On Thu, 26 Sep 2013 14:41:27 -0500, "Snag" wrote:
I had a leak in my truck ('86 GMC 305 V8) heater core a couple (or 3 or 5
...) of years back and instead of trying to repair it I just bought a
replacement from NAPA - cheap because my son works there (his employee
discount , nothing shady) . Cheap looking aluminum unit , but it lasted a
couple of years . The next one lasted less than 6 months ... and the next 3
or 4 each lasted about a month . All properly installed , system flush the
first couple of times , but antifreeze ain't free .
The last one that failed is still in the heater box , though the hose is
now routed from the engine straight into the radiator because it started
leaking while I was halfway home (halfway between Memphis and Mtn View) . So
now fall is coming on , winter will be here soon , and I'm not particularly
inclined to put another "lifetime warranted" NAPA unit in . So what the hall
, I still have the original , and it's out in the shop in a box . Let's see
where it's leaking ... and it turns out the leak is in a place that's easy
to get at to clean and resolder . Cleaned , soldered , and I just pressure
tested it to 25 psi , which is a good bit higher than system pressure .
I love it when something works out this well ! Now I need to pull the
radiator , it started leaking a few weeks ago - and this one is going to be
harder . Aluminum core with plastic tanks , and the water stain is right in
the center of the core . I need to see if it's a surface tube or deep inside
. Either way , there is really only one way to stop the leak , and that's to
cut/crimp the leaky tube . Shoot a wad of sillycone in there before I crimp
. If I had more experience and talent I might try to TIG it , but those
tubes are a lot thinner than I can currently manage to weld without blowing
holes .
Then there's the tick that started a few days ago ... High likelihood it's
the fuel pump pushrod . Not sure yet if it's the pump failing or the cam
lobe , but it's also gotta be fixed before the snow flies .
--
Snag
Shade Tree Mechanic
and
Metalworking Hack .
Caterpillar Tractors sell an epoxy for repairing radiator cores. I've
used it and the cure was apparently permanent, at least for the year
or two until we finished that project.
Or see:
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...Epoxy/_/N-259t
or
http://www.urethanesupply.com/radiator.php
--
Cheers,
John B.