Plastic or Metal Tanks ?

[Daddy Brim]

I will be getting a new radiator soon. It looks like metal thanks are getting phased out. So my questions are, should I buy one with plastic tanks locally or spend more $$$ and get one from a vendor with metal tanks ? Do the plastic ones hold up as good as metal ?

[chopnchaneled]

The plastic tank one's are throw away, you can't have it repaired at the seam When it splits

[bobs409]

I'm confused. Are we talkin' radiators or gas tanks here?

[Sequoyah]

Originally Posted by bobs409

I'm confused. Are we talkin' radiators or gas tanks here?

yah...good point. I was confused too!

[rsavage]

If it were me, I would get the brass tanked radiator. The radiators are held in with clamps that put a lot of down force on the radiator tanks. Can't see an aftermarket plastic tanked radiator fitting correctly or holding up to that pressure.There are new 4 core brass tanked radiators available for around $200 from auto parts chains. I don't have an OReily's in my neck of the woods but here is an example of a copper brass radiator that would fit my Blazer for under $200 with a warranty:
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...1386&ppt=C0331

[Dano69c10]

Originally Posted by bobs409

I'm confused. Are we talkin' radiators or gas tanks here?

Sorry that was me, I didn't read through very carefully...

[68gmsee]

Originally Posted by bobs409

I'm confused. Are we talkin' radiators or gas tanks here?

Yeah, title is somewhat confusing but it's about radiators.

Originally Posted by Daddy Brim

I.....Do the plastic ones hold up as good as metal ?

I've had to replace the plastic tank radiators on two vehicles. Granted they were close to 10 yrs old but the one on my 69 GMC was over 40 yrs old when I recore it.

[Classic Heartbeat]

I am a brass and copper fan myself. I have heard that the plastic and aluminum radiators have problems leaking at the rubber seal between the plastic tanks and the aluminum core. WES

[Daddy Brim]

I'm talking about radiators. I would prefer to get one with brass tanks, but they are getting hard to find in the parts stores around here.

[68gmsee]

Might want to stop by a radiator shop and ask about your choices. I took one in about 8 yrs ago and asked about converting it to a 3 row. He recored mine into a 3 core.

[Daddy Brim]

I found one at O'Reilly with metal tanks, $194.34 out the door

[1967wannabe]

Hmm, we work on tons of late model (88 & up) GM trucks daily that have plastic tank/aluminum core radiators, really don't see any leaks.

Ironically, we do get the occasional old man in the shop griping about those "newfangled plastic radiators", my first comment is, "you mean the one that's 18 years old with 264,000 mikes on it and still hasn't sprung a leak?"

[68gmsee]

Originally Posted by 1967wannabe

....
Ironically, we do get the occasional old man in the shop griping about those "newfangled plastic radiators", my first comment is, "you mean the one that's 18 years old with 264,000 mikes on it and still hasn't sprung a leak?"

I've owned vehicles since 1962 and never had to buy a new radiator until the plastic topped ones (2 of them in the last 3-5 years). I'm not saying they're all bad, but repairing is a lot cheaper than replacing. I had an old one recored because I was going to add A/C to the truck but never had one that couldn't be repaired. A $30-$45 resolder and cleaning is a lot cheaper than $100 plus for a new one. Especially if you're on a fixed income like us old men.

[463]

my last quote in oct/10 for a leak fix on my rad was apx $125.00 with me doing the R&R. so over the counter is looking good to me.

[c1069]

It's just Marketing.

Plastic radiator are ..... and the copper ones are for the rest of your life.

[sameyrasmea72]

I have had dozens of these trucks and the vast majority of them have had original radiators in them. I doubt 40 years from now there will be very many original 40 year old plastic radiators in use.

[special-K]

I hope I never have to buy a radiator with plastic tank.
The title wasn't confusing to me. Non-specific is more like it. After all,there's more than one tank on a truck. I did "assume" it meant "gas" tank until I read the very first sentence.