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Cracked Radiator Options

justwondering

Member
Joined
Aug 15, 2015
Messages
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Location
Texas
1997 XLT Ford 350 Powerstroke with 357,000 miles

Today on my backhaul drive the truck overheated. Idiot light came on as all the steam escaped. I pulled to the side of the road.

The plastic radiator (original to the truck per the previous owner) had a developed a 6 inch hairline crack across the top of the radiator (left to right-- NOT front to back).

A trip to town for jbweld for plastics, carb cleaner, water and fluid. Used the carb cleaner and thoroughly cleaned the top of the radiator. Mixed the two-part liquid epoxy on a flattened beer can from the bar ditch. Dribbled the epoxy across the crack.

Waited 15 minutes, poured in water and antifreeze. Got it 12 miles into town with no problems. Thermostat seemed to be working fine. Took it another 25 miles to home. No problems.

Next step is to get a final solution.

Do I go with a similar plastic radiator or move up to an all metal? Is this something I could do or should I find a rad shop?

I haul 10 to 12 thousand pounds of rock once a week. Have access to another 1 ton truck if needed while mine is being fixed.

Any recommendations?
 
The voice of reason...my thanks to you.
This is my first radiator replacement and there are so many options. Makes my head spin.

Rockauto has a decent priced spectra.
 
Got a new uppper and lower radiator hose, new thermostat, new thermostat gasket, and new radiator from rockauto.

Everything worked just fine. Once I figured out how to get the fluid out, the bolts off, and the clamps released.

This is my first time wrenching my truck. Husband is ill and this morning I woke to green coolant dripping from the vehicle.

It took me much longer than some of you, I'm sure. But once I pick up the radiator fluid tomorrow I should be able to see if things were put back together correctly.

I have one question though. I spent an inordinate amount of time losing bolts, dropping tools, selecting the wrong size of wrench. Since the truck is so tall and I needed to lift the radiator out of the top, I was standing on top of a cooler. Down to get tools, up again. Drop the bolt, down, up. Wrong size wrench, down, up. Same thing when I was under the truck. Needed a flat head screwdriver, other side was phillips. Large pliers, channel locks, couldn't get one hose off so I got back up to get a box cutter.

How do you organize things? Is this just an artifact of my ignorance at this point and will get better as I get more experience. I felt like I was just fumbling all day.
 
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