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MG MGA - radiator top tank

I have just had my radiator core replaced but the workshop which did the job has messed up the top tank ,and since I am doing a complete restoration it does not look good. Since replacing the core was not cheap, I wonder whether anyone can give me an indication where I could buy a top tank from, or else maybe someone has one available for sale.
c vassallo

What is wrong with the top tank?
G Goeppner

There was a slight dent on the flat top section and somehow the whole thing looks distorted. It is only cosmetic but still I wish to make it look right.
c vassallo

Get them to unsolder it and flatten it out before soldering it back onto the core?
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

And tell them not to pressure test it! A rad shop did this once with mine, even though I had told the guy on the counter not to do that, and not to dip it without first removing the brass plate. Apparently there was no communication between the front and the back of this shop.
Result was a top tank that looked like a baloon, and a lost brass plate!!
Peter.
P. Tilbury

Buy a new Radiator from the U K and sell the rebuilt one on e bay. I have just bought a new one in Aust. which came from the U K ,for less than the quoted cost of a recore. $389. Aus dollars (less than 2 hundred ponds. ) Looks great and does its' job. Sean
S Sherry

As P. Tilbury quoted I think the same thing happened to me as regards a pressure test. the tank looks somehow blown. Anyway I shall buy a new complete radiator when the need arises unless I come across a top tank.
Thanks to all for your contribution.
c vassallo

A body shop could pull out the dent.
Art Pearse

The quality of the new rads is not brilliant. I had three develop leaks inside of 18 months (each time changed under warranty), and with the third gave up and had the original recored - cost a bit more, but is definitely the better way to go.
dominic clancy

I had my radiator recored, but the top tank was a bit beat up from age and rough use I suppose. I also am not happy with the looks of it, and was hoping there would be a few ideas posted on this thread on how to improve things. Has anyone tried to braze-fill small dents and imperfections on a top tank with success?

Thanks, George
G Goeppner

Devious Solution. Here is a picture of mine. It's an aluminum radiator (Made by Ron Davis Racing) I painted the top black and added a brass tag I found on eBay. If anyone goes this route make sure you apply teflon tape to all threads (including drain plug) to prevent some funky chemical fusion that occurs that prevents the fasteners from coming out.



Lmazoway

Dear Devious,
Brass tag is interesting, but not correct, if you care. The original, from memory, was an "Auster" plaque, and was soldered to the rear of the top tank, ie, out of sight.
Peter.
P. Tilbury

Lmazoway, -- Morris Motors Ltd. is the correct tag, but it belongs on the rear side of the top tank outboard from the filler neck. See here:
http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/cooling/cool_100.htm
Your replacement radiator core is also not original type.
Barney Gaylord

I didn't attempt for originality by putting the tag on the radiator. More of a goof than anything else. My feeble way of making a new aluminum radiator appear old. I would have used an original tag but mine was missing from the old radiator. As you can see from the new pic there is no way anybody is going to think this is an original radiator. Works really nice though.

Lmazoway

Radiator top tanks can be cosmetically restored with body filler (ie "plastic" or "bog"). I have done this with mine many years ago with perfect results. It pays to bear in mind that they should never get much above 212F or 100C and that the filler is quite capable of handling the hot (at least here in Oz) sun!
Barry Bahnisch

For perfection, you could lead fill the dents.
Art Pearse

Barney,
My rad plate, before it was eaten by the rad shop employee, was definitely not a MORRIS MOTORS tag, but then it may not have been the original tag. But why a previous owner would have relaced it with an AUSTER tag, I would not fathom. Maybe there were two tags.
Peter.
P. Tilbury

Barney,
My plate is not a Morris Motors tag either but shows the part number. Maybe a replacement part later? Any ideas?

A M Leyva

I picked up a 2nd hand radiator off a USA import - it had 2 plates soldered to it from repairers much like the one from AM Leyva , (but it also retained the original Morris Motors one) -I have since removed them with a gas soldering iron - Peter - the Auster one belongs on the windscreen.
Cam Cunningham

This thread was discussed between 07/03/2011 and 09/03/2011

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