240Z OEM Radiator Still Available?

[jmark]

I have a slight leak in my '71 240Z OEM radiator. Are new OEM Nissan 240Z radiators still available?

[SteveJ]

If it's just a slight leak, why not get it fixed. You could always contact Les Cannaday to see where he sourced his radiators from 16 years ago when he did the work for Nissan. He is a member here under the user name CDM. You could send him a PM.

[jmark]

^ Already emailed Les. Thanks.

[jfa.series1]

Congratulations on keeping a '71 OE radiator in service all these years! That speaks very well for the care and maintentance of your car. If it turns out a repair of your core is not practical and you want to maintain the look of originality, consider having your radiator re-cored with a 3-row insert. The extra cooling capacity is a big help and you give up nothing in appearance. Been there, done that.

Jim

[jmark]

I am looking at this one.

http://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/PROD/SCC03/16-7001

[jmark]

Les's answer:

Mark

Find a small local Mom & Pop radiator shop in your area that has a good reputation and go there to have them repair your radiator or even have them recore your original. That is how I keep all my rads original. Best of Luck!!!

Les

[jmark]

FWIW MSA sells CSF radiators.

[CDM]

When you called I had stated that it is best to re-core or repair and I should have made it clear that that is only the case if you have a decent original radiator. All the aftermarket rads are so cheap and the tanks are so thin and the brackets are so crappy looking as opposed to original. The shop will be able to tell you if your tanks are still good and not corroded from the inside and if your brackets are good I get them sandblasted before re-soldering them on. If they have been rebuilt before we remove any old shop tags. Also the core it self has to be painted with a special paint that rad shops use and you can request that they do not paint your tanks and brackets and do it your self with a good quality semi-gloss paint. A new style high efficency core will be some of the best money you can spend on cooling along with a heavy duty T stat and I alway cut a small pie shaped piece out around the edge just so it can always get some flow no matter what happens.

Les

[Reverend]

By the way: (its almost OT). I want to restore my old radiator, it leaked but i got it fixed in rad shop. Its looking a bit crusty but it works. So whats the best way to paint it properly? I have plenty of rattle can sprays but im not sure how to paint those little areas between each row. I have "high temp" rattle can, but no primer. Any high temp primers available?

[jmark]

When you called I had stated that it is best to re-core or repair and I should have made it clear that that is only the case if you have a decent original radiator. All the aftermarket rads are so cheap and the tanks are so thin and the brackets are so crappy looking as opposed to original. The shop will be able to tell you if your tanks are still good and not corroded from the inside and if your brackets are good I get them sandblasted before re-soldering them on. If they have been rebuilt before we remove any old shop tags. Also the core it self has to be painted with a special paint that rad shops use and you can request that they do not paint your tanks and brackets and do it your self with a good quality semi-gloss paint. A new style high efficency core will be some of the best money you can spend on cooling along with a heavy duty T stat and I alway cut a small pie shaped piece out around the edge just so it can always get some flow no matter what happens.

Les

Thanks Les. I found one place that knows and repairs radiators. I am going to run it by and let him tell me what he thinks. Guy has been repairing rads since 1974.