Leaking radiator. Repair or replace?

[s10mk]

Hi everyone, the original Harrison heavy duty 4 row radiator has started leaking in my truck. It's a 72 c20. It's leaking at the seam where the radiator core is crimped onto the side tank. Should I see if I can get it repaired? Or is it too old to mess with?

[May70]

If it were me I would replace with out a doubt. Even if you've got radiator shops around you still, by the time you pay shop labor its probably easier and cheaper to buy one.

I don't know anything about that specific rad or if its rare, maybe that would change my mind but probably not.

[s10mk]

Originally Posted by May70

If it were me I would replace with out a doubt. Even if you've got radiator shops around you still, by the time you pay shop labor its probably easier and cheaper to buy one.

I don't know anything about that specific rad or if its rare, maybe that would change my mind but probably not.

I don't believe that it's particularly rare, it's the same radiator that was installed on any 67-72 with heavy duty cooling.

[HotWheelsFan]

A good radiator shop should be able to tell if it's too old. The brass tanks get thin some times over years of use and when fixed they can start to leak again. The tanks can start leaking at solder connections, easy fix for a radiator shop. Or the core can get old and start leaking, a re-core can be done with good tanks...

I have had many repairs over the years for myself and customers with great luck, every so often I have been advised not to repair after inspection from the shop I used to go to.

Bob

[69 customcamper]

Let a shop look at it. If it's not eroded internally have it fixed. This would be better than an import radiator from Taiwan or china which are garbage. If you do replace it, use one of the made in USA choices for sure. US radiator is a good source and can build a radiator with additional cooling capacity over the original type.

[HO455]

When you look inside at the core how does it look? If it has lots of build up then maybe it's time to replace the core. If it looks good then repair the leak. That being said good radiator shops aren't on every corner anymore. Most that are left cater to the heavy equipment and trucking industries.

Those old tanks if they are in good shape are going to be better than most new replacement tanks. Many reproduction radiators now come with plastic tanks. Get a good Canadian made core if you need a core.

If your radiator gets damaged by a rock or other debris aluminum radiator cores can't be permanently repaired they can only be patched with epoxy. Whereas a copper core can be soldered if needed.

Cheap radiators usually involve an investment in time and labor to install them as they are a generic size. Many radiators advertised as "Direct Fit" don't fit the way GM engineered their radiators to.

For my daily driver I had a nice 4 row copper radiator built. I know it will last for many years and if something out of the blue damages it I can get it repaired. I could have purchased 2 cheaper radiators but I wouldn't get the same piece of mind from one of those.

Just my opinions for your consideration.

[BASE]

I just had a similar leak fixed on the 4 row in my '68. I told them to give it the works, and I guess they did, it was $285 when it was all said and done. Condition of the core is probably something to consider. Mine was replaced at some point and looked pretty good so I hope to get my money out of that repair.

[mr.mud1]

I build my own rads here.i just did one for my 72 truck,that edge you're talking about isn't crimped,it's soldered.the new rads with plastic tanks are crimped to the core with a rubber seal in there.your rad would have to be in horrible shape to not be repairable,any good rad shop can do it,although they seem to be few and far between?

[s10mk]

Originally Posted by mr.mud1

I build my own rads here.i just did one for my 72 truck,that edge you're talking about isn't crimped,it's soldered.the new rads with plastic tanks are crimped to the core with a rubber seal in there.your rad would have to be in horrible shape to not be repairable,any good rad shop can do it,although they seem to be few and far between?

I did a Google search and there's a few radiator shops in my area but I don't know how good they are. I'll make some phone calls and see what I can figure out.

[s10mk]

Just a quick update. I found an old timey radiator shop near me that's going to take a look at my radiator. I think my plan is to have them asses it, and if it can be repaired I'll have them do it. But if it needs a recore, I'm going to just buy a new copper brass radiator. Or possibly a new all aluminum radiator from Northern which has rounded stamped tanks. Either one of those options would be cheaper than the recore.

[s10mk]

I'm all fixed up, they were able to repair my original radiator. The shop fixed the leaking seam and they also repaired a small crack in a tank. It was a 100 out the door, I really couldn't beat that.

[Gregski]

you will probably get as many opinions as there are members on this forum, but having played this game for a couple decades with three or four different trucks, I can say that there is no greater enemy of metal than water, so anything that water touches in my opinion needs to be replaced, never put old water pumps back on, never put old rads back on, and these days who even repairs rads? or should I ask who repairs them proper

welding up a leak is one thing, but do you think those tiny passages will flow as well today as they had 50 years ago with all that crud and residue that has accumulated in them over the decades