Bad Radiator Neck/Mouth - Need replacement suggestions

[searcherrr]

I have a Proliance or a Ready Rad (same?) radiator in my 95 GL 3.8L Windstar. It was put in when my engine went out in 2007. Apparently I should've went with a Ford replacement because the mouth to cap clamp down and "seal" has never worked properly and now the fluid is leaking directly out of the radiator cap instead of going into the coolant overflow tank. I am sure the cap is fine as this is like the 4th cap and I can PUSH DOWN on the CAP and there is "play" in its fitment. I tried, a long time ago, to slightly bend one of the rad cap's metal teeth so it would clamp down harder, but by doing this I'm sure I have "imbalanced" the cap. Regardless if I use an old one or a new one (or a OEM Ford cap) the problem still exists. The plastic at the top of the neck of the 3rd party radiator is basically crap. It started being chewed off the first few times it was removed and put back on.

So currently I keep refilling the radiator and there is fluid spewing everywhere, which i'm managing with a nice installation of blue shop towels so it doesn't spray the belt when in use.

Obviously I do not want to replace the entire radiator, as this means to dismount the engine and way too much overkill work for the problem, but what do ya'll suggest I do to replace the neck? I want to replace it with a FORD one, but are they available or do I need to go junk yard searchin?

If I find one, what is the best way to make sure I reattach it so that its reliable and "permanent" or "semi-permanent"? IE: I don't want to create another leak, by severing the head of the radiator.

Always something. The journey to getting this van back to near normal running status still goes on.

Suggestions welcome.

[searcherrr]

What is this and how could I use it?
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...er=391377_0_0_

[Lbert]

Call the manufacturer and explain your problem. I suspect you may have to use a different sized radiator cap. However, stay with the same spec regarding the pressure setting.

[12Ounce]

I doubt if the engine has to be disturbed to replace the radiator. Where did you get this information?

I replaced my 99's radiator when I replaced the tranny and rebuilt the radiator ... I used a Ford radiator just because it was convenient to do so and the price was good (less than $150, IIRC) ... however, I would not hesitate to use a replacement from AutoZone or AdvanceAuto, and have done so many times before on other vehicles. These plastic (mostly) radiators give limited service I have found.

[searcherrr]

Looks like I was lied to again as usual. The dealer in mississippi, all the way back to end of 2007 when my original engine burned up, was who told me that they had to dismount the engine a lil bit to get the radiator out. Looking in my Ford CD-ROM (which decides when it wants to work also) there is no mention of dismounting the enigne and also shows how easily the fans come out too, but I know I tried to remove the fans before and I couldn't figure out how to slide them out once I had the assembly unscrewed. Didn't look like it could be done without taking off the upper radiator hose, and again the directions don't state needing to do that.

Why couldn't i use something like this to replace the neck of my radiator?
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...1357&ppt=C0331

Think that would work for a permanent solution?

12Ounce - How long did it take you to remove and install the radiator?

Lbert - Just so happens, my luck, that the company that made the radiator is now bankrupt. So I don't know what that means for customer support. Probably nothing?

[12Ounce]

Originally Posted by searcherrr

......12Ounce - How long did it take you to remove and install the radiator?....

If I remember correctly ... and that is a very big IF... the radiator on the '99 is supported below with removable support brackets. The front plastic bumper cover I removed for better access. I would guess a half-day for an old geezer like me.

[Radiatorkid]

The Radiator in question is for sure a Proliance. They build junk. I worked for Modine Mfg. Co. for 25 years in Emporia, Ks good old USA. We built the best Automobile radiator you could by. In 2005 Modine sold out the aftermarket Radiator division to Proliance. They shut down our Plant, let go 130 damn good workers and shipped everything to Mexico. Last I've heard, yes they did go Tits Up! I can't help but laugh. Good luck with your warranty!!

[12Ounce]

I have used several Modine radiators .... sorry to read that story. When is the USA gonna get some smarts about trade? Wonder if those Modine folks ever bought a Japanese camera or TV? Or some clothes from Tiawan or China?

It all began long ago ... and we were all saving money ... and losing our futures.

[searcherrr]

Well at least now I have the name of a good radiator manufacturer, if I don't just go with OEM Ford stuff. AFAIC the Ford radiator and neck was just fine.

What would ya'll do? Try to JB Water Weld a new "lip" on the neck for the cap to clamp down onto?
or
Cut off the Neck and JB Water Weld a new or old OEM neck on there?
or
Replace the whole radiator with OEM Ford or Modine or something as good?

[TicoCherokee88]

I had a problem on my 98 Windstar 3.8l with the surface chipped.
What I did was epoxy the cap on and then bought the flush rad kit to mount a hose fitting into the top small rad hose. This way I could check the level and add directly to the system but the epoxy held for another 50k until the van finally died with 329k

[Radiatorkid]

A good Radiator Shop may be able to get a replacement tank for that side only. You won't find a aftermarket Modine Rad, They are probably all gone. The OEM Ford would be your best bet. Won't be cheap. If you were to find one at the junk yard, do you have a local shop which could possibly change the tanks? May not be worth the cost.

[wiswind]

"Tanks".....better to change the whole radiator by the time you pay the labor on a tank replacment.....
At least that is what FORD has listed as the solution for when the tank to coil leaks develop.

[searcherrr]

Hey Wiswind.

Well, i don't know what all this "tanks" stuff is about, but the only problem with my radiator is the filler neck outer lip where the radiator cap spins/grips onto. If I am correct, the radiator cap should sit firmly flush with the top of the radiator filler neck/orifice and have no downward play in it at all.

Interesting idea about the epoxy and making a new filler entrance. Hmm.. scratching chin.

Still entertaining full radiator replacement, especially since someone here said "Proliance made crap". Wonderful. lol

[searcherrr]

Is the 95 3.8L and 99 3.8L radiator the same part number?

[searcherrr]

Well last night I used some JB water weld to form 2 new thicker lips on the radiator neck/mouth edge so the cap would have more to grip onto. I have also purchased a new, but aftermarket (Murray brand? never heard of them? claims its pressure tested on the box.) radiator cap.

I measured the length of the gripping teeth on my old "Stant cap" vs the new "Murray Cap" and the Murray cap's teeth gripping distance is shorter, which means it would grap harder and fit more flush you would think.... The Murray cap does sit a lil bit lower than the Stant cap does, but the Stant cap fits tighter (this is all before the JB water weld) although i know I have messed up the Stant cap in the past when I first started troublshooting this problem.... one of its gripping teeth is a couple hundredths of an inch off from the other side. In any case it does seem the Murray people measured better. I used a micrometer to measure this stuff.

Also, I have 2 new Motorcraft Ford brand caps on the way. One reason is, everything I try 3rd party usually seems to give me some type of problem later on, on this van. Another reason is the Ford caps have a completely flat top (if my memory is serving me correctly) whereas the 3rd party caps have a little round metal joint or rivoted "something" at the top middle of the caps and there is the possibility of air/liquid coming through this top seal the way these 3rd party caps are made.

In a lil while I'm gonna go refill the van with coolant and let it run and then let it cool off and see if we get leaks.

If this doesn't work, I'll entertain the radiator replacement, although replacing the neck with this JB Water Weld stuff does seem feasible because I kept a lil piece in the house to dry overnight and it is as hard as STEEL and stuck pretty firmly to the smooth flush counter-top in our kitchen.