Woe is me

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Woe is me

Postby B.O.B. » Sun Jan 10, 2016 7:33 pm

Started smelling some coolant about a week or two ago and thought that maybe my heater core was going out. Driving this morning and started smelling it again and was stopped at a light. Saw some steam coming from under the hood and pulled over to check it out. Radiator is leaking.
So I have a aluminum radiator about two years old and maybe a 3k miles. Anybody know anyone that could repair a aluminum radiator or have one for cheap for sale. This radiator thing is getting ridiculous.
71' bronco, np435 w/trailbanger, 302 efi, 35" KM3 on 17x9 Fuel Anza, warn xd9000i, cage arms, 5" lift
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Re: Woe is me

Postby Rox Crusher » Sun Jan 10, 2016 8:01 pm

Damn your luck

I don't think aluminum radiators are repairable.
1977 Sport, 351w OBDII EFI motor, 4R70W auto, 4:88 gears, ARB lockers, 3.5" suspension, 33" tires.
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Re: Woe is me

Postby DanHall » Sun Jan 10, 2016 8:54 pm

I have a radiator or two in the garage. I could part with one if you can come down and get it. Neither are perfect but I don't believe either leaks.
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Re: Woe is me

Postby B.O.B. » Sun Jan 10, 2016 9:31 pm

Thanks Dan, it'll give me a reason to go see my dad.
71' bronco, np435 w/trailbanger, 302 efi, 35" KM3 on 17x9 Fuel Anza, warn xd9000i, cage arms, 5" lift
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Re: Woe is me

Postby Jesus_man » Mon Jan 11, 2016 2:11 am

Where is the leak? Surely if there is a leak in the tank, that can be repaired with a good TIG welder.
1973 Bronco, 351 SEFI, Locked, discs, 35's ZF-5spd and Atlas 4spd. 235:1 Crawl Ratio. It may be ugly, but it's slow.
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Re: Woe is me

Postby ZOSO » Mon Jan 11, 2016 6:01 am

You need to strengthen the core support. Its probably been moving/twisting causing the aluminum to fatigue.
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Re: Woe is me

Postby Dukietown » Mon Jan 11, 2016 7:25 am

On the bright side you noticed it and shut it down before any major damage to the motor. Silver linings and all that!
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Re: Woe is me

Postby DanHall » Mon Jan 11, 2016 6:23 pm

Just to be clear mine is not aluminum. Just don't want you to head down only to be disappointed.

Let me know when you are heading down and we can figure out timing.
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Re: Woe is me

Postby B.O.B. » Tue Jan 12, 2016 8:53 pm

Has anybody ever grounded their radiator?
71' bronco, np435 w/trailbanger, 302 efi, 35" KM3 on 17x9 Fuel Anza, warn xd9000i, cage arms, 5" lift
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Re: Woe is me

Postby Viperwolf1 » Tue Jan 12, 2016 9:22 pm

B.O.B. wrote:Has anybody ever grounded their radiator?


The radiator in my '74 is grounded.
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Re: Woe is me

Postby Kinder » Wed Jan 13, 2016 7:29 am

I've got a spare stock radiator laying around as well, let me know if you need it.
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Re: Woe is me

Postby Kinder » Wed Jan 13, 2016 7:31 am

B.O.B. wrote:Has anybody ever grounded their radiator?


Are you thinking you have some electrolysis happening?

http://www.rondavisradiators.com/tech.h ... is_testing
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Re: Woe is me

Postby B.O.B. » Wed Jan 13, 2016 7:34 am

How did you ground it? I have been reading about anodes in the tank and was wondering if there is another way as well.
71' bronco, np435 w/trailbanger, 302 efi, 35" KM3 on 17x9 Fuel Anza, warn xd9000i, cage arms, 5" lift
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Re: Woe is me

Postby landshark » Wed Jan 13, 2016 1:27 pm

I have the aluminum one grounded as well in my 69. Running a wire from the core to the top lip.
1976 Bronco "Green, Yellow, whatever", 1969 Bronco "Red", 1972 Bronco Stocker "Kind of Blue/Grayish"
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Re: Woe is me

Postby Moab Mike » Wed Jan 13, 2016 3:11 pm

B.O.B. wrote:How did you ground it? I have been reading about anodes in the tank and was wondering if there is another way as well.


A hose clamp that you could attach a wire to bare aluminum on the radiator inlet or outlet port then attach the other end of the wie to the frame (negative battery post). All your trying to do is make the radiator electrically the same as the rest of the bronco. Aluminum is one of the lower metals on the galvanic chart.
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Re: Woe is me

Postby Kinder » Wed Jan 13, 2016 6:33 pm

Galvanic chart, now you've peaked my interest. I added a galvanized tube to my coolant system when I installed the 4BT. I've read that it'll help stop electrolysis eating the coolant passages into the cylinder walls.
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Re: Woe is me

Postby hockeydad4-22 » Thu Jan 14, 2016 6:52 am

kinder wrote:Galvanic chart, now you've peaked my interest. I added a galvanized tube to my coolant system when I installed the 4BT. I've read that it'll help stop electrolysis eating the coolant passages into the cylinder walls.



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Re: Woe is me

Postby B.O.B. » Wed Feb 10, 2016 11:33 am

So a quick update. The place I got my radiator from said that they would warranty it. They ordered it about 4 weeks ago and I am still waiting for my new one. Just do not know what to do at this point. Just run or continue to wait.
71' bronco, np435 w/trailbanger, 302 efi, 35" KM3 on 17x9 Fuel Anza, warn xd9000i, cage arms, 5" lift
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