radiator leaking on 74
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Waggoner IL
radiator leaking on 74
just got this 74 and jacked it up on one side to change the oil and afterwards noticed the radiator leaking on the drivers side lower corner, did it happen because i jacked it up or was leaking anyway? thoughts on repair and how bad is it removing it for repair? thanks
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,438
Likes: 2
From: Melrose Florida
I don't know your skill level, so no offense intended...
If you jacked up your radiator, you probably ruined it, I suggest spending $500 for DeWitt's aluminum replacement, not a bad job, removing the hood makes it easier.
If you did not jack your radiator, it is just coincidence that you spied the leak. Same repair.
Steve
If you jacked up your radiator, you probably ruined it, I suggest spending $500 for DeWitt's aluminum replacement, not a bad job, removing the hood makes it easier.
If you did not jack your radiator, it is just coincidence that you spied the leak. Same repair.
Steve
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Waggoner IL
radiator repair or replace
used a floor jack on the frame to lift the car up enough to get under to change the oil, had jack behind front wheel on the frame to raise it. didn't know if that was enough to twist the radiator or not. it wouldn't on a normal car but didn't know on this one. is repairing the radiator out of the question on these? thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
used a floor jack on the frame to lift the car up enough to get under to change the oil, had jack behind front wheel on the frame to raise it. didn't know if that was enough to twist the radiator or not. it wouldn't on a normal car but didn't know on this one. is repairing the radiator out of the question on these? thanks
If jacking the frame is what killed the radiator then you have some serious rot issues with the radiator core support and that needs to be looked at for rust and rot.
It's very possible that the jacking did not cause this and they are unrelated.
Either way, you can try to have the stock radiator looked at and repaired or you can drop some coin in a new DeWitts as mentioned. There is a current thread right now, a Christmas special for forum members. Money off and free shipping.
Take advantage...this is one of the best radiators you could put in your car.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Just check your radiator core support very carefully. Poke at it with a flat head screw driver. Don't be gentle. If it pokes through anywhere then you have rust. If it's solid all the way around, bottom...everywhere, then you're safe for now.
Just check it and we can move on to figuring out what happened.
Have you narrowed the leaky spot on the radiator yet? Top...bottom, which side?
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,629
Likes: 4
From: Somers CT
You can also have the radiator re-cored if the rest of it is in good condition. It's a whole lot cheaper than $500.
Fill out your profile some time so we know where you are. I have a 75 rad that I had re-cored that's like brand new if you get that far and you're interested. I'm in CT.
Good luck with it
Fill out your profile some time so we know where you are. I have a 75 rad that I had re-cored that's like brand new if you get that far and you're interested. I'm in CT.
Good luck with it
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Waggoner IL
74 radiator problem
took radiator out this morning, leaking on drivers side in the lower corner, i did my profile also, sorry bout that. lower support on that side rusted out and wore a hole in it there. looks like a new one to be safe. i'd like to do it right the first time. getting the fan shoud out is a bear. any good ways to do it. i took the fan blades off and it helped but still a real pain or maybe just not doing it the right way. thanks for helping.
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
took radiator out this morning, leaking on drivers side in the lower corner, i did my profile also, sorry bout that. lower support on that side rusted out and wore a hole in it there. looks like a new one to be safe. i'd like to do it right the first time. getting the fan shoud out is a bear. any good ways to do it. i took the fan blades off and it helped but still a real pain or maybe just not doing it the right way. thanks for helping.
No, the C3 fan shroud is one of the biggest PIAs to work on. You almost have to unbolt the core support and tilt it forward to get the fan shroud out.
I'd imagine that rusted support is what caused the problem when you jacked up the car.
It's possible it can be repaired by a competent shop with a good fabricator / welder. Get that fixed, and either fix the radiator or buy a nice new DeWitts in the Christmas sale. One day left to take part.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Take your radiator to a good/reputable repair shop. They can tell you if it is good enough to be re-cored. That would be your least expensive fix. [If it just has a tank hole, they can braze that closed...assuming the rest of the radiator is in good shape.] To replace the radiator with something new will cost around $400 for a non-standard aluminum unit up to $600-800 for an exact replacement reproduction radiator. A radiator re-core (your original unit) should only be about $250.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 487
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville FL
i would still say take it to a good radiator shop. nothing is going to fit as well as the original.
a hole in the side can be repaired. its just brass. it's soft. it can be knocked back into shape and then soldered up good as new. paint it black and it will look like new. if you are handy enough, it is not that difficult of a repair to make yourself.
the old brass/copper radiators are easier to repair when they get dammaged than aluminium radiators.
a recore, even with this kind of repair required, should be less expensive than a new, aluminum radiator.
my two cents......
good luck,
Mike.
a hole in the side can be repaired. its just brass. it's soft. it can be knocked back into shape and then soldered up good as new. paint it black and it will look like new. if you are handy enough, it is not that difficult of a repair to make yourself.
the old brass/copper radiators are easier to repair when they get dammaged than aluminium radiators.
a recore, even with this kind of repair required, should be less expensive than a new, aluminum radiator.
my two cents......
good luck,
Mike.