Radiator Flange repairs

[e-tek]

Had to solder a radiator side support back on today for a 66 Ford I'm working on, thought it might be of interest...

You can use a solder/lead mix (like used in "lead-filler", or just straight "plumbing" solder)

Lots of Flux is key:

Once heated to the right temp, the solder will get sucked in to the space via a capillary action - much like sweating pipe.

 

[rwhite692]

.....Yup! Been there. Nice job

 

[Torque1st]

Clean and flux is good!

 

[tdkkart]

Wow, been a long time since I've done radiator repairs, did a few in highschool, found there was a fine line between soldering the repair vs desoldering half the radiator!!

 

[tyrell2004]

What kinda solder would you use for a plastic radiator?

 

[e-tek]

What kinda solder would you use for a plastic radiator?

Try deep-water high-pressure ultra-polymer 103-5-methylphenidate fluoxypentilone aggregate solder.....or glue.

 

[1984GMC]

What kinda solder would you use for a plastic radiator?

A new one.

 

[tcianci]

e-tek, You may find it beneficial to use some rubber washers and self locking fasteners when you re-install that radiator rather than bolting it hard to the core support. Many Ford products of that era had a habit of splitting the solder joint on the top tank because there was a lot of stress applied to the radiator due to it being bolted hard to the core support. The better the job you do of attaching the side flanges, the more stress you can transmit to the radiator itself. Letting the radiator float a little with rubber washers between the core support and the flanges and taking up on the fasteners lightly and using locking fasteners so that things dont unscrew themselves turned out ot be a good way to ensure a trouble free repair.

 

[Stuart in MN]

How old is that tin of soldering paste? It looks like the one my dad had forty years ago.