Griffin (for the 94GT). When I got the radiator from the Brown truck guy, I was in the middle of laying tile and must have been jaided.

I took a better look at it shortly ago and it really does not look as bad as I thought. Rick - yeah the welds are just not as pretty in some spots. I was more worried about the burn spots but I dont know how they even weld aluminum that thin - I might just have been worried about nothing (the black spots are pretty small).

There is good weld coverage, it is just that some parts have perfect weld laid down and some dont. The perfect weld might have provided too much contrast (I wanted to ask - it would be much easier to make them send a new one if I do it before installling it). If everyone had said all their welds looked like rows of tiny nickels, I would have gone

stang22 · Jun 7, 2005

JT, it sounds like it is defective. Just send it to me!

Tim

DMAN302 · Jun 7, 2005

Tim was just stating earlier to me that he was perfectly happy with his stock rad...I would suggest you save yourself the anxiety and worry over this suspect pc...send it my way and ease your mind.

stang22 · Jun 7, 2005

DMAN302 said:
Tim was just stating earlier to me that he was perfectly happy with his stock rad...I would suggest you save yourself the anxiety and worry over this suspect pc...send it my way and ease your mind.

Dang, you got me figured out!

HISSIN50 · Jun 7, 2005

Gee thanks guys - I really appreciate all the courteous thoughts.

I can actually just install it for Tim when I am lookin' after his car while he is overseas.

Derek, I am not sure if you will want it. I just sent Rick a couple pics (Rick, if you have time to check them out and let me know, I would be much obliged!).

I have never had an alum radiator before (well the stock radiator has an alum coil, but it is HEAVY and thick). I just dont know what is normal.

stang22 · Jun 7, 2005

HISSIN50 said:
Gee thanks guys - I really appreciate all the courteous thoughts.

I can actually just install it for Tim when I am lookin' after his car while he is overseas.

JT, no sweat man! As long as you polish it up before you put it in, no problem!

Tim

P.S. You guys probably think I am crazy, but if I ever get an aluminum radiator, the tanks are gonna be polished before I put it in.

DMAN302 · Jun 7, 2005

HMMM....not feeling the love JT...just trying to help you out.

Tim regarding your polishin of the rad..I would expect no less from you..no less.

HISSIN50 · Jun 7, 2005

DMAN302 said:
HMMM....not feeling the love JT...just trying to help you out.

Derek - You lost me. Did I say something to offend? If so, that was not my intention at all!
And I appreciate your and everyone else's help.

I was just saying that I was not sure if you would want this radiator - I am still trying to find out if it is alright to install.
I don't know how to host or post pics, so I have to email them.

stang22 · Jun 7, 2005

DMAN302 said:
I would suggest you save yourself the anxiety and worry over this suspect pc...send it my way and ease your mind.

JT,

Derek posted a topic early about some particles in his water after his rebuild and the suspect was the radiator (stock). He was just cracking a joke about you putting the radiator in my car and not sending it to him. I seriously doubt Derek took any offense to that. No harm done...

Tim

JT, if you need some pics hosted, send them to me tim@leemotorsports.com and I will host them for you.

04sleeper · Jun 7, 2005

A Griffin 26X19 is very small. How do you get the hoses to line up?

DMAN302 · Jun 7, 2005

stang22 said:
JT,

Derek posted a topic early about some particles in his water after his rebuild and the suspect was the radiator (stock). He was just cracking a joke about you putting the radiator in my car and not sending it to him. I seriously doubt Derek took any offense to that. No harm done...

Tim

JT, if you need some pics hosted, send them to me tim@leemotorsports.com and I will host them for you.

EXACTLY..just acting up after a long days work. No offence taken at any point. Good choice on the rad too JT considering it's probably damn near 100 every day now where you are.

HISSIN50 · Jun 7, 2005

Tim and Derek - thanks for the run down. I had missed D's earlier thread; now that makes sense.
Derek, if I had an extra stock fox radiator, I would send it your way.
(Derek, the other side of the joke [which you have probably seen] is that I keep telling Tim that I will take care of his ride while he is away. ).

Derek, I will send you this radiator if someone will send me a new radiator.

Kevin, this is going on the 94GT. The stock radiator on that car is ~ 24" X 15" X 1". This new one is a pretty nice step-up, IMHO (I dont want to have interferance with the ABS pump, brake lines, etc).

DMAN302 · Jun 7, 2005

Actually JT you may have to stand in line for a chance at Tim's car...if memory serves me right Daggar actually has first rights to it. A while back he indicated his desire to make a fine "dirt track" runner out of her

stang22 · Jun 7, 2005

DMAN302 said:
Actually JT you may have to stand in line for a chance at Tim's car...if memory serves me right Daggar actually has first rights to it. A while back he indicated his desire to make a fine "dirt track" runner out of her

About the only dirt it will see is underneath the trailer it is riding on!

Daggar · Jun 7, 2005

DMAN302 said:
Actually JT you may have to stand in line for a chance at Tim's car...if memory serves me right Daggar actually has first rights to it. A while back he indicated his desire to make a fine "dirt track" runner out of her

LOL... Am I the only one that thinks Stang22s ride would make a great dirt track car??? Put some big ole nobbies on it and ZOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM. Just a little bump here and a grind there. It'll just add some character!

weld on aluminum radiator

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