Write-Up: Radiator Replacement

Robo, you are, without a doubt, one of the most innovative mugga bluggas around here! Nice!

well my man,pretty soon most parts will become obsolete. sooner or later the aftermarket will be the Rivs only support. kinda exagerated but im sure if you look, youll find many parts available for the Riv harder to find. what im trying to do is make the Riv as repair friendly as i can.I allmost have full access to the engine components that could only be previously accessed by removal of surrounding components.simple is just plain better.

AA wrote:

That JEGS unit looks nice, and priced right. I like having the coolant level sensor (saved me once), but I wouldn't miss the
cracking plastic hose fitting on the OEM one bit. I'd like to find an all metal option with the sensor, or modify one like this to accept it.

I'm pleasantly surprised about that...
I always kinda' thought that the coolant sensor (unlike the oil sensor) is mounted so low as to be almost
useless - figuring that the temp would rise before the level light would come on.

When my water pump failed, the coolant started leaking out. Low coolant light came on before things got too hot. I think I was 1/2 gallon low I I remember right.

My radiator is leaking from somewher upper left, ordered oem from rockauto, should be here monday. Interestingly I read this write up weeks ago and went ahead and bought a waterpump from zzp, in anticipation that mine to may fail, the pulley has alittle play. Good thing I have a week off, this is going to be fun. Looking for waterpump writeups

HWW, do you mean upper left core or upper left tank?
When my own radiator failed, the core was perfect but one of the brackets molded into the left tank cracked the plastic...

Hey, it seems to br comimg from the upper drivers side tank on the radiator. And possibly in 2 other places one in the middle or the core on tye bottom and on the passenger side,

Left upper seems to be a common failure point. There's a water pump write-up. It can be done in an evening.

Well, my original radiator developed the leak on the driver's side upper tank. Noticed it yesterday while getting fuel. Put some extra coolant in the overflow. It's not losing it very fast. Just see the driver's side tank is wet, and the steady drip-drip. I'll order a new radiator from Rock Auto. Any recommendations for which one. I see the AC Delco, Spectre, Pro, and Vista pro? Did you guys use any of these?

VISTA-PRO Part # 432624 {#9586, 99586} Ready-Rad; Mounting: Top Cradle / Bottom Cradle
SEE IMPORTANT INSTALLATION NOTICE; W/AC; W/H.D. COOLING; W/MAX COOLING; W/O AC (Only 2 Remaining)
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$95.79

SPECTRA PREMIUM / COOLING DEPOT Part # CU1779 {Click Info Link for Alternate/OEM Part Numbers}
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$138.79

PRO Part # 8012536 {#52381331}
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$139.79

ACDELCO Part # 20892 {#52472783}
RADIATOR CORE SIZE 30 5/16IN X 17 3/16IN X 1 5/16IN CODE AEE
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$183.79

I ordered the Spectre radiatior. 142.61 to my door with the discount code. I'll report back when I get it installed.

My radiator also failed a couple days ago on my '95. The problem seems to be coming from just an inch or two below the upper radiator hose, the plastic side seems to have cracked.
This is available today, will have to pay more because its a local parts store, but have to get'er running asap now with some money in my account. Will also report back.
Murray® Heat Transfer - Radiator Part # 431364
I looked up the unit on Amazon, and the VISTA-PRO came up. Same unit, just a different name on the box? I wonder just how many of our parts are made by the same manufacturer, just marketed under different labels, and of course, prices?

Well, got the job done today.  Took me 4 hours working slowly and carefully so as not to break anything.  We all know how that can happen.  I bought the Spectra Premium Radiator from Rockauto.  Was 141.00 to my door with the discount code.  Paperwork that came with the radiator said Vista Pro, so Sprectra must be the same manufacturer.    I am happy to report that it was indeed a drop in installation, and 45.00 cheaper than the AC Delco unit.  The only problem I had was the 2 center bolts that hold both fans to the radiator.  The replacement bolts furnished were no where near long enough.  The stock radiator has 2 clip nuts that receive self threading bolts.  The Spectra Radiator had  a different arrangement using 2 square, threaded nuts that slid into a plastic receiver, so I could not use the clip nuts.  What I did was use the stock self threading bolts, some anti seize, and I slowly rethreaded those 2 square nuts that were provided.  Worked just fine.  This write up was a HUGE help though(Thanks Scott).  Had some trouble getting to the fan electrical plugs.  You kind of have to feel around with a small screwdriver for the release clip.  Took me a little while, I didn't want to break anything.  The Spectra radiator came with the proper transmission inverted flare fittings.  Didn't have to transfer any fittings from my old radiator.  You have to be very careful not to cross thread, and it doesn't take much to seal up.  Instructions say 1/4 turn past hand tight, or 5 ft. lbs.  Reused the lower hose extension.  My hoses looked great, so I didn't replace them.  Transferred the low coolant sensor.  O rings looked fine, so I smeared some white lube on them and installed the sensor.  It didn't leak.

Nice job, Larry. Hope yours lasts just as long as the OEM.

AA wrote:

Nice job, Larry. Hope yours lasts just as long as the OEM.

Thanks Aaron,
The unit I installed looked almost exactly like the one I took out, so I think it should.

I was taking the bolt that holds the condenser to the radiator and the hole the bolt goes through on the condenser broke off. Will I have to buy a new condenser or do anybody know a cheap fix? Or is it necessary to have both sides screw in?

rodrivi wrote:

I was taking the bolt that holds the condenser to the radiator and the hole the bolt goes through on the condenser broke off. Will I have to buy a new condenser or do anybody know a cheap fix? Or is it necessary to have both sides screw in?

That sucks    You certainly don't want the condenser rattling around if you can help it. Do you have any high strength epoxy to glue the piece back on? It may or may not hold, but it's certainly worth a shot.

How much of it broke off? The whole tab or just a part of it?

It was so rusty that it snapped in half. Yea I was going to try some JB weld later on after work. Im also having a hard time getting the radiator to line up with the condenser properly. Any sugguestions? Do the condenser need the foam on it cause half of the foam is gone?

I replaced my radiator this summer with a brand new one from rockauto and had no problems except that lower mount for the electric cooling fans was to rusted to re-use. I have checked everywhere and these are no longer available. I need to find a good used one if anyone knows where I can find one please let me know.

My tabs were rusted on my old radiator, but when I replaced it 2 years ago new tabs came installed on mine. It was a Vista-Pro if I remember correctly. The only problem I had was having no real way to mount the TOP middle of the fans. I had to rig something, but you don't see it anyway.

rodrivi wrote:

It was so rusty that it snapped in half. Yea I was going to try some JB weld later on after work. Im also having a hard time getting the radiator to line up with the condenser properly. Any sugguestions? Do the condenser need the foam on it cause half of the foam is gone?

I'm not quite sure what to recommend for you lol. I haven't run across that issue yet on anything. Just so I'm clear, this is the tab that the 10mm bolt goes through to attach to the J-nut that's on the Radiator, right?

EDIT: Damn man. I just looked at my original post on page 1. You can see that tab a few pictures down. I have absolutely no idea how you'd re-attach that to where it's actually secure enough....

I used some jb weld steel stik to put it back on and then sanded it down. Worked good so far.

Lettuce pray   

Finally got it all done Friday. Its holding pretty good. Thanks for the help.