Well shortly after buying my F350 back in November I noticed that when ever the temp got below zero I had a leak out of the right side tank. Anything above 15 or so it would work fine and hold, even with a load and working the engine. Back in March I decided to buy a used radiator from a local salvage yard for 275 bucks and new Ford radiator hoses and T-stats and Gold coolant and just wait for some nice weather to tackle the project.

This Sunday I went a head and tore in to this. In all I had 4 hours to complete the swap plus change new T-stats, radiator hoses coolant, ect.... but there was a small well sort of big problem. The new to me radiator had a hole in the core and leaked a waterfall. Boo to have to remove everything and start over. Worse for me was the radiator only had a 30 day warranty and I am well past that even though I never installed it.

I called the place up and calmly explained the situation and they were so helpful and said they no longer had any other used ones to exchange me and none coming in anything soon. They did offer to sell me a brand new one at their cost and take the old one back and I only had to pay the difference. For 75 more I got a brand new factory style replacement. I know its not as good as the all aluminum setup but I simply do not have the funds for that. This place totally did not have to do this and were awesome! I will be buying parts from them for sure.

Anyway most of the tools needed were 5.5MM, 8MM, 10MM, 13MM sockets, hose pliers, drain bucket, electric impact, flat blade screw driver, phillips screw driver pliers, extensions/ratchets. Over all its not a bad project, and I am sure glad my EGR coolers are gone or the job would royally suck.

MY T-stats were shot, notice the rubber missing from them when I pulled them.

I forgot to add I added a coolant filter and Im glad I did seeing as how my T-stats left crap somewhere in the engine and I hope the filter catches along with any other junk that might be in there.

I also bought one of them fancy vacuum filers and had to build an adaptor to get it to work right with the Ford pickup but it worked great. I have never used one of these before and had no expectation of the tool. I did buy a cheap 60 dollar one off Amazon and not the 100 plus one, maybe had I bought the more expensive one it would have worked with the Ford degas bottle. It didn't take long to fab up something to make this tool work.

Here are some pictures of the job. I forgot to take pictures of the coolant filter install.

Jeff

All the coolers un-stacked and out of the way to get to radiator.




Radiator out of the way.




Inner fender out of way to get to lower radiator hose.



Picture of two old T-stats with along side one new one.



Picture of the T-stat in the hosing.



Pliers used to push down and twist T-stats out and in housing.



Vacuum filling system.



Homemade clamp to hold rubber boot into degas tank. 1/2 inch diameter bolts not needed but it is all I had that was long enough in my bolt collection.



Water leak on my new to me radiator.



My brand new shiny radiator!



Vacuum tool working great!



Upper hose collapsed from vacuum.

 

What brand radiator did you buy?

 

Looks like your having too much fun__for sure.