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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Vertical flow radiator

Just sprung a leak in my radiator. It's an early 1275 with the vertical flow radiator part number ARA241, I believe.
I have followed the usual thought process; try Radweld and then look for a cheap used radiator on eBay, but also consider a recore or buying new.
My radiator has been recored in the past and is probably 50 years old and pretty battered. The used ones at MG Centre Wrexham look pretty rough too.
New radiators are about £150 from most places, but only £114 from Sussex.
Can anyone tell me if they have any bad experience from these new radiators and also if there is a reason why Sussex prices are lower?
Neil MG

I got mine recored in Preston for £75.00 + vat with a year warranty came back like a new one.
mark 1500 on the road Preston Lancs

Personally, I would go for a re-core.
Dave O'Neill 2

I've regularly put decent-ish early rads on ebay at low starting price, never sold a single one.
Yesterday I weighed in half a dozen of them at my local scrappy as copper is currently £1200 per ton.
Recore what you have and keep an eye open for a good s/h one to recore as a spare, if you value originality.
David Smith

Seems like no-one is buying new ones?

I thought about a recore, but the top is pretty rough already. I have an MGA and when recoring it is important to get the right capacity as all the standard modern core can cause overheating problems, as do the cheaper new ones.

Am I right in thinking this is not so much of an issue with the midget? I have not heard of overheating being a problem with Midgets and A series in general.

Neil MG

I bought a new one from Sussex about two years ago. Very happy with it and no real problems with it and it came well packed. The only small issue was that the floating nuts were metric and the fixed ones were imperial and because I didnt bother checking them I wondered why I couldnt get the bolts in. I changed them for imperial ones. Lawrence had the same issue and he ran an imperial tap through them.

Trev
Trevor Mason

I bought a new one a few years ago and it did not cool as well the old one. I finally had to replace it with a cheap aluminum one. It works very well, but needed modifying to fit.

I'm now trying to resolve an overheating issue in another frogeye. The radiator in it has been recored but it does not seem to be cooling any better than the new one I bought a few years ago. I've already check the water pump, timing, and mixture ... I really suspect it is the core.
Trevor Jessie

I bought a new one from Moss a few years back and the mountings were lozenged so I could not fit it. Also the core was about 10mm thicker than standard so my electric fan would not fit. I'll say one thing for Moss though, their service is pretty good as they never quibble about returns. Almost as if they know there are quality problems.

I'd go for a recore. But my first one after the big car rebuild only lasted 3 years. Got it done again at a different place and it's been fine so far after 5 years.
L B Rose

Ok I will try Radweld as a short term fix.

The radiator and heater matrix were flushed out recently when the new engine was fitted so the system is pretty clean.

I will probably get a new radiator from Sussex, just in case, and keep it in the shed.
Neil MG

If you're going to get a new one, fit it. That way,if there's a problem, you'll be able to do something about it.
Dave O'Neill 2

Good point Dave!
Neil MG

This thread was discussed between 15/04/2016 and 16/04/2016

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.