Neighbor backed into the front of my car a few months ago. Thank God for security cameras or I never would have known who did it. Anyway, I'd occasionally get a small whiff of coolant, but couldn't find any leaks anywhere.

Yesterday, massive failure occurred. Coolant pouring out from somewhere (I'm thinking the tank) on the driver's side (same side that got hit). We're talking coolant literally pours out now when you try to fill the radiator. Limped home using about 10 gallons of water to go 10 miles.

Any recommendations for a good radiator for cheap. My car only has 35K on it and I'd like to keep it fairly stock looking. I don't really want plastic tanks again though. Found this and it looks like it should fit without chopping up my shroud:
https://www.radiatorexpress.com/prod...aia_id=1035739

The price is livable, anyone use one of these? How difficult is it to change one of these? Is the AC condenser going to make it a hard job? I'm pretty good at wrenching. I did my water pump about a year ago and it wasn't that hard.

 

Well, I wanted the two row from Radiator Express, but it would take too long to ship. Ended up buying one from Advance Auto Parts (yeah I know) for $90 and I got 15% off my order. Took me about 3 or 4 hours to get the old one out, but I took my time. Biggest problem was getting the hose off the bottom. I mean it was only on there for 25 years so I don't see why it was stuck so bad.

I replaced the hoses with Dayco, they seemed decent enough. Two gallons of Carquest green antifreeze and the total bill with tax was $130, not bad. I'm sure it would have been $500 to have a shop do it. The radiator seems to be made the same as the factory radiator, no major difference same crimp style and size of metal crimping tabs so the tanks should be just as "good" as factory applied.

Put it on this morning, took me a little over an hour to get it installed. Bottom hose is a pain, it's good thing I'm skinny. I let it warm up with no cap until the fan kicked on. I think I got all the air out of it. Ran the heater during the time as well. I have a 180 thermostat, but original temp sensor and programming so the temp needle has big "normal" range. I putted around the block after it was 220ish and it cooled right down to 180 with no fans running. I'll have to wait for a 105F houston day to see how it really works, but it seems to be cooling as well as the factory radiator ever did. I've never had any cooling issues with it, though I did have to replace the water pump last year.

 

I've used several of the chain store radiators (usually Spectra) with no issues whatsoever. Good idea to replace the hoses while you were there.

 

A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. I figured running 25 year old hoses was probably getting a little risky. They looked okay, but they were a little soft especially the bottom hose. I'm guessing road grime, oil, water is to blame for that.

Plus, antifreeze is ridiculously expensive. In fact 2 gallons cost more than the 2 hoses did. I kept the factory spring wire clamps, but I cussed at them for being uncooperative at times.