Need new radiator

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 10, 2010 | 05:30 PM
  #1  
Raptor05121's Avatar
Thread Starter
|
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,610
Likes: 7
From: Live Oak, FL
Need new radiator

Can anyone recommend a place to buy one? O'Riellys quoted me at $160. VatoZone, Advanced, PepBoys all are $199+

Basically I noticed my degas bottle was emptying itself in about a week and today I noticed a puddle. So I need a new radiator. My coolant is old as hell, so thats getting changed as well and I might as well fab up some metal efan brackets while I have everything apart.
 
Reply
Old Jan 10, 2010 | 10:36 PM
  #2  
glc's Avatar
glc
Senior Member
15 Year Member
Veteran: Navy
Veteran: Reserves
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 43,538
Likes: 817
From: Joplin MO
Just because you see a puddle doesn't necessarily mean it's the radiator that's leaking. You need to investigate the source of the leak more thoroughly.
 
Reply
Old Jan 10, 2010 | 11:10 PM
  #3  
ManualF150's Avatar
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,636
Likes: 264
From: Vernon, NY
Originally Posted by glc
Just because you see a puddle doesn't necessarily mean it's the radiator that's leaking. You need to investigate the source of the leak more thoroughly.
Ditto...

I have a feeling it is your water pump... why? Maybe because the last thing you messed with was the engine fan. The bearing being so old, could have gotten tweaked when you took the fan off. That's just a speculation.

However, there are many reasons for the leak... could just be a bad hose, fitting, etc.

Radiators rarely go bad, unless there is electolysis. If you've got electrolysis, you've got bigger issues my son.

If you have radiator electrolysis, it might be from your efans or something else.
 
Reply
Old Jan 11, 2010 | 03:36 AM
  #4  
Raptor05121's Avatar
Thread Starter
|
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,610
Likes: 7
From: Live Oak, FL
sorry guys- forgot to add that you can see the leak in the radiator itself. its dripping on my a-arm and frame, and of course look down there and about two rows from the bottom is a massive wet spot on the rad. fins, exactly where one of the vinyl zip ties holding my efans on were mounted. thus my reasoning for proper metal brackets

im kinda glad this happened when it did. ive got some extra cash from my project which is now on hold and my coolant is as brown as the hudson- ive been wanting to flush it for a long time
 

Last edited by Raptor05121; Jan 11, 2010 at 03:40 AM.
Reply
Old Jan 11, 2010 | 08:41 AM
  #5  
ChrisT's Avatar
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,986
Likes: 0
From: Pasadena, Maryland
Being that most collisions happen head on, I doubt you will find a decent one in a junk yard, so I won't throw out that recommendation. Your best bet is probably to look around online, which I'm sure you're already doing.

Have you contacted that site sponsor, Tasca? I hear great things about their service. I'm looking to buy some OEM stuff from them myself soon.
 
Reply
Old Jan 11, 2010 | 08:43 AM
  #6  
ManualF150's Avatar
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,636
Likes: 264
From: Vernon, NY
Originally Posted by Raptor05121
sorry guys- forgot to add that you can see the leak in the radiator itself. its dripping on my a-arm and frame, and of course look down there and about two rows from the bottom is a massive wet spot on the rad. fins, exactly where one of the vinyl zip ties holding my efans on were mounted. thus my reasoning for proper metal brackets

im kinda glad this happened when it did. ive got some extra cash from my project which is now on hold and my coolant is as brown as the hudson- ive been wanting to flush it for a long time
I'd honestly look for adding the F150 heavy duty radiator from the 5.4l engine... it will give you more cooling power.

And why would you attach efans with zip ties directly to the radiator mounts? I could imagine if that fell of what would happen...

If you use metal brackets, I'd suggest getting some rubber insulators to keep vibration and the ground effect off the radiator and surrounding components.

It's almost like efans & F150s do not mix very well.
 
Reply
Old Jan 11, 2010 | 04:24 PM
  #7  
Raptor05121's Avatar
Thread Starter
|
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,610
Likes: 7
From: Live Oak, FL
Originally Posted by ManualF150
I'd honestly look for adding the F150 heavy duty radiator from the 5.4l engine... it will give you more cooling power.

And why would you attach efans with zip ties directly to the radiator mounts? I could imagine if that fell of what would happen...

If you use metal brackets, I'd suggest getting some rubber insulators to keep vibration and the ground effect off the radiator and surrounding components.

It's almost like efans & F150s do not mix very well.
a two core is almost twice as expensive. i dont need more cooling power. my engine doesnt put out enough heat and never tows anything. besides, that would mean longer wait time for the truck to hit closed loop it would be stupid to put a 2-core in a 4.2L

secondly, because im 18 and ignorant. and theres no vibration from the fans. they are balanced perfectly. you cant even tell they are on
 
Reply

Trending Topics

Old Jan 11, 2010 | 05:49 PM
  #8  
Raptor05121's Avatar
Thread Starter
|
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,610
Likes: 7
From: Live Oak, FL
Originally Posted by ChrisT
Being that most collisions happen head on, I doubt you will find a decent one in a junk yard, so I won't throw out that recommendation. Your best bet is probably to look around online, which I'm sure you're already doing.

Have you contacted that site sponsor, Tasca? I hear great things about their service. I'm looking to buy some OEM stuff from them myself soon.
I've heard awesome things about Tasca and I've been using him extensively for my front-end project so much that he wont answer any of my 3+ e-mails I've sent him over the past week. I'd imagine any gains I got from buying offline would be offset by the shipping. O'Reillys put lifetime warranties on theirs so im in good hands. now i need the time, place, and tools to do this job.

for reference:

 
Reply




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:39 PM.