autozone radiator?

i am about to put the third "zone" radiator in my 64 ranchero 260 over a 2 1/2 year period. what gives? this is the second to have top tank separate at solder joint. cheap solder/cheap labor? this is getting old!

 

Are you sure its the radiators? If you have a pressure test guage you may want to see if it is building excessive pressure under driving conditions. I would also check the pressure rating of the radiator cap and test it. Sure seems odd that you are on the third radiator. I worked at a radiator shop for years and typically when you see failures like that there is more to it than bad solder.


Scot

 

Cheap period .... I would bet the orgins of that radiator is from the land of the rising sun aka CHINA. Get your money back and get you a good radiator. - Mayor

 

was running 13 lb cap. don't have pressure gauge. will see if i can borrow one. thanx for the input and everyone have a MERRY CHRISTMAS.

 

I have not been having good luck with Autozone Duralast parts. In the past 6 months several power steering pumps have failed, two alternators, and disc brake pads that dust like crazy. One power steering pump lasted 15 minutes before it started to howl like the first one. The guy who runs a repair shop down from my shop said he used to run to Autozone at night when his regular supplier was closed and if it was an emergency, but he had so many comebacks he stopped doing that.

I only go there for cleaning supplies and oil now. I never had these issues with Advance Auto Parts stuff, so I am going there now for those items.

Don

 

Japan is "The Land of the Rising Sun", not China.
China is "The Land of Lead Based Products".

 

I stand corrected sir.... - Mayor

 

A lot of the radiators out there are made in Thailand now. So-so quality. Not too many comebacks.

 

I splurged and got myself a china made radiator. Got it from Shepard Auto. $135 shipped for a full alum. three row bolt in for my 62 belair. Didnt exspect too much from it, but so far its awesom. Some times you get luck with them forign parts.

 

How is your heater core holding up? You could have an electrolosis issue. That problem should also take out the heater core. If not then it could be just bad quality radiators.

 

cheapo radiators are glued, not soldered - especially aluminum ones.

 

Swap one of these in there,all welded construction lifetime warranty http://www.ebay.com/itm/1960-1961-1...ng&vxp=mtr&hash=item1e696825f6#ht_5481wt_1173 Several guys on the 1952-56 Ford social group have used these when doing a 289-302 swap,see the application chart it will fit your ranchero too.

 

Are you mounting them on new rubber pads? they get hard after years and loose their cushion.

 

Iam trying a O'really's in the Galaxie . Let ya know .
B.B.

 

I won't buy the shit they are selling there ! It's really cheap crap and not worth the work to install the parts either . it's nice when the give you a guarantee BUT if you have to keep re[placing the parts , what happens to your profit and customers ? You LOOSE BOTH !

I have bought a couple radiators from this place on ebay and have been very nice quality and no problems at all .Couldn't be happier with them either !
http://www.ebay.com/itm/150602712447?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
Check them put . It's a 4 row alum for about $240 . They have cheaper ones too .
Just a thought .

Retro Jim

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE !

 

autozone????/

dont you have any real radiator shops around town anymore?

 

You can thank the EPA!!!

 

From what I've read, you want to avoid Dunnalast parts if possible, they're cheap because they're cheaply made or reconditioned.

 

I would be quite pleased of Autozone stocked parts for my project, but the hidden blessing I suppose is that the don't, and never will.

When I tell my local parts counter what I need, I just get a glazed dumbfounded look on their faces.

Return the radiator - it's totally unacceptable to pay ANY money for substandard (and unsafe) parts.

 

At our shop we never use autozone parts , they don’t last at all
Don’t make money if we have to redo it every 3 months

 

My dad was in the business for 25 years. They all have gone to crap. You used to carry Modine. Jap Crap sucks, China, Taiwan, etc. Spend more on quality

 

autozone is partial owned by walmart....does that explain anything??

 

I've said before & I'll say it again, AutoZone parts are crap! There's a reason professional repair shops don't buy from them; they don't want to do the job over again, for free! I've been in the business for 24 years & I'm glad there's an AutoZone in the town my store's in. They make us look good everyday!

 

there's so many options to getting crap from China...Brass Works is a HAMB alliance member making first class products...a few bucks more, but made by Americans for American Cars!

 

They should put some of that lead in the solder they're using to install the top tank on that radiator.

Bob