radiator leak
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
From: Monticello Mn. in central
radiator leak
Well went to fill the engine with coolant today on the 50 F1 and the radiator is leaking. I don't know if I should send it to a radiator shop and see if they can repair it or try to find a new one. I think they should be able to recore it. What does everyone else do? I want to have it running by next weekend. Oh well.
Believe Nothing
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 7,514
Likes: 397
From: W. Central FL.
If I had a good radiator shop available, I would certainly check with them before buying a replacement radiator. Unfortunately, good radiator shops are very hard to find. The EPA, other regulators, and cheap imports have made radiator shops an endangered business.
Where is it leaking, tank, core or inlet/outlet?
Where is it leaking, tank, core or inlet/outlet?
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: Goodyear, AZ
Re-cored mine and she is woking great! The shop tested it to 20lbs and I run it at 4 so I should have no issues cooling my flathead during an Arizona summer.........I hope i didn't just jinx myself.
DjS
DjS
Trending Topics
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 310
Likes: 25
From: Eagan, MN
I see you are from Monticello, MN. Last year I took my radiator to American Radiator on University Ave. in St. Paul, a mile or so West of the Capitol, or East of Little Dearborn, which ever landmark you want to go by. Old school radiator shop that didn't look so great but they fixed the leaks, did it when they said they would and we swapped some stories besides. I'm thinking it cost either $125 or $150. I'm glad I went that route. Good luck.
Grant
Grant
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
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
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 645
Likes: 10
If I had a good radiator shop available, I would certainly check with them before buying a replacement radiator. Unfortunately, good radiator shops are very hard to find. The EPA, other regulators, and cheap imports have made radiator shops an endangered business.
Where is it leaking, tank, core or inlet/outlet?
Where is it leaking, tank, core or inlet/outlet?
Repair or replace all depends on how important originality is to you. To me, replacing simple bolt on parts is fine as good as long as you save the original.
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
From: Monticello Mn. in central
Found a radiator shop in the next town over who said he would try to fix it by this weekend. There must be a big call for radiator repairs because the shop was full of radiators.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,832
Likes: 467
From: Mason City, Iowa
In my area there are two shops. One of them told me a few years back was at that time he was staying busy repairing tractor and heany equipment radiators. Car and truck radiators not so much because a new car radiator could be installed either that day or the next, and he couldn't turn around a quality repair nearly that fast. And not to mention the cost being about the same for a cheap new radiator depending on the vehicle model.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,685
Likes: 80
From: Northville, MI
The price quoted to me on re-coring my '50 F2 V8 was $500+. LMC truck had a new aluminum for about $300. Truck Parts and Truck Accessories
If you have budget concerns right now don't be afraid to try Bars Leak. I ran an old Jeep for 20 years with it and never had a problem.
If you have budget concerns right now don't be afraid to try Bars Leak. I ran an old Jeep for 20 years with it and never had a problem.