Is this radiator worth anything?

C

cslandry

Junior Member
I've been fighting cooling issues on my '30 A. I took a thermal shot of the radiator and it was immediately apparent why. Uneven flow and partial blockage.

I did some back flushing with made up adapters and a garden hose. It improved, but still wasn't right.

I suspect it could be saved with some power flushing and soaking with various chemicals, but decided I didn't want to deal with it and bought a new radiator. Question is - is this radiator worth anything to anybody who wants to take on the challenge? I believe it is an original, or original style. At least it is 6 fins per inch, old style neck, reliefs on the sidewalls. Opinions welcome!
 
A decent radiator shop would be able to back flush that with much better results that a garden hose will ever do. Now that you have bought a new radiator, maybe you have that done, then it will be worth much more as a decent, working unit.
 
Old radiators will loose contact between the tubes and fins and thereby loose the ability to transfer heat. Even if cleaned, it may not be usable, and not be worth much. If it is original it may be worth something to someone restoring a car for high point judging.
 
I just had a swap meet this weekend. I had a crate full of old radiators marked as $25 OBO. NObody made an offer and nobody bought one so, on Monday we started cutting them up and sending them to the scrap yard.
 
28 and 29 radiators are worth something to folks wanting to have the "funnel inlet" upper and lower tanks rebuilt.

Local radiator shops can remove the tanks and new modern cores can be installed.
 
jak, Ive sold old radiators. they dont sell fast, but how many mechanical parts from an A do?
 
The valve in a discrepant original radiator is the upper and lower tanks, and the perimeter steel structure. Professional shops can use these parts to build a new radiator.
 
Last edited:
Hello, those older radiator shops are hard to find , at least around here , finally found one had some repair done, mentioned I had a spare like them to look at said bring it in , well,I wasn’t fast enough, closed up, had been in business for 75 years. Don’t repair radiators much anymore, just replace them.
 
jak said:
I just had a swap meet this weekend. I had a crate full of old radiators marked as $25 OBO. NObody made an offer and nobody bought one so, on Monday we started cutting them up and sending them to the scrap yard.
Click to expand...

My experience too. I went to the good-guys meet this year, and last with a set of Edelbrock tall valve covers, and the breather assembly, with the breather vent caps. Not a wear item, and the things are like $425 plus shipping. I'm so disgusted I think I'm gonna fire up the band saw. Can't even get a decent offer.

Selling parts to me is very frustrating.
 
I strip the old radiators down and scrap them. The original ones put up a fight, the cheap ones fall apart.
It's interesting how nasty they are. I'll take some photos of the next batch.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top