Radiator: Replace or rebuild?
Thread Starter
|
5th Wheeling
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 39
Likes: 2
Radiator: Replace or rebuild?
Hi everyone,
My radiator is old and tired from decades of use. Looking for an advice.
Cooling fins are bent and full of crap and there is a small coolant leak around the ATF cooling line inlet.
Should I:
A) Have the cooling elements (2 rows) and ATF nipples replaced by a professional workshop
OR
B) Buy a new all-aluminum (3 row) radiator from RockAuto: LILAND GLOBAL1455AA3R
The end price is similar, shipping cost vs labor cost.
Are these all-aluminum radiators from RockAuto good quality and reliable?
What are the pros and cons of having aluminum vs brass top and bottom?
Oh and the vehicle is '93 E-150 4.9 EFI
Thanks for your advice
Einsi
My radiator is old and tired from decades of use. Looking for an advice.
Cooling fins are bent and full of crap and there is a small coolant leak around the ATF cooling line inlet.
Should I:
A) Have the cooling elements (2 rows) and ATF nipples replaced by a professional workshop
OR
B) Buy a new all-aluminum (3 row) radiator from RockAuto: LILAND GLOBAL1455AA3R
The end price is similar, shipping cost vs labor cost.
Are these all-aluminum radiators from RockAuto good quality and reliable?
What are the pros and cons of having aluminum vs brass top and bottom?
Oh and the vehicle is '93 E-150 4.9 EFI
Thanks for your advice
Einsi
More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 516
Likes: 72
From: Tucson
Might want to check this thread:
https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/fo.../164679/page1/
Personally, I would avoid Rock because any warranty issues would be much harder to resolve than if you bought a rad at the LAPS.
What kind of warranty can you get with the shop?
PS: Does your present rad leak anywhere else besides the AT cooler fitting? If not,maybe you could just clean up and straighten the fins and run a separate,external AT cooler.
https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/fo.../164679/page1/
Personally, I would avoid Rock because any warranty issues would be much harder to resolve than if you bought a rad at the LAPS.
What kind of warranty can you get with the shop?
PS: Does your present rad leak anywhere else besides the AT cooler fitting? If not,maybe you could just clean up and straighten the fins and run a separate,external AT cooler.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 10,536
Likes: 2,664
From: Near Salt Lake City
The Rock auto radiator would be okay and I have ran several
They are cheaply made biut then so are them all
It is real similar to one you would get from 1 800 radiator or autozone
I went the bigger 4 core I believe all aluminum radiator for my 94 5.8
True story on the warranty
Even 1 800 radiator lifetime warranty requires removal and their inspection before they will give you a new one
Autozone had the best warranty
They don't care if your dog eats it
They are cheaply made biut then so are them all
It is real similar to one you would get from 1 800 radiator or autozone
I went the bigger 4 core I believe all aluminum radiator for my 94 5.8
True story on the warranty
Even 1 800 radiator lifetime warranty requires removal and their inspection before they will give you a new one
Autozone had the best warranty
They don't care if your dog eats it
More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 516
Likes: 72
From: Tucson
The Rock auto radiator would be okay and I have ran several
They are cheaply made biut then so are them all
It is real similar to one you would get from 1 800 radiator or autozone
I went the bigger 4 core I believe all aluminum radiator for my 94 5.8
True story on the warranty
Even 1 800 radiator lifetime warranty requires removal and their inspection before they will give you a new one
Autozone had the best warranty
They are cheaply made biut then so are them all
It is real similar to one you would get from 1 800 radiator or autozone
I went the bigger 4 core I believe all aluminum radiator for my 94 5.8
True story on the warranty
Even 1 800 radiator lifetime warranty requires removal and their inspection before they will give you a new one
Autozone had the best warranty
Thread Starter
|
5th Wheeling
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 39
Likes: 2
Whoah that's one terrible review on the Liland Global radiators! Thanks for pointing that out econo93!
I asked at the local radiator-repair-shop and they have 2-year warranty on parts and assembly work. I think that kind of sums it up
The radiator (amazingly) doesn't leak in other places, but when I took a closer look I noticed that the cooling fins were simply missing in large sections. It's definitely time for new cores.
Option A it is. Thanks a lot for helping me choose!
I asked at the local radiator-repair-shop and they have 2-year warranty on parts and assembly work. I think that kind of sums it up
The radiator (amazingly) doesn't leak in other places, but when I took a closer look I noticed that the cooling fins were simply missing in large sections. It's definitely time for new cores.
Option A it is. Thanks a lot for helping me choose!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
cetane
Pre-Power Stroke Diesel (7.3L IDI & 6.9L)
21
May 14, 2019 11:04 AM
dtgl90vt
Pre-Power Stroke Diesel (7.3L IDI & 6.9L)
15
Nov 16, 2012 08:32 PM
Ace!
Explorer, Sport Trac, Mountaineer & Aviator
5
Jun 13, 2009 06:24 PM
Glockem45
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
21
Mar 22, 2009 05:42 PM
