Radiator Restoration

Once your radiator arrives, it is carefully unboxed and inspected to determine exactly what it needs. Depending on its condition and your goals for the vehicle, we can either rebuild your existing core or replace it with a brand-new core (recoring).

We verify the date code and evaluate overall condition, then contact you with our recommendation based on your intended use of the car. After discussing the options with you, we move forward with the solution that best fits your needs.

Every restoration begins with a complete disassembly of your radiator. All components are immersed in a heated caustic cleaning solution (boiling tank) for approximately 30 minutes to remove scale, corrosion, and buildup. The parts are then thoroughly pressure washed and carefully dried.

Next, all components are glass beaded to restore a clean, uniform surface. The side brackets are straightened as needed and primed. If your radiator is equipped with a transmission oil cooler, it is fully rebuilt as part of the process. Fittings are straightened, and both the top and bottom tanks are carefully reconditioned.

Because the lower tank is typically shielded and less visible once installed, we remove dents and straighten it but do not perform the same level of cosmetic refinement as we do on the top tank. The top tank receives the greatest attention, as it is the most visible part of the radiator. We have developed specialized dollies designed specifically to support and carefully remove dents from the top tank. Final appearance will depend on the severity of the original damage, but we always put maximum effort into achieving the best possible result.

We review the condition of your radiator and discuss expectations with you during our initial phone consultation after it arrives.

If your existing core is being rebuilt, it is rodded out — meaning a thin steel rod is carefully passed through each tube to remove any internal debris. All tubes are then resoldered into the header plate (the component to which the tanks are soldered).

Once reassembled, the radiator is thoroughly tested to ensure proper performance and leak-free operation. After testing, it is briefly returned to the boiling tank to neutralize any remaining fluxes or active acids. The unit is then dried, band-filed to remove excess solder from the tanks and brackets, primed, and painted.

We use a chemically hardened paint that closely matches the original factory finish for an authentic appearance.

Recoring follows the same restoration process outlined above, except the original core is replaced with a brand-new unit.

We offer two core options:

• Standard Cooling Core: 9/16" tubes on 9/16" spacing
• Maximum Cooling Core: 5/8" tubes on 7/16" spacing
   

The maximum cooling core provides increased cooling efficiency for higher-performance or more demanding applications.

We are happy to discuss which core type is best suited for your vehicle and driving plans. If your existing core is being rebuilt, it is rodded out — meaning a thin steel rod is carefully passed through each tube to remove any internal debris. All tubes are then resoldered into the header plate (the component to which the tanks are soldered).

Once reassembled, the radiator is thoroughly tested to ensure proper performance and leak-free operation. After testing, it is briefly returned to the boiling tank to neutralize any remaining fluxes or active acids. The unit is then dried, band-filed to remove excess solder from the tanks and brackets, primed, and painted.

We use a chemically hardened paint that closely matches the original factory finish for an authentic appearance.