Slightly damaged Cold Case Alum. Radiator. What to do with it?

[BlazerBill]

A couple of years ago, I purchased and installed a new Cold Case aluminum radiator for my ‘83 K5 but shortly thereafter, I decided to pull the worn out 305 and then decided while the engine was out to go ahead and restore the Blazer and install a new engine. During removal of the old 305, the hoist beam slid down due to not being locked in place and the engine dropped about 2 inches and landed on top of the radiator core support and crushed the first row of fins at the top of the radiator and about 2” long but I thought it was still okay to reuse. Well, now after a multi-year restoration and new engine, I installed the old radiator but after firing up the engine, the radiator started leaking ATF (but not coolant). The ATF was puddling on the bottom of the core support. There must be a tube cracked at the top of the radiator leaking ATF and migrating to the bottom of the radiator. Although I can’t see exactly where the leak originates from, it wasn’t leaking before it got damaged and it’s not leaking from the transmission lines fittings. Maybe, the weight of the engine, distorted the shape of the radiator that may be causing the leak, instead of the actual cosmetic fin damage. I don’t know. I called around to try and find a local shop that repairs radiators but couldn’t find any. I also called Cold Case that said their aluminum radiators can’t be repaired. Perhaps they just told me that so they could sell me a new one and I don’t TiG weld either. I went ahead and ordered and installed a new one. I hate to throw away this slightly damaged, still new looking, aluminum radiator with less than about 10 miles on it. What should I do with it or does anyone want it for the cost of shipping? Otherwise, I guess I’ll use it for “wall art”! Lol! I can ship it in the new radiator box. Here’s the Cold Case link for the same radiator model GMT556A21.
www.coldcaseradiators.com/product/77-87-chevygmc-truck-21-175-lower-aluminum-performance-radiator?sku=GMT556A21

 

[Ricko1966]

A couple of years ago, I purchased and installed a new Cold Case aluminum radiator for my ‘83 K5 but shortly thereafter, I decided to pull the worn out 305 and then decided while the engine was out to go ahead and restore the Blazer and install a new engine. During removal of the old 305, the hoist beam slid down due to not being locked in place and the engine dropped about 2 inches and landed on top of the radiator core support and crushed the first row of fins at the top of the radiator and about 2” long but I thought it was still okay to reuse. Well, now after a multi-year restoration and new engine, I installed the old radiator but after firing up the engine, the radiator started leaking ATF (but not coolant). The ATF was puddling on the bottom of the core support. There must be a tube cracked at the top of the radiator leaking ATF and migrating to the bottom of the radiator. Although I can’t see exactly where the leak originates from, it wasn’t leaking before it got damaged and it’s not leaking from the transmission lines fittings. Maybe, the weight of the engine, distorted the shape of the radiator that may be causing the leak, instead of the actual cosmetic fin damage. I don’t know. I called around to try and find a local shop that repairs radiators but couldn’t find any. I also called Cold Case that said their aluminum radiators can’t be repaired. Perhaps they just told me that so they could sell me a new one and I don’t TiG weld either. I went ahead and ordered and installed a new one. I hate to throw away this slightly damaged, still new looking, aluminum radiator with less than about 10 miles on it. What should I do with it or does anyone want it for the cost of shipping? Otherwise, I guess I’ll use it for “wall art”! Lol! I can ship it in the new radiator box. Here’s the Cold Case link for the same radiator model GMT556A21.
www.coldcaseradiators.com/product/77-87-chevygmc-truck-21-175-lower-aluminum-performance-radiator?sku=GMT556A21

If it's not leaking water,make someone with a manual transmission truck a deal.

 

[edgephoto]

Have a radiator shop fix it.