Opinions on radiator repair??

[jaymac]

For a pinhole (that's obviosly big enough to leak through, do you guys recommend full replacement, or that radiator repai in a bottle stuff, or what?
It happened while trying to hammer off the old water pump, the ball-peen end tapped the fins, barely enough to bend the fins, but enough to create a hole, apparently. It's enough to create drips.
What's my best bet?
Thanks -
J

 

[bubba-dough]

Replace the radiator or have it professionally rapaired. I would stay away from that crap in a bottle because that runs throught the entire cooling system and if it plugs a leak what else is it gonna plug, that scares me.

 

[jaymac]

yeah, i'm pivkin' one up from the junkyard today for $40...$192 for a new one (which would have to be special ordered)

 

[rd]

Should be a simple matter of taking it to a radiator shop for a repair. Its usually $25-30 around here.

 

[srothfuss]

It's such a good excuse to buy a brand new radiator though... Unless your radiator is already new.

 

[jaymac]

It's actually the rad. on my fiance's T-bird, so no way I'm dropping ash for a new rad. on a non-performance oriented vehicle. Now if it were MINE, damn skippy I woud spring for a new one

 

[Black1987Stang]

Good old vice grips will fix her like new...ok jk but i have fixed 2 pretty big size holes in a tube with vice grips and one I fixed in a parking lot, a guy came over and was like theres no way thats gonna work haha, its held for over 2 years on his daily driver and the other i fixed my moms honda radiator but that was only a temp. fix the next week i changed the radiator. Im not suggesting to do it, just sharing my experience

 

[jrichker]

I have sucessfully fixed leaky radiator tubes with a propane torch & solder. I will have to admit it wasn't pretty...

 

[jaymac]

well, the junkyard piece I got appears to be leaking fromthe plastic tank somewhere....

 

[Michael Yount]

I was gonna warn you - junk yard radiators are usually no bargain. I'd take yours to a rad shop and have it repaired.

 

[jaymac]

will do!

 

[TheUser]

I have used blue RTV on a radiator before and it stopped the leak. Depending on where exactly it's at, maybe you could use some JB weld? I wouldn't use the stop-leak stuff for the reasons mentioned above: it clogs up your whole cooling system, not just your radiator.

You could probably get a 2-core radiator for $100-150.