Pagoda SL Group
W113 Pagoda SL Group => Drive train, fuel, suspension, steering & brakes => Topic started by: Chris Long on September 23, 2019, 22:50:49
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I’ve searched around and all the threads are 5-14 years old at their point.
I have a 1970 manual 280sl LHD in NJ - I have a small leak from the radiator on the bottom drivers side from what I can tell. It doesn’t seem to be from a hose.
Firstly any current recommendations of replacement / Recore - the options I’ve found are:
- budz Benz recore - $850
- budz new - $1000 plus you have to plug trans holes
- vintage europarts new - https://vintageeuroparts.com/index.php/chassis-number/w113/new-automatic-transmission-radiator-fits-mercedes-w113-230sl-250sl-280sl-1715.html $660
- eBay haas classics - https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Mercedes-Benz-W113-280SL-Manual-Shift-Radiator-1135010101 - $639 (looks to be the same as vintage europarts)
- Sl tech - recore $795
- try to find a local shop ;(
Basically the repro one seems to be cheaper but is that better :)
Secondly what else should I do at the same time? The recommendations seem to be:
- New Hoses (I’ve already purchased the right style clips)
- New water pump? Need to check if I’m long or short - is the budz one ok or do I buy Mercedes or will that kill me? Reading up I should move to long (if not already) and have may need to buy bolts and Mercedes gaskets
- New oil cooler? There seems to be a company from Belgium that has a repro one for $300 - any experience while it’s apart?
- New pads for radiator
- New belts
Lastly is this doable for a relatively competent novice? I’m mechanically and electrically minded. I believe whilst it’s easiest from above (but you have to remove hood - I’ve done it once before but it is a pain) it can be done by using a ramp on the front wheels and dropping the radiator down which seems like the way to go.
I also believe I have to remove air cleaner but I’m assuming that’s not too bad.
Anything else I’m missing?
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You can replace all or some of the consumable parts but why don't you get your rad re-cored?
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I have the same issue with my radiator. A small leak that forces me to add radiator fluid every so often. I already talked to a local radiator shop. He didn't give me an exact quote since he can't actually inspect the radiator but figured a couple of hundred bucks probably from what I told him.
I will definitely try the local shop first.
Taking it out is not that big a deal IMO. (BBB)
At the same time I will replace the thermostat as well as all the hoses and most of the clamps.
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Rationale was I’d go with someone that knows the cars for the recore vs trying to hunt around for a local shop.
The online recores eg budz or sketch seem to be exchanges so I’m not getting my radiator back anyway AND it seemed more cost effective to buy new IF the quality is good.
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Rationale was I’d go with someone that knows the cars for the recore vs trying to hunt around for a local shop.
The online recores eg budz or sketch seem to be exchanges so I’m not getting my radiator back anyway AND it seemed more cost effective to buy new IF the quality is good.
I would think that the shop should know more about radiators rather than the cars they go into. I doubt you find a Pagoda specialist that also repairs radiators.
As you already said, all these vendors all have their (radiator) shops that do the work for them. They throw of few hundred bucks on top and sell it to you. If you are not willing to find one on your own, it’s probably best, to buy a new one.
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A leak doesn’t necessarily mean the radiator needs a re-core. It could just be a seam leaking at the tank. In which case a radiator shop will disassemble the radiator, rod out the passages, then re-assemble and solder. From what I have heard the correct cores are getting harder to find.
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Agree with TylerS and Dirk, have had many done all makes from
different radiator shops over the years, the later plastic ,most times
not worth trying to repair ,throw away , but metal ok .
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Any local shop can do the work as long as you tell them it is a 15psi radiator. That being said I had my local guys try to fix my tank leak and every time they heated it up it cracked somewhere else. They charged me $20 for the try. I ended up buying the one from Haas and it was a dead on copy except for the Behr logo being missing. I am glad I did it. I really don’t like thinking about stuff like that dying when I am driving.
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Just curious if anyone had experience with the ebay radiator.
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The eBay radiator is from Haas Classics. It arrived in good order and was well packed. Before buying any replacement look at the top tank and verify the tank looks the same with the side supports wrapped up and over the tank. I regrettably bought a new radiator 10 years ago and never realized then that is was someones modified nightmare they put together out of different tanks and clearly hand made side supports. The supports were just soldered onto the edge of the tank and one ripped off pulling it from the box. I honestly don't know if I could even sell it to someone else as it might fall out the bottom of their car after a big bump.
280SL Manual: https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Mercedes-Benz-W113-280SL-Manual-Shift-Radiator-1135010101/143146320825?hash=item21542f83b9:g:nSgAAOSwo7ZbqqcS
280SL Auto: https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Mercedes-Benz-W113-280SL-Automatic-Transmission-Radiator-1135010001/143211472610?hash=item215811a6e2:g:H7IAAOSw9P9csQ0h
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I would think that the shop should know more about radiators rather than the cars they go into...I doubt you find a Pagoda specialist that also repairs radiators.
The "problem" with "recoring" a radiator today, generally speaking, is that "old school" radiator shops are getting harder and harder to find, and that what they typically do is purchase pre-made radiator cores in a size "close enough", braze or solder the new cores to the tanks, and call it a day. But it's not the same... Would you like to guess where a lot of these cores come from? ;)
Gernold Nisius (SL-Tech, Arundel Maine) apparently found someone nearby--old school--that actually builds the radiator cores. So, he has them essentially custom made, and it would be the most wet-behind-the-ear noobie that would question Gernold's rationale. I discussed my cooling problems with Gernold back in 2011 (I had a "recored" radiator from the restorer 10 years prior, it was never right...) and he told me of what he does, how he does it and why. Sure it was not the least costly solution but I got the radiator back in short order, installed it myself and have not had a problem since. I should note--and this is a common theme on this forum where people complain about how expensive things are--that I paid a bit less than Gernold's price today. If you put off until tomorrow what you need today, the price will be higher, and in some cases much higher...as sure as the sun will set this afternoon.
If you want to try this yourself, or want to work with a shop and a custom core, there are places that will fabricate the core you want:
https://www.thebrassworks.net/radiator-cores.html
There are a number of others out there that will custom build a radiator core based upon your size specs.
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I paid $600 in 2019 by a local radiator shop to re-core the radiator. I gave them the year/model car (69 280SL) and they used that to match up the material.