Storing Prewar Radiators

[$um Fun]

I have a few prewar brass tank with honeycomb core radiators that I recently got repaired.  These have the original tanks and maybe the  cores might be original or early replacements. When I was at the radiator shop (one of the last in my area that's been working on these since the early 40's) the old owner said I need to keep water in the tanks or the old brass tanks will crack. Also he said the water cant just sit or they will rot at the seems.  Is he  correct in his advice?

 

The cars these are going on wont be finished for a few years and I don't want to ruin the original radiators. I was think of building a simple system with a timer and fish tank that would circulate the water.

 

What are others doing to store their vintage radiators?

[1937hd45]

Any advice on storing gas tanks? 

[edinmass]

My 1917 White sat for 75 years with the radiator empty, and when I recommissioned the car the radiator didn’t leak. I have never heard of keeping fluid in a radiator with brass tanks.......and I don’t think there is a pre war car in the world that didn’t have brass tanks........between 1910 and 1940.

Edited November 17, 2020 by edinmass (see edit history)

[Mark Gregory]

My 1931 Reo Royale radiator which is not installed needs to be painted and I have been told watch the paint you use.

 

Is this a true statement ?

 

Not trying to hijack the Thread.

[edinmass]

I can't imagine it matters.......even if you use an acid etching paint........it is going to vent and not eat away at anything. I think hard water is probably what destroys most radiators. They end up having a positive electric charge making the system a low voltage battery, and over YEARS I'm sure that could have an effect. 

Edited November 17, 2020 by edinmass (see edit history)

[Walt G]

In all my years of collecting I never ever heard of storing a brass core radiator (1910-1940) with some kind of fluid in it.

[Mikefit]

That's just what the man said about my radiator that they fixed for me . I think what they were concerned about was any scale or corrosion shoulder out and scale off when dried  out and get into the passages similar to place in your heart   

[ojh]

Is the inside brass or 'terne plate' with lead?  If its lead in there that might be what the radiator shop guy is concerned about, the leading will have had fluxes used and they are corrosive - that greenish stuff you see on the joints in your houses water pipes?  Maybe you could flush it with baking soda laced water to neutralize the flux if you're concerned.  

[RansomEli]

Mark, 

 

You don't want to paint your radiator with "regular" paint. It will insulate the radiator and prevent it from transferring heat.

 

They make a special radiator paint that colors the radiator but does not interfere with heat transfer. 

 

Most auto paint stores carry spray cans of the stuff.

[Rusty_OToole]

An old man at an auto wrecker's yard told me years ago that radiators stored outside last longer than those stored in a building. My experience seems to confirm this. You might well store the rads in a car port or unheated garage.

[nickelroadster]

Eastwood makes a good radiator paint.  Regular paints can mess up the heat transfer.

[Restorer32]

Never store radiators on concrete or they will discharge...No, I mean never store batteries outside or they will leak....No wait...now I'm confused. 

[$um Fun]

Mine did sit for about 75 years without water, but it also had cracks at the seams on the tanks (the core was perfect). Don't know if that's why the car was parked or the damage was from sitting and drying out. I will first start with flushing and  neutralizing.

[28 Chrysler]

I have a radiator that has been dry since WWII, no leaks but the radiator shell is turning a brass color. I also have one that was last used in 1956 with no leaks except were it fell over and cracked a solider joint.

[Hudsy Wudsy]

I find mice nesting to be a big variable, as well.