I have a 94.5 7.3 , this is the 3 rd radiator that's about to go in this truck , the past 2 have leaked majorly! It's to the point where I have to add a gal of water to the POS rad every 25 miles , and I just said bump it I'm not going to buy a cheap one so I was looking into a mishimoto rad . Now I know that this is a mid year truck and that the rads are different 2,3,or 4 row ones i don't know what I'm looking for and I don't want to get the wrong one or is there any suggestions that would help ???!?!?!!

 

Have you thought about getting your original radiator repaired?

 

It's not worth it , a radiator shop said it was going to be like $150 to do it . I don't want to risk another leak with this one , it held up for a year and a half before it started to leak

 

WRT the radiator, it's not a "mid-year" truck. All the '94s had the old-school radiator with a cap. The new-style radiator with no cap came in mid-year '95. Just make sure you get the "tall" radiator.

But if you still have the first radiator, and it's the original brass one, $150 to repair it might well be worth it. That kind of radiator repair is fast becoming a lost craft, but if you have one of those old-school radiator shops nearby, and they have experience from years/decades past with brass radiator repair, I'd consider it.

 

How is a $150 to fix a COPPER radiator too much?

What is the new cheap POS plastic and aluminum one?

 

Copper? The core, maybe. But on my '85, anyway, the tanks are most def'ly brass.

 

The tanks are brass, but the cores are copper.

Anyways, I agree with Brad. I really don't get that logic. How is spending $150 to repair a nice copper/brass radiator that lasted ~15-20 years not worth it, but spending $150-250 2 times for a new, cheap aluminum/plastic radiator somehow is?

A new copper/brass radiator for these trucks costs over $450, but $150 to repair yours isn't worth it?

 

Eggzackly, a good radiator shop can make a lasting repair and save money. Tell the truth it may be better than new. Lots of problems with newer OEM radiators from you know where.

 

i had the original rad repaired 3 times in my 88. when it needed a new core, i put in a modine Brass/copper replacement, that was the exact same thing as the ford factory unit. the modine has been in it for close to 10 years now without any issues.
i have never seen an aluminum rad last 10 years, especially one of those mishimishi pieces of junk.

 

I still have the original rad at my house the one that's in my truck now is a spectra rad and its aluminum and leaks water all over the motor and on the ground , would the old one worth fixing ?

 

a brass/copper radiator is better than any aluminum piece of junk radiator any day of the week.

 

Depends where the damage is, he'll have to look at but generally yes. The aluminium is not really repairable like brass and copper.

 

The tanks are easily repairable. The core can be repaired if not too far gone. If it is too far gone, they can replace the core with a new one. If the core is worth saving, make sure you have them rod it out, that will clean all of the scale and gunk out of the core tubes. I'd much rather have a copper/brass rad than one made from old beer cans and milk jugs..........But......finding an old school radiator shop can be an challenge anymore due to the throw away world we now live in.

 

Yes copper. The tanks typically are not the problem, but the core is

 

I can not identify where the leak is coming from all I see is a steady stream of water coming out the top and blowing water all over the the engine and this radiator is all aluminum, I have taken the rad out twice already and do not see any kind of warping , dents, or cracks