radiator leaking - cheapest solution?

[vnstu]

radiator seems to be leaking along a seam - i just top it up on a regular basis, but it's getting to the point i need to do something about it...

what do people suggest? grab one from the wreckers? buy a reco? get a repair done?

[agrsv8]

cheapest is an egg, then wreckers, then ebay, then repco

[Hangman]

^ you forgot pepper

[Cheap6]

As it's a 5.0l and therefore a brass radiator, you might like to try cleaning the area around the leak point, roughing it up with emery paper and sealing it with an epoxy material.

Epoxy adhesive alone works, mixing it with talcum powder makes a stronger composite material and using Devcon, JB Weld or similar is stronger again. If you spray the repair with gloss black paint it can be indistinguishable from solder.

Allow the material to set before running the engine and pressurising the system.

24 hr set time adhesive is stronger than the 5 min. stuff and is easier to get to flow into the split but either works.

Cleanliness is vital for the adhesive to stick - clean with thinners as well as removing loose material, including paint, from the area with a wire brush. You might consider draining and refilling the radiator to help ensure that the area is dry.

[ucwepn]

got mine reconditioned a couple of weeks back was around $180 from memory (the mechanic did all the legwork while he did my intake manifold), it came back shiny black and shiny brass inside. it was full of oil sludge and blocked up lol.

[m1lky]

Could you use stopleak pallets? If you then get it reconned they won't be thankful though

[jayperformance]

best advice is go get some quotes from the workshop's/ auto shops near you

[vps231]

80 bucks off ebay!