The passenger side plastic end tank on my radiator decided that it needed a 10" crack in it Saturday. I ordered a new replacement radiator already. I was thinking about it and wondering why the hell the engineers that designed the car made a aluminum radiator with plastic end tanks? I guess they didn't want the car to last more than 15 years.

/rant off

Has anyone taken their radiator to a sheet metal place to have aluminum end tanks welded on? Does anyone have any idea how much doing that would run?

The plastic ones are actually pretty durable as far as normal use goes, they will break with any impact though. In a pinch, you can repair them with two part epoxy.

If you're serious about getting rid of the plastic end tanks, your best bet is adapting a different radiator to fit (V8 Archie sells a custom job for this). Personally, I see no reason to go to all that trouble just to avoid plastic ends, they aren't *that* bad.

Bryce
88 GT

I'd say that 15 to 19 years of life isn't bad for a plastic end tank.

I imagine it would cost GM several more dollars per car to make aluminum radiator end tanks. They try to save every penny they can on manufacturing.

15-19 years isn't bad for ANY radiator or other cooling system part.

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Be alert. The world need more lerts...

The Ogre's Fiero Cave (It's also at the top of every forum page...)

You can get a brand new modine 2 core radiator with metal end tanks just about anywhere. I have one still new in the box if anybody is interested.