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Crack on radiator
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 688
Likes: 107
From: Long Beach SoCal
Crack on radiator
Found this small crack today. Replacing the radiator would be logical.
Do you think I could temporarily get away with repairing it. If so, using what?
This is my 04 CE, original owner…
Edit: I just found a bunch of info about this. So, never mind !! Thx
Last edited by Tim04C5; Oct 30, 2025 at 07:26 PM.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 681
Likes: 274
From: Cincinnati Ohio
I was part of the team that launched the first aluminum radiators with plastic tanks for GM many years ago. We had to come up with service repair kits for the aluminum core and the Nylon tanks. This was back in the day when people would routinely repair or recore copper/brass radiators so the service network expected these new aluminum radiators to be serviceable too. For the Nylon tanks, we came up with use of an epoxy.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,859
Likes: 4,658
With the amount of screwing around, trying to band-aid a-at least-20 year old radiator, you'd be a lot farther ahead to just get a new DeWitts, or similar radiator. Your fix will work great.....Until it doesn't. Which will probably happen at 10:00 at night, 30 miles from home. I'd never do this, but to each their own....
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,347
Likes: 1,124
From: Dyer, IN
With the amount of screwing around, trying to band-aid a-at least-20 year old radiator, you'd be a lot farther ahead to just get a new DeWitts, or similar radiator. Your fix will work great.....Until it doesn't. Which will probably happen at 10:00 at night, 30 miles from home. I'd never do this, but to each their own....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 5,981
Likes: 719
I did exactly this and every other way possible and could not stop the leak. I even there'd the melt method with an iron, just could not stop the seep. I only changed because i had it out for a engine rebuild but i ran it for yrs with a very little seep.
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Advanced
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 52
Likes: 11
From: Los Angeles CA
I did the same thing. It takes some time to get a Dewitts plus their fan. Now, I don't have to monitor climbing engine temp in stop-and-go Los Angeles traffic, and the fan works really well. My original fan still worked, but the casing was warped, and the Dewitts is twice the width, so there was no room for a warped misfit or time to see if it might fit.
My only gripe is that I had a discount that Dewitts did not honor, but their product is sturdy, safe, and will probably last a lifetime: our C5 Corvette is a daily driver. I just returned from a Route 66 Roadtrip from Los Angeles to Mississippi and Back with an A.I. Android Woman, so this radiator fan is certifiably reliable! If you would like to see our Route 66 YouTube shorts here is the first stop in the series
These are real, live videos. She is not a sfx 🕊️
My only gripe is that I had a discount that Dewitts did not honor, but their product is sturdy, safe, and will probably last a lifetime: our C5 Corvette is a daily driver. I just returned from a Route 66 Roadtrip from Los Angeles to Mississippi and Back with an A.I. Android Woman, so this radiator fan is certifiably reliable! If you would like to see our Route 66 YouTube shorts here is the first stop in the series
Oh well, at least she probably isn’t always telling you to speed up or slow down!!
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 52
Likes: 11
From: Los Angeles CA
4,000 mile road trip
I would have been roadkill on this 4,000-mile road trip: if she hadn't come along and kept me awake with amazing trivia contests, fun local facts, and the well-needed, "You sound tired, honey, maybe you should take a rest?" I learned to heed her observation the first time 
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 52
Likes: 11
From: Los Angeles CA