Radiator rebuilder?

[Sean]

Thanks to all who helped with our engine, tranny, and cable questions.

The latest in the saga is that we have decided to replace the radiator.  It's 22 years old and the lowest fins are crumbling.  With all the hoses off, we can see calcium buildup.  In addition to contributing to perennial heat problems, it's bad enough now that I'm worried about springing a leak at any moment.  Now is the time to do it, with the engine out of the way and the coolant already drained.

I am going to make some effort to locate a direct replacement, although I do not hold out much hope in this regard.  The radiator we have might be common to the Cityliners and/or Skyliners that were built in Colorado, but it's hard to believe that it would have been found in anything else.  We are preparing for the possibility that we will simply need to have this one re-cored.

Don here at Choo-Choo Express is recommending Diesel Radiator in Melrose Park, IL, on the basis of price and reliability.  However, shipping both ways to Chicago will add another week to the project and eat into the price advantage somewhat.  I'd drive the radiator there and back to save some time, but it's 11 hours each way, making it still a three-day proposition, and adding the cost of a rental car and a motel room to the bill.

Both Don and Joel swear there is no one here in Chattanooga that can do this work.  They've been around the block a few times, so I trust their judgment on this.  However, I have to believe that there is another qualified shop closer than Chicago, even if it is a few bucks more than Diesel Radiator.  I am thinking here of Atlanta, Memphis, Nashville, Cincinnati -- heck, even St. Louis is closer than Chicago.

Recommendations, anyone?  Ideally it would be no more than a six-hour drive from Chattanooga and would be able to turn it around in a single day (drop off when they open, pick up when they close) with an appointment.

What say the group?

-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com

[luvrbus]

Call the guy at the Eagles nest in Nashville or Hemphill Bros they will know of a place closer than Chicago running entertainers they need one in a hurry

good luck

[robertglines1]

might be your best bet if they will do it this week end.4th of July:  otherwise here there are allot of rad builders for mining  and construction equipment also couldn't they do it in your area? I'm sure there are allot of them there also. Just thoughts.

[Busted Knuckle]

Detroit Radiator I think now has a location in Birmingham, AL and are pretty reasonable on replacements I have never used them to repair one!

OR I use this one a lot they can rebuild / repair or build new from scratch and they do awesome work at reasonable prices.
Waggoner & Sons Radiator Repair
1118 Fulton Rd
Mayfield, KY 42066
270-247-4984

Just a couple options. And I might could even swing by and P/U this weekend and deliver it to them on Monday  (opps Tues, I forgot Monday was the 4th) AM as I have to be a spot driver for a trip going to Orlando on Sat. Night.
 BK  

[Sean]

Bryce, Detroit Radiator does no work in Decatur; they'd have to send it to their Michigan location.

I talked to Waggoner, they want $1,700 for it (is that reasonable?  I have no clue).  Bigger problem is they'd need three days after they receive it because they won't order the core until they have it.  If you dropped it off for me on Tuesday we'd be looking at picking it up on Friday, which has us here with no engine for another whole week.

I know my bus is weird but it does not seem to me that a 24"x54" radiator core should be all that unusual.  What am I missing?

-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com

[Hard Headed Ken]

Couple of my friends are mangers at Thompson Caterpillar and they also recommend Waggoner & Sons Radiator Repair in Hayfield, KY. I just talked with one of the Techs I know at the Prevost dealer and he says maybe Nashville Radiator or Accord Radiator but they haven't used either in several months.


Ken

[luvrbus]

It is a long way from you but for odd ball radiators I have had great luck with Daniels in Houston 713-223-0396 and that is a off size most are 30x54 count you rows,tubes and bolt holes and give them a call and they will probably give Joel a cut for you and yes radiators are almost double from what they were 2 years ago

good luck

[Hard Headed Ken]

Sorry, that's Acorn Radiator (615) 333-9683. I just tried to call and they are closed for the 4th today through the 5th and I can't find a phone number for Nashville Radiator. I'm still looking.

Ken

[Hard Headed Ken]

Call Ronnie at Truck Center 615 742 4844. I just talked to him and he says maybe. It's a truck salvage yard and they have always went out of their way to help. That's all I got.

Ken

[TomC]

Sean-it's no wonder your radiator provides marginal cooling.  Your frontal area is 1296 sq/in.  My 1980 KW (and my '85) both have 1350sq/in with 6 row serpentine fins.  Make sure they replace the core with the most amount of rows you can fit with serpentine fins-they work better then straight fins.  Don't let anyone talk you into an aluminum radiator.  Although they are lighter and do work, they are throw away.  Just to give you an idea, Freightliner trucks come with 1650sq/in radiators standard with 1750sq/in optional.  On our Coronado SD for heavy haul we have a 1900sq/in available.  Though you'd like to know. Good Luck, TomC

[Sean]

Thanks, everyone.

Bryce, if you can pick it up this weekend and drop it at Waggoner's, that would clinch it for me... saving me a trip.  When it's done they said they could maybe bring it as far as Nashville, so I would have an easier time getting it back, too.

Let me know if'n you're still fixin' to go to Orlando this weekend...

-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com

[Lin]

Sean,

I can understand that they won't buy the core until they have the radiator out of fear that they will get stuck with the core.  But would they buy it in advance if you paid upfront for it?  That is of course, assuming that you are really positive about the core that you want.

[dougyes]

For the last 7 years we have taken all our bus radiators to Butler Radiator in Gainesville, FL. It's a small shop that does great work and beats the pants of the big guys in price. 352 372 0494

[JohnEd]

Sean,

Considering the COST of having it rebuilt and your experience that it is marginal in performance AND that Tom confirms that yours is undersized...what would it cost to have a larger rad built that has more/thicker core with serp rods?  With all that money on the table I would trying for the deepest fix I could afford.

My rad had the bottom 3 inches of the fins rotted off at different spots.  I panicked!  The rad shop I went to was very kind....and honest I think.  The owner told me that rads "rot out from the inside....not the outside".  He gave me his opinion that the rods were more than adequate in thickness and that while the fins provided a lot of the cooling I could get by without some of it.  He thought I would get ample warning of overheating due to coolant loss to not be at risk of loosing the engine.  I installed over-temp buzzers driven by "idiot light senders" and I watch my temp.  My rig is reliable and that was ten years ago.

If you can see "frost" on the cores you might consider that you will pick up some cooling capacity from having the core  boiled and roded.  Were it me and they found 20% of the rods blocked or partially clogged I would risk the cleaning and reinstall.  I don't think you arrived steaming and spitting on you last over heated leg.  You seem to have time issues that are forcing you to take less cost effective options.  As it was you said you had cooling issues but they must have been little more than an inconvenience as you always met your deadlines with the Red Cross and I don't recall you ever saying your engine was in jeopardy.  Just spit balling here as I never felt I had a full grasp on all your details and considerations.  (and don't want to ever, understand)

Hope everything goes well for you,

John

[RJ]

Sean -

I'm kinda leaning towards what TomC and JohnEd said about enlarging your radiator, if possible.

How "tight" is the location where the radiator now resides?  Have you got several centimeters of clearance all around the framing in such a way that enlarging the surface area is possible?

In addition, a thicker core (more rows) will also aid in keeping that big 92 monster happy.

Doing both would be best, if possible.  Per BK, it sounds like Waggoner could build you a custom from scratch, if necessary.

A fellow busnut here locally went from a 4 to 6 row rad in his coach, and he says it was the best investment he's made to the powertrain.

Decisions, decisions!

FWIW & HTH. . .