Radiator Options

[Brown_Muscle]

My 32 year old copper/brass 3 row radiator has sprung a leak, I have it out of the car now and i'm considering soldering it. However I'm a bit worried it will spring a leak elsewhere sometime soon.

Rockauto has a direct replacement for about $210, there is also an all aluminum 2 core here: https://www.radiatorexpress.com/prod...NflxoCLbzw_wcB

Ideally I'd like the brass/copper... anyone know a place I'm not looking, or any insight in repairing it?

[GM_Guy]

I'd give it a go and solder it, provided the fins ain't pulling off easily, or it looks like its got a lot of questionable overall integrity.

Alex.

[IPreferDIY]

Here's a thread with some discussion about repair vs. replace:

http://www.grandmarq.net/vb/showthread.php?51203-It-just-never-ends-(

And here's a follow-up thread after the OP decided to replace the rad:

http://www.grandmarq.net/vb/showthread.php?51599-Radiator-for-86-MGM-5-0

[gadget73]

I bought one from Advance for an 85 police car. Its the copper/brass thing that your car most probably has. That was a few years ago tho, it may not be available anymore.


Is it leaking from one of the joints, or did it get thin and leaky in the middle of a piece of brass ? If it developed holes in the middle of a piece, the rest is probably about paper thin by now and won't hold up. If its just a joint that let go, try fixing it. Worst that will happen is it won't hold.

[Brown_Muscle]

Good links DIY. It is leaking towards one of the tanks, it could be a joint, I have to put some pressure through it and see. The coolant system has always been taken care of-plenty of flushes in it's life, and regular coolant changes.

[Toploader]

Brown, my '86 Tudor MGM had the original copper/brass radiator.........till two weeks ago. I felt that a radiator amost 30 yrs old would have additional problems before too long!........I purchased a radiator from RockAuto (Vista-Pro).......came in damaged, refused it, ordered another from Parts Geek, Spectra from Canada, not China. Two weeks in and I am a happy man

My 32 year old copper/brass 3 row radiator has sprung a leak, I have it out of the car now and i'm considering soldering it. However I'm a bit worried it will spring a leak elsewhere sometime soon.

Rockauto has a direct replacement for about $210, there is also an all aluminum 2 core here: https://www.radiatorexpress.com/prod...NflxoCLbzw_wcB

Ideally I'd like the brass/copper... anyone know a place I'm not looking, or any insight in repairing it?

[TrapSpeed111]

http://www.genesisautoparts.com/all_...toria-1989.htm Their prices or quality cant be beat. They have warehouses in California and New Jersey

[Brown_Muscle]

Wow that 2 core radiator is a great deal, wish I had found that before!

I ended up going with a 3 core copper one from rockauto actually, very stock looking. I found out when i removed it that I actually had a 2 core brass radiator..so UPGRADE for the win.

[87gtVIC]

Phil did you need to purchase a different upper radiator hose when installing the three core?

[Brown_Muscle]

Thankfully not, the car already had the 2 different size hoses on it because of the police package, if you are going from a civilian style 1 core radiator though, I imagine you will have to change at least one.

[sly]

yeah... top hose is different. Get the top hose for a 351 as it'll match up. Bottom hose is the same.

[87gtVIC]

SO if I am doing this right the hose for the three core radiator would have a diameter of 1 1/4 where as the hose for the regular 2 core rads would be 1 7/16 according to my research.

I would be looking into picking up a three core radiator and I would then need the 1 1/4 upper hose right?

[turbo2256b]

Yep and they can be hard to find

[sly]

Autozone had the right hose when I put the dual core in the Mark.

[gadget73]

I asked for a hose for an 85 Vic with a 351 when I put the larger radiator in my car. No problem getting it or the radiator.