Reference: Radiator Rebuild Shop

[chris vickery]

Recently I discovered the rad on my M38A1 CDN3 had let go and made quite the mess on my shop floor!

I am happy to report that I just received my rad back from the local shop, albeit rebuilt with a new core. Very pleased with the workmanship and reasonable price vs a repro or aftermarket radiator.

Thumbs up to the boys at Industrial Radiator in North Bay Ontario

Nice to see that there are still a few shops around that have the skills and craftsmanship to work on our old junk.
BTW, they do gas tanks as well.

[Wayne Hingley]

That’s good to hear Chris. Rads can be a challenge, as all new vehicles have throwaway radiators with plastic tanks. Only heavy equipment guys can deal with older stuff. Any photos of your rebuild?

[chris vickery]

Unfortunately Wayne, no.
Guess I was so excited (doesn't take much) that I already have it re-installed back in the Jeep and never snapped a pic beforehand.
These guys get a lot of oddball stuff like old tractors, generators, heavy equipment etc

[Paul Dutton]

I agree, it's a dying trade.
I have a local place in NW UK that does them.
Working from basically a shed in the woods, two old guys, all done by hand.
They do the same, agricultural, plant, trucks, busses etc.
Used them for radiators, oil coolers, fuel tanks and hydraulic tanks.

[chris vickery]

Talking with the craftsman, we had a discussion regarding new vs old. As he pointed out, the new rads are cheap throw aways, made of aluminum with plastic tanks, gaskets and are crimped together. There really isn't much to fixing them as the most they can do is tighten a crimp.
The old type brass and copper rads were made to last and overbuilt in many cases. At least a small leak could be stopped by pinching off a tube or applying a bit of solder here or there.

[Sam Scholz]

I also have the benefit of an "old school" radiator/fuel tank man nearby. He is "Childers Radiators" in Bundaberg, S.E. Queensland (Oz), if you need him.
I can happily recommend his work.
Sam.