while replacing the harmonic dampner, i banged the radiator with a tool, now i have a pin-hole leak
i'm wondering what i can do to fix this... lately i've turned into a cheap bastard, so i want to do this while spending as little as i can

if i have to replace the rad. what do you guys think of this place (http://www.speedwaymotors.com/product.ASP?wc=true&strBase_List=&hilt=&source=2191&base_no=91734722&str_base_no=000%2DCATALOG+RACE%2C91015620%2C910157 05%2C91015707%2C91015708%2C91015728%2C9101575%2C91 01576%2C91015760%2C91016003%2C91055105%2C91082200% 2C917342%2C91734205%2C91734220%2C91734230%2C917343 %2C917345%2C91734722%2C&header_title=Race+Products%2DRadiators&page_name=prod%5Flist%5Fdisplay%2Easp&search_type=L2%7E34&search_option=&deptsearch=&dept_id=L2%7E34&dept_id_p=&dept_name=&dept_name_p=Race+Products&ShowImages=yes&sq=0&cont=1&intPgNo=1&redirect=)?

I got a three core from Auto zone for less than a hundred. It's works great but I have soldiered them in the past with good luck.

You may not believe this tip, but I have successfully used it twice in my long life. If the hole is small enough, two tablespoons of ground black pepper dumped into the radiator will stop the leak. My brother and I did this on his high performance 1968 Plymouth GTX with the 440 engine and it did not leak for the next two years when he sold it. At this point you have little to lose. If the hole is too large for this to work, the unit has to come out anyway.

Auto Zone has the best deal these days on a replacement radiator, but if you do end up replacing the unit, be sure to get the three core model.

Yeah the "ole pepper in the rad to stop da leak fix" it'll work if the hole isn't to big. Or you could try "Stop Leak". That's not a bad price for an aluminum radiator from Speedway...cheaper than "Be Cool", keep in mind that if you do go to an aluminum, you have to put a special additive in there to protect it from corrosion. It's available at any good parts store.

Be careful with "Stop Leak". Anything that you put in your radiator to stop a leak may also block up your heater core. :cry:

Either take it to a radiator shop to have it fixed for $20 or get a new radiator. A new Modine 951 or equivelent aluminum radiator is about the same price as a cheap Chinese made POS from Autozone.

:mrgreen:

I would only use the Pepper or Stop Leak in an emergency not as a "Fix". It can create cooling problems and it is difficult to get it out when you do replace the radiator.

If you go with the Aluminum Radiator then you should get an Anode for the Radiator. This will generally be a "Zinc" slug on a chain that attaches to the cap and goes into the radiator. This keeps down what is know as Electrolysis. The engine is part of the overall electrical circuit of the vehicles and as such stray electrons will collect on the cooling system. For most applications it is not a problem but it seems to be more so when using an Aluminum Radiator or Heads or Block. Anyway this Electrolysis will pit and deteriorate the Aluminum leaving, at first, tiny pits in the surface. They will grow to larger size.

Some people believe that you can rid yourself of this problem by adding more Coolant (Antifreeze) but it doesn't work like that. Glycol will help but really anything more than about a 30 / 70 Mix of Antifreeze and water is a waste of money unless you live in Alaska or somewhere really cold. Work with the Antifreeze just the way the Owner's manual says to. Use an Anode to reduce the damaging effects of electrolysis, use Antifreeze for cooling.

A metal core rad will take solder so if your good at that then you can fix it.