Thread: '33 Radiator Brace

Tweet

Originally Posted by Don Dalton

Here is a pic of mine,similar to mike's. All hand made and painted

Don,
On the firewall end your support rods appear to mount directly through the firewall, correct? Anything special on the inside, other than perhaps a fender washer?

Originally Posted by rspears

Don,
On the firewall end your support rods appear to mount directly through the firewall, correct? Anything special on the inside, other than perhaps a fender washer?

Yea,just a nice large washer and locking nut.

FYI, the latest is from PRC who answered my question about a support bracket, "We can send a hood rod bracket to you if you would like but I do need to tell you that if any one welds on our radiators it will void the warranty. If you would like to get the piece on order please give us a call at XXX-XXX-XXXX." I understand their position, but it is a bit of Catch 22 - if I ask for their bracket they void my warranty, and if I make a bracket and have it welded on, it voids my warranty. I have not yet talked to them directly, but likely the only option which maintains warranty (not sure it's a big deal at this point) is to send the radiator back to them for the bracket at about $25 shipping each way.

Originally Posted by rspears

FYI, the latest is from PRC who answered my question about a support bracket, "We can send a hood rod bracket to you if you would like but I do need to tell you that if any one welds on our radiators it will void the warranty. If you would like to get the piece on order please give us a call at XXX-XXX-XXXX." I understand their position, but it is a bit of Catch 22 - if I ask for their bracket they void my warranty, and if I make a bracket and have it welded on, it voids my warranty. I have not yet talked to them directly, but likely the only option which maintains warranty (not sure it's a big deal at this point) is to send the radiator back to them for the bracket at about $25 shipping each way.

I guess it's a 50 buck change of mind! We've all done worse! At least I know when I change my mind it usually costs me thousands!

So 50 bucks to preserve the warranty seems cheap. (to me anyway!)

It's a one year warranty, legally from date of sale but in practice from reasonable date of first operation. After talking to them directly the chances of causing any hidden damage if a qualified commercial welder does the work are slim - the risk is over heating the core and weakening the furnace braze joints at the core to header area. If a problem were to be totally unrelated to the weld area they would tend to honor their warranty, but there is a risk. PRC estimated the two way shipping at $60 plus the cost of the bracket at $15. I guess I'm cheap, but a $60 component warranty of nominal a year or less seems expensive to me, all things considered. Still thinking, but shipping a radiator back to Indiana, with the inherent risks of shipping damage, does not make an attractive option to me.

Originally Posted by rspears

It's a one year warranty, legally from date of sale but in practice from reasonable date of first operation. PRC estimated the two way shipping at $60 plus the cost of the bracket at $15. I guess I'm cheap, but a $60 component warranty of nominal a year or less seems expensive to me, all things considered. Still thinking, but shipping a radiator back to Indiana, with the inherent risks of shipping damage, does not make an attractive option to me.

I'm with ya on the shipping deal. And like you, I feel it's over the top for that small part. If you knew someone with a portable TIG machine, they may be able to weld it in place with the radiator full of fluid to help protect the core from overheating. It's a thought anyways. Let me /us know what you decide and how it works out!

Roger - This is the "standard" firewall mount for a '28-'32:


Probably could be used for any '30's car but why when MAC's (Cat pg 67) has the right part - only takes $$$: http://www.who-sells-it.com/images/c.../pdf_20912.pdf

I don't like the rods bolted through the firewall - somehow it doesn't look right and on a 'glass car, plus I do wonder about the actual support. But that's only my opinion (amongst many others)

Now - as far as the radiator bracket - why I like a Walker

Roger, do you have a bracket like the one in my pics on page #1? If you do, let a qualified welder TIG it on. I don't like the way PRC welded the mounting tabs on my A/C condenser, it's almost like 1 tack weld on each side of the tab. I wouldn't trust them to stay attached for very long. I'm taking the condenser with me to Tenn next month, I'm going the let my son, who's a certified welder, add a little more 'bead' for strength.

Mike

Originally Posted by Mike52

Roger, do you have a bracket like the one in my pics on page #1? If you do, let a qualified welder TIG it on. I don't like the way PRC welded the mounting tabs on my A/C condenser, it's almost like 1 tack weld on each side of the tab. I wouldn't trust them to stay attached for very long. I'm taking the condenser with me to Tenn next month, I'm going the let my son, who's a certified welder, add a little more 'bead' for strength.

Mike

Mike,
I don't have that bracket, but PRC has offered it at $15. IC2 had a really good idea to weld it with the radiator filled, which will elimnate any concern of over temping the core. I have a young man that is a welding inspector and ASME certified that will weld things for me - he did my headers, and considering the mess I handed him and the finished product I got back he's good for a radiator support!! I'm really close to calling PRC back and telling them to send me the bracket, and I will get it welded in a way that will protect the core and eliminate any concern. I'm pretty confident, after talking to them today, that they will honor any future warranty claim that is legitimate.

While at the Turkey Run in Daytona, I talked to Duane (yes, I know, another Duane ) at the PRC display, I expressed my concern with a 'blemish' on my PRC radiator and a possible warranty issue down the road. I also explained that my car wouldn't be on the road for a long time. I suggested an email with a pic of the area to show the blemish so he could see what might have caused it, along with my invoice information. He offered to take care of any issue that might come up if the blemished area ever started leaking. My gut feeling is they would take care of any warranty issue that you might have as long as it wasn't specifically related to the bracket you weld on.

A couple of pics of the area of my concern.

Mike