Radiator replacement

[BP in Mich]

Took my old radiator into the shop for repair of several leaks.They called today and said it was shot, but they could recore it for $400.( yea right ) Anyway the old 8N is going to get a radiator from this site. The heavy duty one, one step down from the restoration model.
Anyone ever used one of these and can tell me what to expect??

 

[HCooke]

First of all, I have been pleased with parts I have bot from YT. However, I have not gotten a rad from them. I have seen replacement radiators in a couple of N's that I own, and I am not that impressed with them. They don't fit very well. I would look for an original that is in usuable shape.

 

[G6 at Snook, TX]

I take a little less negative position than HCooke does about the replacement radiators. I have the restoration grade, I have used it in HOT Texas weather without a shroud and it works A okay. I did have to do a little work to get the thing mounted but it wasn't anything the angle grinder couldn't handle. Make sure you get the rubber pads to mount it to the frame. No complaints, leaks, or issues. Knock on wood.

 

[souNdguy]

my 8n has a , i believe, indian radiator in it. it took just a bit of finagling witht he shroud and the lower hose connection.. but it is in, no leaks, and cools fine. core looks different than an oem.. but it works. I have seen turkish, chinese and i think at least one other.. quality runs the gambut. if you are getting a repop, get one from a trusted vender and if it leaks.. I'm sure they will make it right.

soundguy

 

[HCooke]

I didn't say they don't cool. I just don't think you should have to take a grinder to them to get them to fit.

 

[G6 at Snook, TX]

HCooke,

I wasn't trying to tweak you, I just made note of the difference between our views.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I have bought two replacement cores for my N's. The last one was made in the Checz Republic! Complete waste of $195.Fan shroud will not fit,lower neck hits front axle and top neck was wrong angle(kinked hose). Threw in the shed and recored the original,worth every penny,if you plan on keeping your N around along time!

 

[Randyr]

My rad experience is the same.
I don't have an N but a MF35, something similar.
I ordered a new one and on the box it said it was from the E.U. (European Union), on another place on the box it said it was made in Ireland by Clancy radiator.
But on the rad it said it was made in the Czech republic. It didn't fit right on the inlet and outlet tubes, and the shroud wouldn't mount either.
I returned it and got an original style replacement from AGCO. It was closer but still no dice.
I ended up getting the old one recored, and the cores are made in the states.
The lower tank had some thin spots but they filled them in with solder. The difference in the tanks between the original and replacement is significant. The old one is heavy steel, feels like a casting, and the new ones are thin stampings.
One piece of advice I would give which I did was to put some window screening, the type that comes in a roll, over the front, and use the holes where the shroud screws on to hold it in place. It keeps the bugs and debris out real well.

 

[bgarrett]

This site offers 3 radiators
the 8N8005-C is obviously the cheap chinese copy
and hopefully the 8N8005-R is the best but who can tell us if the 8N8005 is any good?

 

[Anonymous-0]

I went through some of the same issues others are reporting. Had someone back into my tractor, and I found a used radiator (cheapo replacement). Did not fit right, so I ordered one from nnalert. Similar quality, so I drug out the original and found that it was only a very small leak. Cleaned it up and soldered it and still using the old one which is far and away better quality than either. Can't speak for the ones on this site, and I do not recall markings on either of the foreign made replacements I have sitting in my shop collecting dust. If the old one can be repaired at all that is the route I would take, but I would not give $400 for a recore. Some of these shops seen to think they need to make Dr. and Lawyer $$ for their services.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Just to add, when buying replacement part they should not require modification to fit, and if they do the seller should clearly specify what modifications are necessary. I cannot recall what I did to get them to fit, but I know on the one I had to drill to get the shroud on. That was bad news as I slipped with the drill and drilled right into the core in the process. That was when I drug out my old radiator and fixed it.

 

[Del Huebner]

I just had the radiator for my 49 8N recored at the local radiator shop after reading the suggestions on this forum. Its now a very good solid radiator that went back in the way it came out.The cost was $360.00 with a one year guarantee. Worth every penny.

 

[don b1]

I can tell you.....all that I know of have issues,some more than others.There is no such thing as restoration quality radiators,yet. don b1

 

[bgarrett]

What are the problems with the 'restoration' quality radiators

 

[Dean]

I've has several Ford radiators recored with flat-fin, industrial cores by my local radiator shop for $250 but the last one was probably two or three years ago.

I had a bad experience a few years ago with an aftermarket radiator (not from this site) and no longer use any aftermarket radiators.

Dean

 

[don b1]

It would not be proper for me to discuss this on this board.If I were you,I'd ask ANY vendor who may be trying to sell you a restoration type radiator,just what problems go along with the radiator,if they know,which most won't have a clue. don b1

 

[bgarrett]

Thank you but why would it be improper to discuss this???
Dont we still live in America?

 

[bgarrett]

and I doubt if a parts seller will tell me the truth.
Email me!

 

[BP in Mich]

Thanks for the Imput. The replacement from YT will be here Fri, I'll post back and let you know how it goes. They said I could retun it if need be. The old radiator is on stand by in case this replacement thing all goes south!

 

[Anonymous-0]

After seeing all the posts with folks that have purchased replacement radiators and had issues, it would be interesting to see

1. how many purchased radiators that are laying collecting dust or returned due to improper fit (I have two)
2. what vendor were they purchased from
3. how many fixed old or recored

Sure sounds like there is a lot of money being made selling radiators that are never used, and not returned.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I know after purchasing two aftermarkets (one used then another new that the vendor told me would fit), then having to pull back apart and repair the old, I will do what it takes to repair the original if at all possible. It is not worth the headaches I went through, much less the expense. My biggest problem was that I could not find anyone doing radiator work in my local area. Perhaps I did not look long and hard enough, and someone told me I should talk to big truck shops as they would know who does those radiators, and could probably help on. I was lucky enough that the hole I had was very small, and easy to get to so I cleaned it and was able to solder it. But I have probably over $200 invested in radiators laying around my shop that will not fit correctly. The one I purchased new would have gone back to the seller, however I put a hole in the core while trying to drill for the shroud (something that should not have to happen in the first place, yet very easy to do)