C1 Brass Radiator Restoration

[Ted S.]

It looks like Paragon and CC offer restoration of original brass radiators. I assume they're using a DeWitts core. Anyone have experience with them or other suggestions on where to get one restored? Thanks, Ted

[Jack H.]

Re: C1 Brass Radiator Restoration

SB an easy job for a local radiator repair shop in your neck of the woods IF you've got a correct original that's simply aged.... Only Catch-22 issues are:

(1) Expect to have to guide the local shop through a 'correct' final paint job...they're used to shooting any old glossy black.

(2) If you want them to straighten the cooling fins, it'll add significantly because that's a very labor intensive issue. But, you can buy the tools (they look sort of like a pocket comb) and do it yourself BEFORE your local rad shop does final assy/paint...

[Mike M.]

Re: C1 Brass Radiator Restoration

measure the distance between adjacent tubes on your original radiator core as most, if not all , local radiator shops repo or service replacement cores will have widths different from the originals.don't know width issue of DeWitt's c-1 radiators but his c-2 radiators are excellent . mike

[Ted S.]

Re: C1 Brass Radiator Restoration

Dewitts only offers the correct cellular design core for the brass radiators. If they offered the full unit I'd probably get one given their other repros. They do offer an aluminum replacement that looks similar. I'd go that route but I'm look at having it judged so I'm after every point I can get. Just in looking at it, I'm not sure I see how the thing even comes apart. It doesn't seem to have the traditional tanks like the '60s cars did that I'm alot more familiar with. I know it has to be seamed somewhere. I'm concerned with finding shop that has an "old timer" that is familiar with a vertical flow radiator much less on one of these.