MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGA - Radiator replacement

I have gotten my restoration to the point I need to install the radiator. Since it's close to 45 years old I decided that I'd have it recored, WHAT A SHOCKER! the shop I went to told me that the cores for this radiator are only made by a couple of companies and the estimate went up from the over the phone quote of $185.00 to $400.00 with the add on of "might be a little more"! What do you think, is that the normal cost or out of line. A replacement from Scarebough Faire is about $240.00. I was also thinking of having extra rows added for better cooling since I went with an 1800 engine but after the original quote I didn't even bring that up.
Thanks John Nelson
Burnsville MN
John Nelson

After purchasing an aftermarket radiator, I had my original rebuilt. Yep, it was about $350. It was also a substantially better product. I also have an 1800 engine in my A and the rebuilt unit has worked great, even in the heat of North Florida summers (with the help of a radiator fan shroud and the Zerex equivalent of Water Wetter). Also, if your 1800 has a three blade fan, find a six blade MGA fan. My two cents worth is to go for the rebuild and be careful about adding extra rows; it may alter the thickness of the unit and thus require a modification to the radiator duct panel. BTW, If you really want a new one, I have an unused Moss unit in my garage I will sell you at half the Moss price.
Frank Nocera

I had my stock radiator recored last year. I, too, was going to install a thicker core but it would have required cutting the front shelf forward. Moving the radiator back would have put it too close to the fan, not for danger of colliding but too close for the fan to function properly.

I went with a MX core which is the most efficient 2-row core made, according to a well-known shop in my area. The recore cost me $285 if memory serves. This also included replacing the filler tube with a standard size so I no longer need to buy a special cap.
Steve Simmons

I purchased a Chinese-made repro from Moss in 1997 when Moss had a sale. I think I paid $170. At that time, a radiator shop wanted $300+ to recore the original. I have no complaints about the repro.

If you're going to opt for the recore, you may want to consider having the filling-neck cut down to accept a more conventional cap and then modify it with a coolant recovery tube.
Art DiLello

I too went with the Moss replacement for my 1500 rebuild. Bought mine in 2001. At that time there were a lot of comments about the Moss raditor being of insufficient design. But when I needed one, I didn't have the time to find a reputable radiator repair shop. I took a chance.

What I can say is that after 4 years of driving, I have never had an issue with the radiator. That includes hours of interstate driving thru the mid-south in August (Kentucky, Tennesee etc.)

One thing to watch for is that I had to remove the radiator packing piece. It seems that the Moss radiator's lower tank is just a bit wider and interfers with the radiator duct panel. By removing the packing piecs, it is a snug fit but does fit. I have seen this required on other cars so it would seem it is not just mine.

Dollar for dollar, if I had to do it over again, I would go the Moss route. I see that Jeff Zorn (Little British Car Co.)has it for $215.05 right now.

Chuck
Chuck Schaefer

I had my original, cell-core radiator recored last summer by a local, antique radiator expert. Since I never had overheating problems with the old core, I had the shop use a new cell core. They got the new cell core from a manufacurer in Maine - the only manufacturer in the US that still makes cell cores (so they told me). Total cost to me, including tax, was about $240 - equal to the cost of a new radiator, but original spec. I think your shop's estimate is really high. FWIW.

M.D.
'57 Coupe
M. D.

MD,
Where'd you get it done? I need to do the same. I'm in Tewksbury, MA.
Thanks,
Doug
D Sjostrom

Just for information,
The price in Europe (Limora Germany) is about 510 USD for a replacement radiator. So the US price is not bad IMO.

Happy New Year to You All

Wim
W.T.M. Betzel

I too had my radiator recored last spring by a local shop and it cost $240. Looks great and original. Of course I haven't actually used it yet!
Cheers,
GTF
G T Foster

Doug:

I used A and I Radiator on Route 1 in North Attleboro. A bit of a drive from Tewksbury, but the service was quick (I got my radiator back the same week that I dropped it off - pretty good for a "special order") and they are open Saturday mornings. My daily driver mechanic, who also works on some "non-British" classics, recommended them to me. Good luck.

Regards,
M.D.
'57 Coupe
M. D.

Art & Chuck,

Ditto for me. When I bought my car in 1999, severe overheating (boiling over, not just reading hot on the gauge) was one of the first problems I had to address.

I bought the Moss radiator, flushed the system several times, poked around the drain plug hole with a wire hanger, added water wetter, changed the timing, and did everything else that I could find in the archives. End result was that the temperature problem SLOWLY went away. The more I drove the car, the less of an issue I had, until finally, I run regularly at about 190; I can't remember the last time the gauge read higher than 210.

Regards,
Joe Cook

This thread was discussed between 31/12/2004 and 02/01/2005

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.