Installed new radiator
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: Junction City, Ks
Installed new radiator
So I bought a new radiator at Autozone and installed it in my '85 Bronco. The old radiator leaked a lot around the neck and seams. My question is this. The old radiator had an overflow tube coming from the fill neck, just one. The new radiator has two nipples coming off the filler neck. The radiator came with a rubber cap looking thing and since the book called for this radiator I just went with it and put the cap over the bottom nipple and hooked up my overflow tube to the upper nipple. I put on a new pressure release radiator cap on it and figured everything was fine.
Tody, while checking the oil, I noticed that I have anti-freeze leaking from the lower nipple that isn't hooked up to anything. I felt like there was good pressure behind it too. Did they give me the wrong radiator? I looked it up myself and it shows this one's right. Do I need to get a splitter and have two overflow tubes going into one that leads to the overflow tank?
Any ideas are appreciated.
Tody, while checking the oil, I noticed that I have anti-freeze leaking from the lower nipple that isn't hooked up to anything. I felt like there was good pressure behind it too. Did they give me the wrong radiator? I looked it up myself and it shows this one's right. Do I need to get a splitter and have two overflow tubes going into one that leads to the overflow tank?
Any ideas are appreciated.
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
Hello, I too just changed te radiator on my Bronco. Mine is an 88 4.9L with manual tranny. Autozone showed the Spectra CU1454 as the replacement. It was different from the original as well. It also had the extra nipple at the radiator neck, it was at least twice as thick than the original, and has the auto tranny cooler connections. I think they just carry a "universal" radiator to fit all Broncos/F150s. The only problem I had was I need to modify the mounting tabs for the fan shroud.
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: Junction City, Ks
I found the same problem with the shroud tabs. Of course, this was after I had put everything together. I wasn't about to take the radiator out or fiddle with the fan either so I just cut the shroud off with my sawzall. Before anyone freaks out, the shroud that was on it was really tore up and was going to need replacing anyway. Now that winter's just about here, I figure I don't need the shroud to channel the cold air.
I'll get a different shroud and install it when I do the water pump. Still, it is frustrating as hell when they list it specifically for your truck only to find it isn't a direct fit.
I'll get a different shroud and install it when I do the water pump. Still, it is frustrating as hell when they list it specifically for your truck only to find it isn't a direct fit.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 583
Likes: 0
From: Augusta, Georgia
M-L,
Any aftermarket radiator will have the extra nipple; the price we pay for part number consolidation.
Any aftermarket radiator will have the extra nipple; the price we pay for part number consolidation.
Trending Topics
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 0
From: Panama City, Fl
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
maybe not so much if it on an extra.....
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 583
Likes: 0
From: Augusta, Georgia
FTE Family,
Do NOT trust the rubber caps that come with these radiators! That lower nipple is in the pressurized part of the radiator.
A better cap can be made by inserting a 3/8's bolt into a short piece of hose (Fuel, transmission or coolant) and a good hose clamp, then clamp onto the nipple with good another clamp. Do NOT use vacuum hose.
Granted, not very pretty-looking, but if the cheap rubber cap fails (Which it WILL do.), it could cost you angine.
Do NOT trust the rubber caps that come with these radiators! That lower nipple is in the pressurized part of the radiator.
A better cap can be made by inserting a 3/8's bolt into a short piece of hose (Fuel, transmission or coolant) and a good hose clamp, then clamp onto the nipple with good another clamp. Do NOT use vacuum hose.
Granted, not very pretty-looking, but if the cheap rubber cap fails (Which it WILL do.), it could cost you angine.
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: Junction City, Ks
Yep, Captradiator's right. That's how I found out. I put that cap on and it didn't take very long at all once the truck heated up to start spraying out from around that cap.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
little dutch
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
26
Dec 27, 2022 05:43 AM
trevorrules
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
17
Mar 20, 2021 08:25 PM
farmnaggie
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
16
Jul 13, 2016 10:09 AM
