Radiator Issues

I have a small pin hole in the radiator to where it does not leak till the truck in working a bit harder then just down the road. It is right in middle of fan. Is that fixable or is it better to just replace the radiator? also can you do just the radiator or does the trans cooler need replaced also as it seems to be right in front of the radiator? Any advice would be great.

you got to find the right guy. some can soft weld them. acid core solder can work. and i've seen 5 minute epoxy work for some years too. you could take a chance and do it your self

Thanks. I have been looking for repair shops around the area that I live and they all seemed to be gone. Am going to take a long look at it this weekend and see how hard it would be to remove it and put a new on in. Can't have another case of it over heating when pulling a camper with it. Does anyone have any part numbers on what would be a good one. Seems that there are different ones for gas vs diesel motors. Am figuring it matters if having A/C and a manual trans.

If it sprang a leak it could have another after you get the original one fixed. I would look into getting a new one.

I got mine at Autozone because I was leaving for vacation in two days. been in there for several years found it while pressure testing after a coolant and hose change.

rad repair is an old school business. most are made disposable. yes they spring leaks. in large diesel equipment there is still a need for repaired cores, and those guys with the skills have become mail in order companies. summit has, i think, an all alu rad from griffin! do you have a price cap?
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/gr...model/ram-3500

Originally Posted by spun360

rad repair is an old school business. most are made disposable. yes they spring leaks. in large diesel equipment there is still a need for repaired cores, and those guys with the skills have become mail in order companies. summit has, i think, an all alu rad from griffin! do you have a price cap?
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/gr...model/ram-3500

My al. rad. on my street rod is a Griffin has worked fine for several years but I am not pleased that the tubes are glued to the tank rather then welded. but has served me well so far.

CFS has an all alu rad here!
and found another
spectra has a copper plastic which i find very interesting!
http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/se...B&Ns=price%7C0

I don't trust pinholes on modern thin radiators, I replace mine.

I got an all alumrad from http://www.carpartswholesale.com/ about a year ago for my gas and loved the price tag also. My mechanic was drolling over it when he saw it with the price.

after looking at the all alu rad from csf #2969, it looks like a typical medium duty rad for a gasser. the big cummins D has other hose locations, sizes and no trans heat exchange. the spectra #cu1553 copper/ plastic rad is a HD big D rad with the appropriate hook ups for the diesel. you would be amazed at the increased efficiency copper has to shluff off heat!

well have found two different ones that am looking at. below are the links.
https://www.radiatorbarn.com/search....oduct=radiator. is a 2 row radiator

http://www.carpartswholesale.com/v5/...=Brand:Spectra - is a 3 row radiator.

I am thinking for the little extra in costs, I am going to go with the 3 row as it is to be better cooling. Anyone have any thoughts?

I agree with you DodgemanKK. You may be called on to do some heavy pulling and the engine will cool better with the bigger radiator.

Do some research on rockauto. It will tell you some of the thickness and widths of the cooling surfaces. The V10 and diesel are the thickest to dissipate more heat.

a copper core is way more efficient than an alu rad! plus the added row is a bonus factor. copper is also easily repaired and by no means a disposable, such as the oe rad was. heads and shoulders above the rest, the copper rad is a KO for heat!

True copper dissipates heat better than aluminum. The factory radiator for the 5.2-5.9 was only available in aluminum if i recall.