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A little history, I just did the head gaskets over a month and now I developed a slow coolant. I have been able to trace it down to the top seam of the radiator. I am thinking a cracked it when I was working on the top of the motor.
Any suggestions on a new one. I'm thinking I would like to go with an all aluminum one. In my searches I have come up with 4 chooses:
I had the same thing happen to me. Big ol' gut and the plastic radiator top just aren't a good mix. I bought a stock one on Amazon cheap, but it was packaged so bad it was busted when it arrived. Had to have it "right now" so went to advance auto and bought one for twice the price. It was stock also, but it worked. It's been on for a couple of years now, no problems.
It's my understanding the BPD is a Performance Radiator, only at a higher cost. Maybe the extra cost is justified if BPD can deliver it without any damage. I ordered directly from Performance and it took them three tries, and they were all damaged. They told me to toss them and gave me a refund. I kept the third one as it was the best. So I got it for free but it's racked so the top mounting brackets are cocked to the passengers side. Drives me bananas but it was free and I still don't know what else to as the plastic tanks are out of the question for me.
Here's the first one I received from Performance. That grey foam pad on the floor is the only packing material that was in the box.
The second one had significantly more packing material...
The third one was messengered from their Austin or Waco warehouse. What a waste.
Could have gotten a good black friday deal on a MIshi but I have to worry about head gaskets now.
A little history, I just did the head gaskets over a month and now I developed a slow coolant. I have been able to trace it down to the top seam of the radiator. I am thinking a cracked it when I was working on the top of the motor.
Any suggestions on a new one. I'm thinking I would like to go with an all aluminum one. In my searches I have come up with 4 chooses:
Are you absolutely sure it is leaking at the top seam? The reason why I ask is I had a similar situation. The coolant welled up and seemed to be seeping from the top seam where the crimps are and dribbled down from there. I started looking for a replacement radiator, but upon closer inspection I finally found that it was seeping from the underneath side of the upper radiator hose connection to the radiator and then welling up and flowing along the upper radiator seam, where it then dribbled down from.
It's difficult to see it because there is little clearance between the bottom of the upper hose and the upper seam where it butts up to the radiator. I readjusted the clamp, tightened it up and no more leak. I really should look into replacing the worm screw hose clamps with the constant pressure spring hose clamps, or whatever they're called. I don't know why Ford puts them at the thermostat and degas bottle but use regular hose clamps at the radiator. I've also had occasional slow drips at the lower hose but not as badly as the upper hose was doing. The trouble with regular hose clamps is you can eventually over tighten them and ruin the hose. In fact, I did replace that upper hose, but haven't done so with the lower radiator hose.
First pic shows where leak originated. Second pic is below the truck and the last shows where the leak welled up and flowed along the upper radiator seam all the way to the far/passenger side of the radiator and then down the side. Looked just like the upper seam was doing the leaking.
Pretty sure that’s the main one. There are other iffy parts they sell but not all of them. I have the stainless oil sump screen they make. It’s been solid.
