Radiator replacement on a budget

So I continued the tear down today and the previous owner had an after market fan which he mounted by drilling for holes through the radiator. I noticed the radiator leaked when I got it, and know I believe I know why.

My problem, with all the other things I need to do, I just don't the the funds to pop $400 on a new radiator.

What other options do I have? Any suggestions on were to look?

In the meantime I removed the valve covers and the manifold which are in an electrolysis bath before being sent to my cousin for media blasting.

 

You could carefully remove the fins around the leak/s and then braze the tube. Just make sure you get the good lead solder not the stuff made for wiring. I've had to repair cracks in my upper tanks that way.

Or or spring for one of those summit aluminum ones. Run just over a hundred.

 

I have the summit/jegs/speedway one. all aluminum, all welded. 159 bucks. really couldn't go wrong.

 

Brass/copper radiators can be fixed, almost always. Find the right shop and it won't cost too much.

Or do it yourself just like Tomahawk says. Extreme cleaning in prepping is the key to sucess - I use muriatic acid (tinner's flux).

 

I put a mustang radiator that is fully tig welded in for $300. Came with fans and that was having one of the outlets moved. Champion radiator out in Oregon sells it. The one I got is made by American eagle. Do a search on the swaps if you go this route.

call local radiator shops, maybe they got a radiator for a mustang or can fix your radiator.


I see your in NorCal, might try one of the jeep wrecking yards too.

 

I found this place and I just sent them a request to see if they have the part and the pricing:

www.jwjeep.com

 

Do you have a link, because all the Summit ones I found were $400+

 

Fiero radiators were all the rage for a while also. I don't remember the particulars but a simple search should bring up info.

 

https://www.google.com/#q=site:earlycj5.net+fiero+radiator

Mustang as well. https://www.google.com/search?q=site:earlycj5.net+mustang+radiator

Lots of options for Mustang if it will work for you. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/pli-433259/overview/year/1966/make/ford/model/mustang

 

http://www.summitracing.com/search/...4294949676&SortBy=Default&SortOrder=Ascending

I had no problem finding them.
Last one on page will fit the grill opening of a CJ5

 

Great information, thanks everyone.

 

Might want to verify the width of your radiatior. IIRC the V6's came with 2 different width radiators.

 

I soldered mine up. I just pulled out the fins where the leak was with needle nose pliers. It ended up being the whole row clogged up and rotted out so I pinched it off top and bottom and soldered off like 2 or 3 rows of it. I figured it was worth a try and it turned out not bad at all.

 

(Duplicate post by mistake)

Mod's please delete.

 

Its 18'ish by 22'ish. I measured it earlier but I don't recall exactly. Outlet is on the bottom passenger side.

 

I got a quote today from a local radiator shop, $280 to repair my original radiator.

 

What does "repair" include? Re-core, or just patching a leak? Hot tank? Rodding? Pressure test?

Sounds high to patch a leak, IMHO. Others on this forum have found that quotes can vary a lot from shop to shop.

 

Hot tank, pressure test, new core, and repairing the fins from the holes put in it from the previous owners fan add on.

 

Just a FYI. Speedway Motors has the same radiator for $116.00. Difference may be in the shipping.

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Speedway-Chevy-Universal-Aluminum-Radiators,3557.html