$600 radiator

[Pete Masterson]

I think it came from General Radiator (someone else mentioned them).
I contacted General Radiator and they gave me the name of a radiator
shop locally that uses their products. (I then checked out the
reputation of the local shop as well.) While labor and overhead rates
tend to be high in this part of California, it wasn't practical for
me to travel any distance for this work... so I went ahead and had
the radiator core replaced, the cooling system completely serviced,
and the chassis air serviced. (The previous owner had repaired and
upgraded it to Freon 134a.) With all the work that was done, the bill
came to nearly $4000.... but they had given me a pretty fair estimate
to start with and I was aware that this is one of the more expensive
things to upgrade. Besides, a new radiator is a better bet than to
risk a $20,000 engine rebuild.

The original radiator was heavily clogged with oily-dirt. I notice
that the oily fumes from the breather tube (also known as the
"slobber tube") are drawn under the edge of the coach and right back
into the fan when the coach is sitting at idle. On my "to do" list is
to rig up an extension to the breather tube so that it is routed away
from its current location. Unfortunately, I'm not too keen on routing
it to the rear bumper (to coat the front of my toad) so I'm still
pondering the possibilities ... probably I'll extend it under the
engine to the curb side...

Pete Masterson
aeonix1@...
'95 Bluebird Wanderlodge WBDA 42'
El Sobrante, CA




On Oct 15, 2006, at 12:25 PM, Bob Lawrence wrote:

> Thanks, Pete.
> Since we will be fulltiming in 11 months, thought about replacing
> the rad, just cause it's over 22 years old. Where did you get the
> core?
> Bob Lawrence
> 84 PT36
> Tacoma, Wa.
>>
>> The _core_ for my new radiator was around $800. The labor to
> remove
>> and replace the radiator was over $900. There are some charges
> for
>> putting the old 'ends' on the new core. If you're paying a
> radiator
>> service, expect charges above $2000 --- possibly way above. (Note
>> that my coach also has a charge-air radiator that had to be
> removed
>> and replaced at the same time even though it was not serviced.)
>>
>> Depending on the size core needed for your coach, it may be less
>> expensive than mine. But unless you're doing a _lot_ of the work
>> yourself, it will most certainly cost much more than $600...
>>
>> Pete Masterson
>> aeonix1@...
>> '95 Bluebird Wanderlodge WBDA 42'
>> El Sobrante, CA
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Oct 14, 2006, at 8:29 PM, Bob Lawrence wrote:
>>
>>> Hi group,
>>>
>>> I can't seem to find the thread that stated someone got a new
> radiator
>>> for $600.
>>>
>>> I am thinking about replacing mine and was wondering where I
> could get
>>> a new one for this price. I know I saw it on one of these
> forums, so
>>> thought I would ask here first.
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>>> Bob Lawrence
>>> 84 PT36
>>> Tacoma, Wa.
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
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