Miata Mailing List: March 1998, Message #5659

Thanks to all who basically said dont piss about with a temporary repair,   
do it properly.

A couple of you mentioned better radiators in the US$220-240 price range.   
Sadly our local currency has taken a bit of a dive lately, and importing   
things from the US isn't as viable as it was a few months ago. Also the   
time involved in waiting for the parcel to arrive was a bit of a put-off.   
Its ok to wait for upgrades, but you want to get your repairs done   
asap...

So, I called a couple of places about a replacement, and all quoted   
pretty much the same price. So I went and visited the nearest one (only   
ten minutes away), to show him what had happened, ask if it can be   
repaired, or glued etc. and find out when I could book it in.

He says, the aluminium core can be glued for a stone chip, but if its   
burst from inside they cant fix it because of where the seams in the   
little tubes are. And he can do it right now if I want!

So, I went out in my lunch break (its Monday afternoon in New Zealand,   
remember) expecting to have a few questions answered, and maybe have a   
booking for later in the week. I got back to work 55 minutes after I   
left, with a brand new radiator installed while I waited.  All for only   
NZ$306 (about US$170), and the guy was friendly, and wasn't rough with   
the car.

I realize that its wasted on this list, but I highly recommend Trevor   
Morris Radiators in Onehunga, Auckland, New Zealand.

Thanks for your help,

Fletch.