The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Radiator Replacement

Don't be mad. I just need direction. I looked in the search and couldn't find the exact answer so I will try here and take my lumps from the moderatorists.

The radiator has developed a few small (pinhole) leaks in my 1952 1/2 ton with a 235 engine. I think that the engine isn't the original. Most of you confirmed that months ago. I found all the cool tricks like putting black pepper or over the counter liquids in, but before I do that I researched biting the bullet and buying a new radiator. The new ones aren't cheap but I'm just looking at options.

My question is this: How will I know if the new one will fit where my existing one is, if in fact the radiator I have now is the original? It looks like the one I have now is too small for the mounting brackets it is sets in. In otherwords, the upright brackets have a lot of space between the brackets and the unit itself. Writing this I realized that measurements (HxWxD) of old and new will help me. I'm just a bit lazy today and wanted to get my post count up.

I will measure tomorrow but if any of you folks have some ideas, shortcuts, or buyer bewares, I will be all ears.

Thanks!

Mitch
PS Should have I posted this in the Engine & Driveline forum?

If it were me, I'd buy the correct radiator for that truck and install it. It doesn't matter if you now have the "correct" radiator or not. At least you'll know that a new replacement should fit.

If someone hacked in a different radiator, you can hack in the correct one and probably a lot easier.

Mitch,
Hey Bud does it look like This ? I got it in Vegas at Tuckers, give them a call or swing by and check them out (if you haven't already)
Todd

Todd:

Yeah, that's it. I stopped by Tucker's today and got the measurements. Theirs will fit so I'm just going to get it. Thanks!

Mitch

Before taking drastic measures why don't you pull the rad and take it to a good rad shop for an inspection and evaluation. I had a persistent leak in my heater core (the round type) and finally left it with a guy who knew what he was doing and fixed it. That was 2 years ago.
As far as all the snake oil remedies, in my opinion, don't bother.

oldblu49'

Thanks for the advice. I kind of figured the snake oil stuff was a last chance effort. I just found a guy in town to take a look at my existing one. Heck, look at it this way...I get the delight in knowing what it's like to remove and replace a radiator. Even it it's just my old one that's fixed.

Removing the rad is very easy. 3 bolts either side with captive nuts. Undo the hoses and lift it out. If you get any coolant on the ground make certain you dilute it well with water as it could be fatal to dogs or cats who might lick it for the sweet taste.
Just be careful lifting it up that you don't hit the rad with the fan blade. You could put a piece of corrugated cardboard there to protect it.

Oldblu49,
Thanks for the comments. Maybe this weekend I'll pull it. I'll let you guys know how it goes.

Mitch

yeah like old blue said i would take it to a shop and have it checked out you can usually just braze the holes and i will hold longer than the rest of the radiator I've fixed a couple of my radiators that way and it generally works out pretty well the shop will tell you whether its worth it or not.

This is the first time I have heard of a professional willing to repair one of the old circular heater cores. Those kind of people are rare!

My local radiator guy repaired my circular core, but said that most are not worth working with. He also told me that replacement new ones are very expensive. Glad I did not have to find out.

I had the radiator shop re-core my radiator several years ago. It cost about $200 as I remember.

truckernix,

OK now you have me guessing. "Cicular heater cores."? Mines rectangular and is the measurement posted in Tucker's Catalog. Is there circular coils mounted inside the rectangular mount?

Mitch

They are talking Heater Cores not Radiators. Totally different deal.

My heater core was a circular style after market heater. Western Auto and other stores used to sell them. My old rectangular radiator was shot, so had new core put in it. Never heard of a circular radiator except for heater cores.

yeah there are no circular radiator cores only circular heater cores. radiators are always alot easyer to deal with than heaters. anyhow just thought i would help clear that up