Champion radiator query ............
3rd Gear
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 3
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From: Enumclaw, WA
Thats good to know, if this 3rd 3-row radiator goes TU then I’ll go back to 2-row radiator as well.
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From: The Shenandoah Valley
Thanks to all who replied.
Exactly the kind of feedback I was looking for in this short thread. If I ever need another replacement, maybe then I'll go aluminum. All this talk of several returns gives me the "*******" .
I've pretty much decided that I'm gonna play this one out, if it ever leaks at the same place, I'll work on it again then ... Dremel tool will work with more J B Weld if needed. It has 3" wide top tank and 2" of core, I forgot to look down inside and count rows before refilling it but it's always been enough.
Aluminum is pretty ... but pretty might clash with what else is under the hood.
I will keep my eyes open though, might be I find a back up?
Exactly the kind of feedback I was looking for in this short thread. If I ever need another replacement, maybe then I'll go aluminum. All this talk of several returns gives me the "*******" .
I've pretty much decided that I'm gonna play this one out, if it ever leaks at the same place, I'll work on it again then ... Dremel tool will work with more J B Weld if needed. It has 3" wide top tank and 2" of core, I forgot to look down inside and count rows before refilling it but it's always been enough.
Aluminum is pretty ... but pretty might clash with what else is under the hood.
I will keep my eyes open though, might be I find a back up?
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From: The Shenandoah Valley
Today, I pulled it around to do some odd things, and to get it good and warm to test my fix. It got warm, then I see two places dripping.
Disghusted, I shut it off, crawled under for a look, coming from up high. Awe man, gonna need a radiator after all.
Tracing green trail led me up and across the upper seam ... right to the new radiator cap, I checked, it was only tightened to the safety notch.
Grab a wrag, press, turn, rinse green off, no leaks no more.
I forget exactly why I did, but I do recall leaving it like that a couple days ago.
I didn't mean to leave it like that, but I did it with the intent to fully turn it before going back in the house ... but I just forgot to is what I mean.
Disghusted, I shut it off, crawled under for a look, coming from up high. Awe man, gonna need a radiator after all.
Tracing green trail led me up and across the upper seam ... right to the new radiator cap, I checked, it was only tightened to the safety notch.
Grab a wrag, press, turn, rinse green off, no leaks no more.
I forget exactly why I did, but I do recall leaving it like that a couple days ago.I didn't mean to leave it like that, but I did it with the intent to fully turn it before going back in the house ... but I just forgot to is what I mean.
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From: The Shenandoah Valley
Are they any count?
Yesterday I found a "pinhole leak" peeing coolant out through the grille, no doubt but that it was my fault when I was pulling the AC condenser last week. I removed the grill for access, drained the coolant, cleaned it to metal (copper), l located the hole, little sanding, used muriatic acid followed by carb cleaner, built it up with original J B Weld, included an embedded metal mesh for extra strength, likely it'll hold. It's gonna be well cured by tomorrow, when I'll paint and refill and etc. I put this radiator in when I put the AC in in the late '80s, it has never had "just water", truck has only ever had a 50 / 50 or richer mix green concentrate / distilled water in it since '86. ..........
Yesterday I found a "pinhole leak" peeing coolant out through the grille, no doubt but that it was my fault when I was pulling the AC condenser last week. I removed the grill for access, drained the coolant, cleaned it to metal (copper), l located the hole, little sanding, used muriatic acid followed by carb cleaner, built it up with original J B Weld, included an embedded metal mesh for extra strength, likely it'll hold. It's gonna be well cured by tomorrow, when I'll paint and refill and etc. I put this radiator in when I put the AC in in the late '80s, it has never had "just water", truck has only ever had a 50 / 50 or richer mix green concentrate / distilled water in it since '86. ..........
When I first found that leak I had driven to a friend's shop for some reason and he asked about the paint, I turned to say something and my truck was peeing a strong stream out the grille. The buddy was who suggested the J B Weld, he has done it on his drag car when away from home.
Anyway, it worked for me.
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tyler.dunn94
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
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Jul 10, 2015 08:11 PM
