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Can the radiator be fixed?

Michaeljp86

Michaeljp86

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Does anyone know if the aluminum radiator in my truck can be fixed? Some how it got a nice hole in it right in the center by the fan. Ive brazed up lots of brass radiators. Someone who was good with a tig welder could probably fix it. I dont know what the heck happened. I put a relay on my lift pump and took it for a spin. The low coolant light came on and white smoke everywhere. The fan slung antifreeze all over. What makes me mad is its a new radiator and it wasnt cheap. I have all the tools I used for the relay so its not like I forgot something that ended up in the fan. I also drove back where I drove last night to look for anything and didnt find anything. The block heater cord is fine so that didnt do it.
 
Could have been a rock or something similar to that. Could have been the kids to lol.

I imagine that someone good enough with a tig or even a mig like you said would be able to patch it up. I've really never heard of patching up a radiator in the fin area. maybe a fully alluminium along the sides but the fins? There picky... Plus thats less area to allow fluid to be cooled. I'm not sure how big the "hole" is your talking about but the 6.5 has enough cooling issues as is with a full radiator...
 
BigBlueChevy said:
Could have been a rock or something similar to that. Could have been the kids to lol.

I imagine that someone good enough with a tig or even a mig like you said would be able to patch it up. I've really never heard of patching up a radiator in the fin area. maybe a fully alluminium along the sides but the fins? There picky... Plus thats less area to allow fluid to be cooled. I'm not sure how big the "hole" is your talking about but the 6.5 has enough cooling issues as is with a full radiator...
Click to expand...

Looking at it the hole doesnt look big but alot of fluid comes out so I think its worse then it looks. This really burns me up, I just got everything working perfect. I did notice some sticks laying in the dirt road I drive down. It was dark and raining so maybe I hit that stick and it made its way up in there. I think tomorrow Ill pull the radiator out and maybe look up radiator repair in the phone book.
 
If you know where the hole is, try to use WaterWeld, the same company as JBWeld but for wet surface. My dad did that in his a year ago and it is still holding.
 
Chuck it. They are not worth repairing and cheap enough to replace. MGW did a thread on the visteons IIRC. These trucks have a hard enough time keeping cool with a new rad and yours is probably clogged inside as well.
 
we have done a couple of combines, but we also put 4 psi caps back on, I think it would be hard to get it to hold at 15 PSI.
 
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