radiator question - repair or replace?

[Kali]

How can I tell which is worth doing?

for the '91 350 van, 460, auto, pulls trailer occasionally, used to have AC

[Gold Metal Flake]

1. Can you find a good one at a junkyard?

Otherwise take it to a local rediator shop and see what thyey say. Is it leaky?

[Kali]

2. yes, seems to have a big hole

I can drive about an hour on it. It used to be minor and even "pluggable" with stop-leak products, but it has gotten pretty bad in the last few months and I'm thinking maybe it might be time to do something about it.

The problem with taking it somewhere is no extra vehicle to do that with - the regular vehicle is being used weekdays and the van is the "spare"/emergency vehicle.

Maybe a $50 junker is the best start, then we can see if ours is repairable - or maybe the junker will do the trick, eh?

[Gold Metal Flake]

3. Well, if the hole is in a tube...

You can just cut it out and seal the ends of that tube with plumbers solder. If it's a brass radiator, that is. If it is aluminum and the hole is in a tube you could use needle nose pliers to pinch the tube at the hole and try again with the stop leak (making the passage there smaller and maybe easier to plug). BTW, ground black pepper will work as a stop leak.

If it's in the tank, that is a bigger problem obviously. Yes, if you can get one used try it. Also be searching the Craigslist in case any come up for sale there. I use craiglook.com to make it easy to search multiple areas.

Shit. Wish I was closer. I could just pick one up for you during a regular junkyard trip.

[Kali]

4. ooo a couple of good ideas there! thankyou

pretty sure it's brass, but need to look again - leak seems to be about a third of the way up from the bottom

ha! pepper - always thought the dry sealer looked like sawdust - guess it really was! what the heck is that new liquid stuff with the snot balls in it?

[Gold Metal Flake]

5. I don't know what is made of what but it all is designed to stuff a hole.

It just plugs the hole up.