Started a project today to remove the radiator to get some room..

[tmsnyder]

Yeah, I'm going to suggest you stick with the stock one until it starts to leak.

I did end up putting in the new ACDelco water pump, glad I did too b/c it was a bit of a pain dealing with all the brackets that are mounted off of the wp.  I can't imagine trying to do that without removing the AC condenser and radiator. 


Hoping to get some more warm weather to start putting it back together and trying out the new replacement aluminum radiator.  Everything seems very close to the same as the original except its one wide core of flattened aluminum tubing instead of 4 cores of flattened skinny copper tubing. Plastic ends too, if it turns out to be a mistake I'll post back here and let people know how it worked out.  I'm tucking the old one up in the rafters in case I need it.


After the radiator goes in, I'll reinstall the condensor and fill with R-12A Duracool it's only going to take just over 1 pound.   

[Rickf1985]

Hey Rick, Read the specs on the different refrigerants, you will be surprised. R134A has a lower flashpoint than that "extremely dangerous" R12A. I read once that the lobbyists blocked the general use of R12A in automotive applications in the US and Canada. It is regularly used in Europe. For myself, since I already am carrying 80 lbs. of propane, another 12 ounces really isn't going to make much difference. LOL Rick

Yes, but your propane tank is not pushing 200 plus degrees and 300 lbs. pressure. And it is on subject since it is part of the radiator removal and replacement. AND a safety issue but I will say no more about it.

[tmsnyder]

BrandonMC - I got my brand new aluminum radiator into my Holiday Rambler, fired it up, no leaks.   Ran it several times to verify not using any coolant, it wasn't so I pumped down my A/C system and charged it with R-12a. 


Now, a couple days later, I fired up the engine to check on some new gauges, and low and behold a leak from the passenger side of the brand new radiator.   Looks like where the plastic is crimped onto the aluminum core.  I've read that there's a rubber seal in there that can leak if the crimp isn't tight enough. 


After it heats up, seems to stop leaking.  The leak seems to happen when the radiator is cold and the engine is heating up and the expansion of the warming coolant in the engine puts up to 15psi on the radiator.


So now I get to decide whether to roll the dice and just keep an eye on the coolant level, or do I blow off the R-12a from the A/C system, pull the radiator and replace it with the old one after getting it recored?


One step forward, two steps back.

Here's the part:  http://www.rockauto.com/en/parts/apdi/pro,8011544,radiator,2172


APDI 8011544


Lesson learned, yet again, better to get good stuff rebuilt than gamble on cheap imported junk when performance is critical.

[Rickf1985]

That sucks, I also got mine from Rock Auto but I got this one. Going on year four now.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=63264&cc=1059409&jsn=1

[tmsnyder]

Rick, one dimension is only 1/16 different than mine, seems like it would fit mine.   


Wish I could go back in time and have my old one re-cored though.

[legomybago]

I'd be sending that radiator back. I've installed a couple plastic/aluminum that were faulty soon after install, I never had an issue getting a replacement.

[Rickf1985]

My radiator guy stopped doing recores because the only cores he can get anymore come from China and are half the thickness of the originals. He told me they are darn near impossible to solder correctly and he has no faith in them at all. He did a couple of them and one came back within weeks with the tubes all ballooned out from the pressure. The aluminum ones are just fine as far as cooling, it is just a matter of finding a quality manufacturer. All of the ones from the factory are the same thing so they cannot all be bad.

[tmsnyder]

Wow, major relief.  There was a hose clamp on the fill spout that was tight but apparently not tight enough b/c it was seeping just the smallest amount.


Fingers crossed, nothing seems to be wrong with the radiator.

[Froggy1936]

Sometimes old hoses require a lot of clamping pressure to seal , Hm?  If that is the case its time to replace that hose ,  If it is a fairly new hose with a problem ,  Double clamps may solve it   Frank

[Rickf1985]

Be careful because tightening a clap too much can cause a leak! I ALWAYS use Permatex aviation sealer on my hoses, it is a liquid and seals them without becoming solid and permanent. This allows fairly easy removal down the road. It is also great on older thermostat housings where they are a little corroded. Prevents further corrosion.

