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MG MGA - Radiators

Good evening,

I have a 1962 MGA 1600 MKII that has decided to spring multiple leaks from its radiator. Thankfully it waited until the journey home after passing the MoT!

The radiator is not an original one (1970's aftermarket with a cheap core) and is not in particularly great shape - the top tank is rather battered - and as such I'd like to replace it rather than get it re-cored.

Having heard many horror stories regarding the poor quality of aftermarket radiators on the market these days, does anyone have any recommendations for a supplier of a good quality radiator fitted with a decent core that will not cause overheating?

Or am I indeed better off getting my battered rad re-cored after all?

Many thanks in advance!

Howard
Howard Rose

Howard

Give Bob West a call. His radiator supplier does them close to original spec. Mine runs lovely and cool at 175.

Steve
Steve Gyles

I spoke to Bob a few weeks ago about mine (a recore) he said 'new is difficult', but he didn't say impossible so worth a ring.

Paul
Paul Dean

don't bother with the new Moss MGA offering, its complete junk. My experience from four radiators from Moss is as follows:

1. sprang a leak after 5 months (my car) 2002
2. sprang a leak after 6 months (my car: original then recored and absolutely fine since) 2004
3. sprang a leak after 8 months 2010
4. car overheated like mad until we swapped the new moss rad for a 10€ ebay special, after which it ran fine with no other changes. 2012

When I restored my car in 1989, the rad I had had battered tanks and a hole on the core, but new ones were not available. So I took it to the local rad guy, and received it back a week later with the tanks straightened out and a new core. It held for the next 13 or so years.

So go for the rebuild, no matter how bad it is it will be much better afterwards than the chinese cr*p from Moss.

We have risked it with a new rad for the midget I have just finished, as it was absurdly cheap in comparison to a rebuild. But the old rad will sit in the cellar and be looked after until it is clear that the new one is up to scratch.
dominic clancy

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Original-Radiator-Assembly-for-MG-MGA-1500-1600-Sportscar-MGB-/301258580302?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item462469214e
dominic clancy

Thanks for the replies, very helpful indeed. It does indeed seem that a Bob West re-core is the only way to go!
Howard Rose

This thread was discussed between 19/08/2014 and 22/08/2014

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