My radiator is cracked.. can it be repaired?? *Pic*?

Question

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee18/sabedra211/Crack.jpg it has the crack where i drew the black lines at.. Coolant seeps out of it. aslo steam. I put JB welding on it but that seemed to have cracked too. Should i put more over it? or something else that would repair that crack?? Or does my radiator need to be replaced? Thanks its from a 94 chev. camaro.

Answer 1

Replace it. That way you know it will not leak.

Answer 2

The tanks on that radiator will expand and contract ever so slightly ans the system heats and cools. There is also pressure build up inside there. JB Weld (as you have found) will not work, nor will most anything else.

It can be repaired though. I have done several, but only for myself.

You have to remove the tank, and build a patch to go on the inside. I use either brass, or aluminum sheet and form it to the inside of the tank. Then I use a gasket made from a tire inner tube, and use solid pop-rivets from the outside to hold it in place. Then replace the tank. It is also a good time to rod the core while the tank is off. Were I to do that for a customer, it would cost more in labor than a new radiator!

The only trouble is, the tank is fatigued in that spot, and probably other spots as well. One of the cars I own (kids car) was repaired that way almost 4 years ago. It is still holding fine!

Answer 3

It would cost as much to repair as it would to replace, and you'd still have an old, corroded radiator. Fixing any old radiator doesn't make sense when a new one only costs about $100.

Answer 4

replace it.if JB didnt work nothing else will.

Answer 5

Use plastiweld, it's an epoxy, that comes in two syringes together, makes jb weld look like silly putty, since my first time using it I'm still amazed, sets up in 5 min. and in an hour youre good to go, get it at your parts store, after you put it on wait and look at your leftovers after it dries, you'll see what I mean.