[legomybago]

Be careful because tightening a clap too much can cause a leak! I ALWAYS use Permatex aviation sealer on my hoses, it is a liquid and seals them without becoming solid and permanent. This allows fairly easy removal down the road. It is also great on older thermostat housings where they are a little corroded. Prevents further corrosion.

This is a product I should try in the future.
Always be sure to come back a re-snug hose clamps after a couple warm up cycles too....They ALWAYS are a little loose.

[Rickf1985]

Here is what I use on all paper type gaskets like timing covers, water pumps and thermostats. I use it on all hoses and have NEVER had leak issues or problems getting them off later. How many times have you fought with a hose that was put on dry?

https://www.permatex.com/products/gasketing/gasket-sealants/permatex-aviation-form-a-gasket-no-3-sealant-liquid/

By the way, keep some carb cleaner handy because for some unknown reason this stuff will find the handles of your tools and wrenches. It is tenacious and it gets on your skin and it has to wear off. Carb cleaner is about the only thing that will remove it.

[tmsnyder]

Frank it's definitely due to the hose being 28 years old.  Rick that looks like good stuff.

[Rickf1985]

You put in a new radiator and used an original 28 year old hose?! N:( W%

[stanDman111]

 a recipe for disaster

[tmsnyder]

You put in a new radiator and used an original 28 year old hose?! N:( W%

I did but just to get it up and running. It was not on my original shopping list so I didn't have it at the time of reassembly.  It was on my long list of things to do before we hit the road this summer on a family trip.


It's a 4" long piece of 1-1/4 ID hose for the external fill tube and radiator cap.  Had to buy a whole other radiator hose for some other car just to cut it up for that little bit of hose.

[circleD]

I'll tell you the same thing I've been saying for years. If your taking apart old stuff, spend the extra money if you can and put in all new parts. That's hoses, bolts, nuts, clamps etc. It's worth it in the long run. If you touch it, replace it.

[Rickf1985]

Well, I went out and touched the RV, than means I can tell the wife I have to replace it right?

[circleD]

That sounds reasonable  D:oH!

[TerryH]

Hmmmm. I can touch the RV, but darned if I'm going to try to find a wife to ask. N:( N:(

[tmsnyder]

I don't really agree with the "touch it replace it" philosophy, especially not on an old rv.  Might as well buy a new rv at that point b/c you'll be spending more money and a lot more valuable thing, _time_, on it.  Not all of us are retired!  There's a lot I am buying new for this, expendable wear items that need to be replaced.  Belts, hoses, fluids, filters, spark plugs, cap and rotor, plug wires, brake pads and shoes etc.  And I'm buying good stuff too, AC Delco or better.  No more no name rebuilt crap from RockAuto that only lasts a few months before needing to be replaced.



I'm replacing front brake pads now, and while there I'm pulling the hubs, cleaning out the bearings and repacking with grease.  But that's it.  I'm not putting on new bearings unless they show signs of wear or corrosion.  I'm not changing the calipers just b/c I'm touching them, unless they show signs of not pressing in smooth.  I'm not changing brake hoses unless they look dry rotted and cracked.   I'm changing out the wear items, cleaning and lubricating, doing preventative maintenance and moving on.


I'll be traveling with tools and a roadside repair is in reality not the end of the world.  These things will break down no matter how much money is thrown at them in advance.  Even new ones break down.



This bit of hose was just missed on my shopping list, wasn't a matter of trying to save money, it's just a weird little bit of hose that I hadn't considered before changing the radiator but it's replaced now.  It's certainly wasn't a 'recipe for disaster', a bit of duct tape wrap and down the road to the next auto parts store for the part would have been just fine too.  It took 5 minutes to change with a 5/16" socket, would have been the same amount of time in the parking lot at an O'Reillys.

[Rickf1985]

Retired is the key word, Another word for retired is fixed income. Most of us cannot afford spark plugs and that is why we own 40 plus year old RV's.