DIY Radiator Repair-Soldering the holes with lead

Today I am working on a radiator for a Chevy van. It has a small leak that will require some soldering.

[@BrucesShop]

I missed this video.. Nice work Steve

[@stevoj8959]

My buddy has still not put it back in his van yet. Hope it works. Thanks Bruce. Stevo

[@anthonyponis9684]

I've found that if you use an old bicycle innertube and clamp from inlet to outlet you can charge it with air for testing for leaks. keep up the cool videos it really helps out!😃

[@stevoj8959]

Okay, the tire tube idea is a great one. Now I want to test another one to give it a try. Thanks. Stevo

[@liljoeii6091]

Yeah my dad would Just fix then like that too I haven't seen those radiators in a long time thank you for the video

[@stevoj8959]

Ya you can't fix the new radiators like you can the old ones, just buy and replace. Thanks. Stevo

[@KensHobbies409]

Last time I had to repair a radiator was in the bush so between peat moss found & chewing Gum, was able to fix it. Ended up quite a few years after & was still holding.

[@stevoj8959]

Okay, that takes talent but we all have cool stories like that. Had a tranny line blow off my radiator and I held it in with my shoe lace and drove 8 hours to get home. Now people can hardly put gas in their tank. Amazing what one can do when the chips are down. Think I will start carrying some gum with me. Love it. Stevo

[@KensHobbies409]

@@stevoj8959 That's a new one for Me. Another one is when My buddy coming back from a lookout tower blew a fan belt when a twig got caught in it & We had a female with Us, tole Her to take Her bra off & used that to get 60 miles out of bush to nearest station. Pantyhose works good too for emergency.

[@haneyoakie14]

Does the seal plug the leak only or does it close off that line, blocking the leak but also reducing the effective cooling capacity of the radiator, albeit very slightly?

[@stevoj8959]

I kept the heat lower so the solder is more on the surface and should not affect the flow. On a good ole Chevy rad, you could probably plug off a couple and not overheat. Thanks. Stevo

[@MissouriOldTimer]

and again, soldering is not one of my strong points.

[@stevoj8959]

It is one of those things I leaned when I was quite young. By no means an expert though but enough to get me by. Maybe too much cause I usually get a call when some soldering needs to be done. Thanks Vern. Stevo