Reconditioning a TVR Radiator
Most of the radiators we get in need a little TLC to get them back in to a serviceable condition but some need a little more than others. Unlike the brand new TVR heater matrix which we sell online, the radiator below had certainly seen better days. 
When this TVR radiator arrived it was quite literally falling apart. The core used to re-core it before was sub-standard and falling to pieces. The top picture shows the side plates hanging off and the one plate is so corroded that it needed to be made from scratch in our workshop. One tank had a big hole in it covered with filler as shown in the pictures and both tanks had several large splits and dents. The whole of the radiator was covered in an a thick layer of dried 'underseal' type paint which would need to be removed.
All of the parts were removed and stripped back to bare metal for inspection before deciding a plan of action. The tank with the hole was patched internally with silver solder whilst the outside was lead loaded for a better appearance. All dents were knocked out where possible and a few splits were fixed. The one side plate was still solid and could be re-used but the other was beyond repair (you can see the new side plate in one of the pictures).
When the new core arrived you could see that it was going to be more efficient than the old one ever was. When you see the picture of the end of the core you wonder how the radiator worked at all towards the end of its life, half of its tubes are visibly blocked.
During re-assembly we fitted a 22mm boss for a temperature sender, then inspected and tested the radiator prior to painting.
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