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Radiator re-core cost

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by FinoCJ, Sep 10, 2014.

  1. FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Was given a cost of $125 to go through and re-core my radiator including repairing some seems at the inlet and outlet that leak and make it 'as good as new'. Seem reasonable?
     
    FinoCJ, Sep 10, 2014
    #1
  2. nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Seems reasonable if there is a warranty.
     
    nickmil, Sep 10, 2014
    #2
  3. chris_bar

    chris_bar New Member

    I've been quoted three times that to get mine done at a local shop in Middle Tennessee.
     
    chris_bar, Sep 10, 2014
    #3
  4. Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

    Anyone ever tried Bar's Stop Leak? Far from a permanent fix but it's been around forever.
     
    Focker, Sep 10, 2014
    #4
  5. Danefraz

    Danefraz Well-Known Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    about what I paid locally.

    I've used their shop for years (motor cycle gas tank repaired there once that had a rust hole and was leaking on my leg) as well as radiators and radiator replacements.
     
    Danefraz, Sep 10, 2014
    #5
  6. Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Sounds way cheap, I paid about four times that for a HD rad recore last fall.

    H.
     
    Howard Eisenhauer, Sep 10, 2014
    #6
  7. termin8ed

    termin8ed I didn't do it Staff Member

    I paid about $300 for mine last year. Wish I got mine that cheap.
    bar stop is just a band aid. If the radiator is original it will be thin and everytime you seal one leak another will pop up. Thats what was happening to me at least
     
    termin8ed, Sep 10, 2014
    #7
  8. jeep2003

    jeep2003 Well-Known Member

    do it before they change their mind!
     
    jeep2003, Sep 10, 2014
    #8
  9. FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Sounds like the deal might be too good to be true, but I dropped it off and we'll see how it turns out. Only a 6 month warranty - guess I would have liked at least a year. Never done business with this shop before - specialize only in radiators. Not sure their are many shops like this left anymore that have a specific little niche. Should have it back end of Friday.

    What can you all tell me about original V6 radiators. My FSM doesn't say much about them. From pics and diagrams it looks like what I have is OEM replacement if not original equipment itself (could original 44 year old radiator still be in there?). It's a down-flow of course, and could it have a triple core in terms of thickness? I don't think I have a stock fan- its still mechanical and fixed, but has 6 blades instead of 4. Not sure if its larger diameter or not than original.
     
    FinoCJ, Sep 10, 2014
    #9
  10. Dandy

    Dandy Member 2024 Sponsor

    Finco....

    My 1967 parts book says the 225 had

    802187 Fan

    928134 6 blade fan

    941669 5 blade fan

    942015 7 blade fan

    I have a 4 and 6 blade fan

    Never heard of a 7 blade fan till I just looked it up.

    FWIW.
     
    Dandy, Sep 11, 2014
    #10
  11. Project71-5

    Project71-5 BACON

    I think I paid $260 back in 2007 to have mine re-cored to a three row. Still going strong...
     
    Project71-5, Sep 11, 2014
    #11
  12. timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Yep. Usually the cheapest route today is replacement. Very few shops remain that will tank and rod or recore or even actually solder the customer's radiator. Most "radiator shops" simply stock commodity radiators and make their money from the markup and installation.

    The last real radiator shop that I know of near here charged about $250 to recore the J10 radiator with a 4-row (full width) core, plus repair where a side bracket had come loose.And this was maybe 8-10 years ago. $125 seems too cheap for a real recore - the copper and brass core probably costs more than that wholesale.
     
    timgr, Sep 12, 2014
    #12
  13. colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

    Most radiators nowadays are aluminum & plastic...like everything else in our modern world, you don't repair them, you toss 'em and buy a new one. Not many old school radiator shops left...
     
    colojeepguy, Sep 12, 2014
    #13
  14. PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    So true.
    New cores ones are so flimsy the fins just disappear in two years, in salt country.

    The old radiators are heavy gauge brass/copper, and well worth repairing, IMHO, if you can find a place that will do it right.
     
    PeteL, Sep 12, 2014
    #14
  15. FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    So I decided to go by and clarify what we got going on with the radiator - and yes $125 does not get you new core, just gets its tanked, cleaned/rodout and seam resoldered with pressure test. According to their test that is all mine needs - and they suggested the same that as long as the original core is good, its better than the new stuff. I never had any issues with cooling before - just had a leak at the soldered seam at the outflow port. So I am fine with that....but didn't look like they had done much of a job with cleaning off the scale so I asked if they could go over it again. We'll see...
     
    FinoCJ, Sep 12, 2014
    #15