Need a new radiator

[EddieExpedition]

It appears that the blazer needs a new radiator. It has a Performance Radiator brand now that is leaking at the tank seems. It’s all metal, no plastic. All I’m finding is plastic tank versions now.

Any recommendations for a replacement?

 

[Wes Harden]

I have more faith in the aluminum/plastic, than most of aluminum "performance" rads, Chinese knock offs many.
What kind of metal is your leaking rad? If brass have it repaired/recored. I try to match heater core and radiator material. Ie aluminum with aluminum, brass with brass.

 

[EddieExpedition]

It appears to be brass. I guess I’ll try to see if anyone in the area repairs these.

 

[6872xtc]

My experience with the aftermarket brass radiators has been that they don't use enough solder to make the joints as strong as the older units. Back when my local Performance Radiator shop did complete repairs, I had them go all the way through a couple of Northern brand radiators from International mixer trucks, which had only been in service a few years. There was just the bare minimum of solder holding everything, including the header plates to the tubes.
So I wouldn't recommend just a repair of the leak, personally. A complete rebuild would be my choice, but only if the shop deems that everything is well made enough amd in good enough condition.
And that won't be cheap.

 

[EddieExpedition]

Looks like the closest shop that may do it is 1.5 hrs away. I’ll probably just spring for a nice replacement. ‍

 

[dyeager535]

My experience thus far with the plastic/AL radiators is that if they are going to leak, they'll likely do so right away.

At $500 to have a copper/brass recored (and that was years ago, now??), to me it wasn't much debate to go with the $100 parts store cheapy with the forever warranty and locations all over the place if I needed to warranty it.

Got a few years now on this one (about five), no issues with it so far. Has no problem keeping the engine cool anywhere I've taken it.

 

[AZ79K5Project]

I went with a Cold Case radiator. It’s a little pricey but seems to work pretty good.

 

[EddieExpedition]

I ended up just getting a local parts store radiator. The radiator repair shop here closed a few months ago and I didn’t want to drive hours away just to see if it’s repairable. It’s a fraction of the weight and only one row vs two. We’ll see how it does.

 

[Wes Harden]

your old one may have extra weight from years of dirt drawn in from coolant recovery bottle. I mean besides the brass vs alum/plastic.

Totally understandable, thou I did just that to get our coach rad serviced, and my bronco rad re-cored. 100 mile round trip x2, and $900, would have been more had the 55 Chevy pick up tanks not been beyond saving. Went for because I was afraid the shop owner would retire soon, as it is only the owner and his cousin in the shop now both closing in on 60.
Have radiator shop here in Havasu did the new core on dads 72 Ranchero, was really spendy, but ended up with a nice high efficacy brass core. Turns out this the same family shop I use when I lived here in the 80's, did business with current owners dad. He move the shop to a better location.

 

[EddieExpedition]

I plan on keeping the old one and taking down to a shop when I can. Just to see if it can be repaired and what it would run me. Who knows, maybe when this one bites the dust, I’ll slap the brass one back in.

 

[Gibby56]

Maybe I’m lucky but I’ve had great experiences with the Wuhan specials from eBay.

 

[Blue85]

Maybe practice your soldering on the old one?

 

[kennyw]

Summit racing has new copper/ brass for 6.2L diesel applications. I wouldn't be surprised if they have other applications.

 

[jtrux]

There's a shop in town I've used for years. They went through mine a few years back and resealed the tanks, fixed a few leaks and just went through it in general. It looks like it is leaking again so I'll bring it back to then for a recore pretty soon and see what that damage is.

 

[Hosalabad]

We tried a cold case in the shop truck, early failure, they warrantied it. They shipped a new one, and we repaired the old one, so we do have a spare, but via some hassle. I just got a Griffin for my truck and holy shit it is nice.

 

[imiceman44]

Maybe practice your soldering on the old one?

I used to repair all mine but now all I have is aluminum so I just replace them.
I did scrap a couple of brass radiators beyond repair I got from trucks I scrapped and they were $100 each.
Paid for my next aluminum replacement

 

[EddieExpedition]

We’ve put several thousand miles on the new radiator and so far no real issues. It does not cool as well ( according to the gauge) as the previous one did. When it gets into the 90’s my temp creeps up to 210 and a little over. With the old radiator, I rarely saw temps get to the 210 mark.