JB Welding Radiator (my conclusion: don't do it lol)

Moot point all mine are copper brass . now only maybe 10 years old time flies

I have a customer with a Radiator Shop We had a nice talk with him praising the new plastic tank radiators with aluminum cores and how easy it was to swap tanks and install a new gasket.

I said so when my plastic tank cracks 5 miles into the woods for what ever reason your going come rescue me and install a new tank " well no I have never changed any but in the shop " I will stick with my copper brass ones being able to solder and get home is well worth any more expense .

 

This is a great point.

Unfortunately, true rad shops with quality Tinners are not very common these days.

My local rad shop still has a sign that says "radiator repair" , but hasn't repaired any rads in ages. The owner told me he was the only one that could repair a rad. The last one he did was for a rare skid steer. He couldn't remember how many years ago he did the repair.

I guess we have to accept we live in a disposable society. Sigh.

 

Most work anymore is Construction equipment and heavy duty trucks were replacing is a few thousand $$$$rather then less than a $100.00.

When shop rates are @ $ 100.00 or more it really does not pay unless your looking for custom work like a hole in the core so the front pulley can drive a hydraulic pump.

 

Lol, this experiment is over already. Not sure if I mixed it wrong, using brake cleaner on plastic (even if I put on a paper towel first) or maybe something else, but it didn't work for me . Failed after the first trip. Looks like I'll be ordering a new rad since I don't want to mess with it anymore lol

 

Usually with epoxy it’s better to do multiple thin layers and prep in between - look up surf board repair. Looks like you might have too much hardener or not enough.

 

Yeah I think I put too much hardener in. I should have been more meticulous with mixing it. I didn't think I was THAT far off on the ratio. Could also be the white balance on the camera

oh well, no biggie, I'll just get a new rad, that way I won't have to babysit it.

now the question is, should I go aluminum?

 

Choices for aluminum aren’t great if you’re not able to tig weld or have a shop that repairs them nearby. KOYORAD has decent replacements.

 

Wait why would I need to weld an aluminum rad? Are they a build it yourself kind of thing or do they fail often?

 

Basically there’s two options - Champion and one from 123radiators or something like that. I have the Champion in my project truck and it’s ran nice and cool, but others have had it crack at the seams and some in the fins. @Anthony250 had the other one that leaked but he got it fixed for a good price at a radiator repair shop here in LA. Basically if you could fix an aluminum one yourself it’s the way to go since it cools better but the low price options made for our trucks don’t have the greatest build quality.

 

I have not EVER had a vehicle go anywhere near 200k after 31yrs in the Midwest rot belt, not 1!!

 

Yeah clearly there’s not much incentive to keep vehicles from oxidizing in the rust belt by state authorities. I mean I could see how it creates jobs but damn, f living where you have to deal with that. FYI I grew up in the upper corner of the country next to the Atlantic so it’s not a mystery why they do it, but frig if they can put a man on the moon they should be able to mitigate ice without corroding the f out of vehicles.

 

Thanks, I'll just go with a Toyota or Denso brand one I suppose. I noticed this one has Harrison stamped on it though.

 

Yeah oem is / was Harrison.

 

It's not that we are worried about the JB weld going, most of us (definitely I) know that JB weld is rather for pressure ratings that far exceed 16 psi, it's that we are worried about the spot of the crack expanding further after the fix.

It's a crapshoot on if it (the radiator, not the JB weld) will hold long after the repairs or not.

 

I'm just now starting my search but it appears that the factory part is either way too expensive and/or discontinued, I'll try rockauto

 

Do Denso. I almost refuse to use anything but them at this point for any parts, unless you can get Koyo or CSF all aluminum radiators.

 

I'm really confused. I think I need a 20 3/4" or 20 11/16" radiator (I measured), but there are a lot of choices. I have a 3.4l manual trans.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/toyota,2004,tacoma,3.4l+v6,1429084,cooling+system,radiator,2172


This one seems to be my only choice.

 

Got the OSC part off eBay for $96 total, we'll see how it goes

 

Pink. Milkshake.

 

holly crap i could of told you that.. better yet stick that crap in it that seals it worst thing ever it clogs up everything... gets everywhere just buy a new rad there like under 100 on ebay get hoses and a tstat too so about 180 bucks and your set