The original DeLorean radiator was a two-row, brass core unit with plastic side tanks that was manufactured in Belgium. It was an extremely efficient and durable unit with one weakness - the plastic side tanks. The plastic could become brittle after many years and would not stand rough or impatient treatment when changing the hoses. Many mechanics had the experience of the neck coming off in their hand before the old hose broke loose from the plastic.
An even more common problem was that the tanks would become unfastened from the body of the radiator. The metal fingers that held the tanks on would loosen with time and leak at the seam. Even so, there are still some of these radiators in service today. A popular upgrade in the past was a 3-row brass radiator with metal tanks. This worked well enough once it was in place. Fitting the thicker unit in place was problematic. For a while, DMC was able to provide owners with replacements from the inventory of factory spares and custom units with metal side tanks. In time the old Belgian units were sold off, even the ones with no tanks, and owners are now compelled to buy new radiators from custom manufacturers. DMC sell a two-row aluminum, high-efficiency radiator with metal tanks that has the same mounting arrangement as the original. In fact, it is an exact copy of it.
By Warren Wallingford, DMC (Texas) with edits by James Espey
Article ID: 44, Created On: 11/16/2010, Modified: 5/3/2011