Repair, Recore, Replace.
When you bring us a radiator, we will clean it to remove any existing debris, then evaluate its condition to determine the best steps to take moving forward
Repair
Every repair starts with a thorough cleaning to remove any existing debris. Debris in the radiator can sometimes be acidic and eat through fin and tube material causing a leak, or even a complete weakening and failure of the material. It is important to clean out all the debris in the radiator because this debris can even be concealing a leak! Yes, that radiator that is dirty, but "not leaking", could still be leaking! Debris in radiators can accumulate due to moisture in the core, causing your radiator to suddenly seem packed and your cooling efficiency to drop. Once cleaned, we will test the radiator under pressure to identify where leaks are and make necessary repairs
Recore
Not every radiator that is brought in is conducive to a simple repair. Some radiators see extensive damage or corrosion to the point of needing a new core. If that is the case, radiators are measured up and priced out and cores are selected based on application and performance needs. The cores we source are high quality and Made In America. We have been working with our core manufacturer almost as long as Tough Guys has been around, and trust their build quality and service above all else. These cores are made with thicker material, some feature corner reinforcements for added durability, and are solder-dipped to allow better adhesion between the tank, core, and all of its components. When your radiator needs a core we start by disassembling the radiator and sandblasting all of its components. Sandblasting not only allows us to see any existing cracks in the tanks, but it also allows for better adhesion of solder during a process called "tinning". Tinning is when a thin layer of solder is applied to both the inner and outer rims of the tanks. Think of it as priming before you paint. This thin layer of solder on the tank, coupled with the solder-dipped header of the core allows for a strong bond between the two when being reassembled. Tanks are then soldered to the core, as well as other components such as side rails and brackets. Upon completion of assembly, the radiator is rinsed of its flux and checked in a test tank under pressure. This allows us to see any other cracks in the tanks that may have been missed in earlier tests and lets us know that your newly assembled radiator is in operational order. All radiators are then dried to paint unless specified otherwise*.
Replace
While a recore is generally better, sometimes cost, time or other factors make it to where a radiator can not be repaired or recored. In these instances, a replacement may be necessary. Much like with our core supplier, our replacement radiator suppliers have worked with us for years. We trust their quality and service greatly. As we always say, "We won't sell you anything we wouldn't put in our own vehicles"!