Radiator replacement

[BroncoJoe19]

Gotta Love my Bronco!

Seems she always has something for me to do /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

Where she was loosing antifreeze is now apparent. I need to replace my radiator (much better than an internal leak) /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

I want to keep cost down, but not to the point of being foolish.

JC Whitney has a direct replacement for $120 of course I can find radiators for $200.

Their's has a single but longer tube, vs the original that has two smaller tubes.

Does anyone here have any experience with it, or comments?

Thanks in advance

joe

 

[2NDTOUR89]

Call 1800Radiator, they have gret products, great warranty and great pricing... That is who I bought mine from...

Good luck.

 

[Broncobill78]

Well I usually get mine from the junkyard. They cost about $30 and come with a guarantee. Seeing as it's not a difficult thing to replace I don't mind going that route with it, but even still, I've never had a used one go bad on me.

JC Whitney has some pretty good stuff so I wouldn't have a problem buying anything from them.

Might also be worth at least a phone call to the local radiator shop to see what they can do for a price.

 

[BroncoJoe19]

Might also be worth at least a phone call to the local radiator shop to see what they can do for a price.

I didn't think that they could do anything with them now that they changed to plastic tanks, and metal cores. But I just spoke to a friend of mine who told me that a friend of his owns a radiator shop, and that a lot of times, all they have to do is crimp the little metal tangs that hold the tank on.

I know that some of the anti freeze is leaking out of the side where the tank meets the core, it is possible that the antifreeze that I see on the bottom is just a collection of that which leaked out of the side. Tomorrow, I'll take a closer look, and try tightening the tank to the side.

Wish me luck /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

joe

 

[Justshootme84]

If you end up needing to replace the radiator, consider getting one from an F-250 (similar year model as your Bronco). Same price but better cooling capacity. They usually run $170-$180 from Moline mfg. suppliers. There are very few shops left in business that will repair one for you nowadays, but take the leaky one in to your friend's bud's shop and have him look at it, maybe pressure test it. Will prolly cost near as much as a new one though, JSM84

 

[BroncoJoe19]

Yahoo! It worked!

My plastic tank was pulling away from the metal core, just enough to let some antifreeze seep through. My friend sugested that I try to tighten the little tabs that hold the core to the tank, see picture enclosed.



Fortunately for me the section of tank that was leaking was accessible once I removed the cowl, and I didn't have to remove the radiator itself.

I tried using pliers, but could not always get a good purchase on the tabs, I switched to a small C clamp to squeeze the tabs tighter, and it worked!

Yahoo... ready to play!

joe