No bs radiator replacement

Nero

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I thought about doing a twin electric fan setup, but isn't it better for our engines to constantly have an airflow across them, mostly to help keep the manifolds cooler? Least that's what I've always heard about belt driven fans on longitude mounted engines.
 

1mouse3

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but isn't it better for our engines to constantly have an airflow across them, mostly to help keep the manifolds cooler?

Never thought about that, dont have a valid way to test before and after intake air temp. Me adding twin turbos to my engine rebuild is going to make engine bay temps something I might have to sort out. There is options like adding louvers to the hood or going with a cowl one. The reason I never thought about it is the fact that if the vehicle is in motion, there will alway be some air flow into the engine bay.
 

Shadetreemechanic

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I will say that my oreilly's aluminum radiator with plastic caps has not let me down, but pulling the same load up the same mountain, my truck runs hotter with the new aluminum radiator than it did with the original brass. I had the original rodded and put it in my 87 which had a rotten core. That truck now never gets hot at all no matter what the load or time of year.
I have a hard time believing No one rods radiators up there anymore. Farmers with old tractors and equipment are getting their stuff fixed somewhere. The guys who do it hear are mostly old timers working out of shops in their back yards. I would ask around for someone who does it at farm equipment auctions or tractor pulls.
 

Nero

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Well, I live in Portland, gotta drive 30-40 miles before I'm in farm territory. Even the big rigs I work on daily they don't rebuild radiators, just replace typically.
 

Big Bart

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Well, I live in Portland, gotta drive 30-40 miles before I'm in farm territory. Even the big rigs I work on daily they don't rebuild radiators, just replace typically.

Nero,

1) As stated earlier many new big rigs have disposable radiators.
2) Most truckers want to be down as little time as possible. Waiting 2-3 days for a rebuild is problematic for them. Time is money for them.
3) Our brass radiators did not have cooling issues and many lasted decades. Mine lasted 30 years. If I get just 10 more out of my re-core I would feel it was a good choice.
4) They do not make our brass radiators anymore, if they did guessing they would cost at least $1,500. Vs $400-600 for aluminun.
5) Radiator shops are going out of business because new cars have disposible radiators. (Can’t compete on price with O’Rielleys and Autozone.). Many choose aluminum over brass due to the lower price. So their business market is shrinking. The strong survive as the weak close their doors and drive business to the strong.
6) My local shop survives as they do a lot of boat heat exchangers. Makes up for the diminishing automotive market.
7) Many members run aluminum radiators. Most say it was a cost decision. Many had issues like it not being square, radiator cap not sealing, short life span, etc. Many have had good luck. What I can share is members do not complain later the re-core was a bad idea.
 

Cubey

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IDI Van radiators are hard to get aftermarket. O'Reilly and AutoZone have stopped carrying them. Napa has them for $1,310. I'll be kind of screwed if mine goes out. RockAuto still has one kind, a 3 core, for $650 including tax and shipping.

IDI truck ones are slightly different in dimensions but maybe it could be fitted somehow. I think van radiators are ever so slightly wider.

I may just keep my eyes open on row52 for diesel vans at junk yards in my travels to try to get my hands on a spare factory radiator (or several!) since they are so hard to get.
 

Old Goat

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I bought my 86 back in 14, and put 131K miles on it so far.
It has haul`d some heavy az loads from Ca. to Nv. climbing from sea level to over 7 - 8K ft, and don`t remember it overheating, but she just kept going. Of course the goofy temp gauge doesn`t tell much, but the hood wasn`t glowing red.

it is one of the aluminum with the plastic tanks, and no problems so far. Have no idea what brand it is, but did look fairly new.


Goat
 

BeastMaster

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1994 E-350. Bought 7 years ago. $3900. Radiator was leaking. Core had work-hardened and was brittle. Numerous other wear items needed replacement.

I had a local radiator shop replace the whole shebang of AC, all hoses, recore the radiator and heater. The beast was 20 years old when I bought it, and many parts were really showing wear and tear.

No regrets. Right at $1000 for the radiator recore. I figure I will get at least ten years, maybe twenty if keep good coolant in it. I just want the job done right. Grandpa always told me if a job isn't done right, I will have to find the time to do it over.
 

Nero

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I definitely appreciate all the feedback. I'm not trying to discredit anyone's opinion on recoring a radiator, I actually have a spare I could send out. It's been several years since I tried finding a company that can do it, I'll search again. Otherwise a 3 core champion might be in my near future.
 

The_Josh_Bear

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I went with a NAPA unit with lifetime warranty some 7-8 years ago. Spectra Premium at the time, not sure what's up now.
It's nothing special except that it's quite thick, a very deep 3 core and works fine. Plastic tanks.

I went this route cause my original was trashed and I knew leaking was to be expected some day, hence NAPA and lifetime warranty. It was a leaker out of the box, but I didn't have time to exchange it for a couple years. :D
I finally got around to it and the next one leaked a little also. Dye and an ultraviolet flashlight proved that after another while of driving it. 3rd try has been solid, been running for about 4 years but I also don't drive a lot with my rig.

I can tell you NAPA wasn't super happy about those returns but they did it and it was all free.

Whatever you do, use good coolant! I'm sure you've got that covered with your line of work.

The reason I did the NAPA route is because they are all over, the core was much thicker than Orielly, lifetime warranty, and WHEN it failed, I could replace it locally for free. And drive 10 mins to get there. You can't do most of that with a Champion!
 

Nero

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I had to do something similar with my samurai, original brass radiator leaked due to a blown head gasket, fixed that, went with a Napa aluminum. Warranted it out twice, no issues now.

I currently run Fleetguard red, since it has the prechaege sca in it, and I have a coolant filter setup on order, hasn't shown up yet.
 

Nero

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Just called a few local radiator shops, only one does recores. So I guess I'm dropping my spare off tonight, I'll update with what they say/cost.
 

BeastMaster

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Nero:

I had mine done at Tom's Radiator I Orange, California.


He's one of the oldest businesses in Orange, still working out of his cinder-block garage near what has become old town Orange. Orange is full of people who like old cars. My diesel mechanic, Fernando, runs Auto-Diesel one block West of him.

Both are old school. You would swear they are right out of the 50's. So are their tools and way of doing things. Do not expect clean floors. Both know how to make stuff work. Do not bring them high tech crap to fix. We have a lot of Mexican tradespeople here highly experienced in many artisanal crafts, including all sorts of mechanical skills...stuff that was taught by dad and grandpa on the farm and shop over decades, not some trade school .

This is why I live here. I could swear I was back in my childhood around Brundidge, Alabama, about 60 years ago. I love farm people.


I definitely appreciate all the feedback. I'm not trying to discredit anyone's opinion on recoring a radiator, I actually have a spare I could send out. It's been several years since I tried finding a company that can do it, I'll search again. Otherwise a 3 core champion might be in my near future.
 

IDIBRONCO

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Both are old school. You would swear they are right out of the 50's. So are their tools and way of doing things. Do not expect clean floors. Both know how to make stuff work. Do not bring them high tech crap to fix. We have a lot of Mexican tradespeople here highly experienced in many artisanal crafts, including all sorts of mechanical skills...stuff that was taught by dad and grandpa on the farm and shop over decades, not some trade school .
Sounds like my kind of places!:cheers:
 
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