Radiator Fun; Leak; Replacement?

[DjDom]

I swear, I've had enough of my truck the last few weeks.. Third thread with something broken..

Anyway, yesterday I noticed a nice crack in my plastic radiator.

Just looking for some advice/ideas.
A new radiator is $200, and I don't think it's worth it..
Scrap yard has radiators for $40, that's the route I plan to take.
Any way to just repair it for now that'll last a little while?

If I do grab a scrap yard one, which ones fit? I know OHV will fit an OHV, but will a SOHC fit the same? And what should I look for?

Thanks again.

- Dom

 

[lobo411]

A new radiator is $200, and I don't think it's worth it..
Scrap yard has radiators for $40, that's the route I plan to take.

Amazon has brand new ones for $100. Around here, scrap yard Explorers usually have massive front end damage (rad is right in front) or blown engines (what's the last thing you do before a car finally dies? Throw in those 'fix-up in a bottle' products). Not worth the risk IMO.

For now, how about trying epoxy/JB Weld and fiberglass lathe over the crack?

 

[DjDom]

Amazon has brand new ones for $100. Around here, scrap yard Explorers usually have massive front end damage (rad is right in front) or blown engines (what's the last thing you do before a car finally dies? Throw in those 'fix-up in a bottle' products). Not worth the risk IMO.

For now, how about trying epoxy/JB Weld and fiberglass lathe over the crack?

Crack's reached the point where it's way too big to repair.. it's dripping out in a stream now..

Being in Canada, they're not $100.. I wish..

 

[lobo411]

Crack's reached the point where it's way too big to repair.. it's dripping out in a stream now..

Being in Canada, they're not $100.. I wish..

Sorry to hear it! I'd still go with a new one at $200 if it were me, unless I was almost ready to dump the truck anyway, or unless $40 was all I could afford. The hassle is just not worth it--bleeding it takes a lot longer than it ought to!

 

[BrooklynBay]

Check WWW.AutoCoolRadiators.Com or WWW.RadiatorBarn.Com. I don't know if I would trust a junkyard radiator unless they have a written warranty saying that there's a free replacement or a full refund if it fails within 90 days.

 

[DjDom]

Check WWW.AutoCoolRadiators.Com or WWW.RadiatorBarn.Com. I don't know if I would trust a junkyard radiator unless they have a written warranty saying that there's a free replacement or a full refund if it fails within 90 days.

They've got a warranty there. 90 Days. And I plan to drive there and swap it at the junk yard. So I'd know if it works and doesn't leak right away.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Do you have a cooling system pressure tester? I would pressure test it before I drive away. Autozone loans them with their tool loaning program. Harbor Freight sells a nice one in a case with attachements. I have one which is made by Stant.

 

[DjDom]

Do you have a cooling system pressure tester? I would pressure test it before I drive away. Autozone loans them with their tool loaning program. Harbor Freight sells a nice one in a case with attachements. I have one which is made by Stant.

No I don't. But it's quite hot here, (30+ Degrees Celcius) and running the truck for about 10 mins should pressurize the system pretty quickly I think. I'd check for leaks by looking around and watching the coolant level for sure..

I'm literally on the smallest budget cause school makes me broke, and I've got about $100 to spends on everything..

 

[BrooklynBay]

Here's another option: http://www.harborfreight.com/50-piece-plastic-welding-rods-41602.html

 

[DjDom]

Here's another option: http://www.harborfreight.com/50-piece-plastic-welding-rods-41602.html

I read up on that, but the crack is just too wide and deep already. In fact, it's about 2-3 inches long now.. and of course it's from top to bottom, perpendicular to the grooves on the rad going horizontally.

 

[bluestream1]

Get one from the wreckers, but get one that is newer. ie not an original rad. If you look around you should find a very good used rad. After all, we all drive trucks with used rads...

 

[BrooklynBay]

It's a hair line crack, so one of these rods should be capable of sealing the seam even though it's a few inches long. You have to use the same rod as the actual material.

 

[koda2000]

in the past i have had zero success in trying to patch plastic rad tanks and i've never known anyone that has successfully done this. for $100-$130 i'd buy a new radiator as (while not a horrible job) it's not a job i'd care to repeat if the replacement leaked.

 

[DjDom]

It's way past a hairline crack already. That pic was taken before the crack spread way more.

 

[BrooklynBay]

You might get about $2 - $3 in scrap metal for the old radiator.

 

[DjDom]

You might get about $2 - $3 in scrap metal for the old radiator.

It's a $10 core charge at the scrap yard for it. Whatever.

Went to the scrap yard this morning, got one off a V8. Slightly larger, but it did mount up, but I needed a different fan shroud. Got that too, and it works great.

Thanks guys.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Thanks for the update. Did they charge extra for the fan shroud? How much did the total job cost in parts (radiator, fan shroud, and coolant)? Did you have to replace the hoses or clamps?

 

[DjDom]

Thanks for the update. Did they charge extra for the fan shroud? How much did the total job cost in parts (radiator, fan shroud, and coolant)? Did you have to replace the hoses or clamps?

Nah, they didn't care about the shroud, and I gave them my old one back with the rad.
Rad was $40. I managed to swap it at the yard. Hoses and clamps were still good since I replaced them the last time I did a coolant change.
I actually reused the old coolant for now and topped it off with some water. I plan to do a full flush and get new coolant very soon.