6.9 IDI Radiator 37x15

Scotty4

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Hope everyone is doing well. I just sprung a leak in my radiator last week and after running shroudless to inspect, it is dead center in front of the fan. Radiator express seems to have an OEM one with the correct size, 37x15 core, but at $950 I am interested to see what my options are. I emailed cold case and mishimoto and neither offer the wider rad.

My other option is rock auto, they have a spectra at $612, not sure how this stacks up to the radiator express.

Nothing on Bronco Graveyard or LMC. Not seeing anything worth it on ebay or amazon.

A rad shop would probably charge me the cost of radiator Express to do the work.

Anyone know of another spot or am I going with rockauto?
 

IDIBRONCO

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Those radiators weren't very popular from what I've seen. People have trouble finding new replacements. Some even go to the trouble of swapping core supports so that they can run the other style. I sure would because I hate those wide radiators. They always seemed to be much more difficult to take out and reinstall.
 

Nero

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Champion Radiators have then at a good price. All aluminum though, don't know if that's a deal breaker.
 

Rdnck84_03

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If it is in the center of the radiator and you can isolate exactly which core it is cut the fins from around it and either solder the hole up. Or you can smash about an inch on each side of the hole and cut the core at the hole, fold about 1/4" of each of them over squeezing tight. Then fold it over again and squeeze it tight.

Have done this on tractor radiators that have held fo 20+ years.

James
 

u2slow

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Spectra is a major brand. Rockauto is just one vendor.

Check Summit Racing too. That was the cheapest source for my Dodge.... even though it was welded aluminum instead of copper/brass.

That short/wide Ford rad is often preferable because it fits the common rad support used in the gas trucks.

Edit: I'm still hanging onto my old radiators in case I have to resort to a re-core in the future.
 

Scotty4

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Thanks everyone. Good call @Rdnck84_03 I may cut the fins and see how bad it is. My fear is if one spot is getting rough on a 38 year old rad, more may begin. I will gove soldering a go, worst it does it get me to the dump a few more times and haul some wood before quitting again.

@u2slow when I end up pulling it, I do plan on storing it above the shop. It will sit next to my starter and alternator. I don't like throwing away old cores of anything.
 

The_Josh_Bear

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FWIW I have a spectra from NAPA. Lifetime warranty and I've used it twice. They always tell me "we never get come-backs on these" but whatever, I get a new leak-free rad for a short trip to the parts store vs dealing with Rockauto and shipping or whatever. Mine is the A/C version but I'm sure NAPA could order one for your situation.
 

typ4

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Napa is BS'ing you, spectra is ok but still have warranty issues. we had 1 leak right out of the box and a condenser not long after. But they were chevy parts.LOL
 

electrabishi

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The square one sticks down below the frame cross member on my RSK kit. I'm afraid I'm going to hit something into the radiator. I scabbed a core support onto the '96 that I put a 6.9L in just so I could keep the short wide radiator. Also the old ones still have a fill cap right on the radiator. The new ones don't. The square ones seem thicker though so may have an extra coil in them. But the short one came with 6.9L's so that's what I'm staying with on this rig.
 

Scotty4

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Update: I tries soldering the old one after a pressure test and when reinstalled, it spring two more leaks. Most the cores were pretty corroded. I bought the spectra one off rockauto and it looked pretty good out the box. Installed with no leaks. Only complaint is the fan shroud holes had one nut welded on, the other three required swapping the clips over.
 

Austin86250

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I’ve got a rad in 83617 you can have it for free if your in the area, one time when I was doing motor mounts I got a little careless and swung the fan into the rad took it to a radiator shop and they repaired the 2 holes for 75$ and they garunte it for life
 

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