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  #1  
Old 03-12-2007, 09:26 PM
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Radiator DIY

Well my 301,000 mile 1985 300TD's( W123) radiator has a cracked top tank. Looks like it is under the overflow line connection. I did a search but didn't find any DIY links on radiator replacement. Any tricks ?

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1981 240D
1985 300D (wrecked)
1985 300TD 365,000 miles
1969 Mustang Fastback
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  #2  
Old 03-12-2007, 09:33 PM
Craig
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It's pretty simple, I did mine a couple of weeks ago. Remove hoses, disconnect fan shroud and move it out of the way, remove top clamp between radiator and oil cooler, remove transmission cooler hoses, left radiator straight up. Installation is the opposite, don't over-tighten clamps on new radiator.
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  #3  
Old 03-12-2007, 09:53 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Craig View Post
It's pretty simple, I did mine a couple of weeks ago. Remove hoses, disconnect fan shroud and move it out of the way, remove top clamp between radiator and oil cooler, remove transmission cooler hoses, left radiator straight up. Installation is the opposite, don't over-tighten clamps on new radiator.
I have to replace mine on the 300D soon too.
When you disconnectthese hoses does any fluid leak out ?
If so, what & how do you catck it & replace it.



AA
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  #4  
Old 03-12-2007, 10:22 PM
Craig
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Originally Posted by Austin85 View Post
I have to replace mine on the 300D soon too.
When you disconnectthese hoses does any fluid leak out ?
If so, what & how do you catck it & replace it.



AA
..
You can drain most of it through the radiator drain plug into a pan before you remove the hoses. You will lose a little more when you remove the hoses, but hot too much. If you are careful, you can get almost all of the coolant in a pan. You will also lose a little transmission fluid, maybe a cup.
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  #5  
Old 03-12-2007, 10:22 PM
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Use a clean drain pan to drain the radiator first, then undo the hoses. Then use a separate pan to catch the trans fluid drips when you undo those lines. If you unclamp the engine oil cooler from the radiator, you won't have to worry about that.
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  #6  
Old 03-12-2007, 10:27 PM
Craig
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Originally Posted by Magoo View Post
If you unclamp the engine oil cooler from the radiator, you won't have to worry about that.
Also, don't worry about the bottom clamp, if you remove the top clamp it will just lift out of the bottom clamp.
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  #7  
Old 03-12-2007, 11:08 PM
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I am willing to bet that you have to remove the fan first... it's REALLY tight on the 123 vehicles. the SD is easier, lots more room.
I have found a local source for a replacement radiator, for 179.00 but it's a modine... never heard of it before, is it any good? Nissens and Bocsh I have heard of... they are not as low priced though.

John
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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!
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  #8  
Old 03-12-2007, 11:17 PM
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Originally Posted by vstech View Post
I am willing to bet that you have to remove the fan first...
You don't want to do that.

Quote:
Originally Posted by vstech View Post
I have found a local source for a replacement radiator, for 179.00 but it's a modine... never heard of it before, is it any good? Nissens and Bocsh I have heard of... they are not as low priced though.

John
Modine is good. Where did you find a Bosch radiator?
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  #9  
Old 03-12-2007, 11:18 PM
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ive done this radiator job without taking the fan off you just ahve to work the fan shroud off first.
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  #10  
Old 03-12-2007, 11:21 PM
Craig
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Originally Posted by vstech View Post
I am willing to bet that you have to remove the fan first... it's REALLY tight on the 123 vehicles....
You really don't have to remove the fan, I just did it on my W123 with no problem. With the shroud moved toward the engine, the radiator just lifts straight up.
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  #11  
Old 03-12-2007, 11:36 PM
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Radiator replacement is really straight forward. I was able to get a new Nissens radiator from a store in New York off of ebay for about $140 back in December. I just went and looked at their price and its jumped to $198! Glad I got mine when I did. If I had to buy one now, I'd go with ******** AZ. They have them for ~$191.
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  #12  
Old 03-13-2007, 08:30 AM
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so, modine is good, but Nissens is better? worth the extra 20.00? on my TD, I could not move the fan shroud far at all. I had to remove the fan. (man those tiny bolts are HARD to get out!) I could have left the shroud in place if I didn't want to get all the lower hoses undone from above. but the lip on the radiator support sticks out too far to get to easily from below.
so I pulled the fan.
John
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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!
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  #13  
Old 03-13-2007, 08:40 AM
LarryBible
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You do not need to replace the radiator for this. You need a metal tire valve from the tire store. This is a flange type fitting with rubber washers that goes in from the inside.

To install it, you need to cut off the overflow fitting from the radiator and grind it flush. You then put a piece of wire through the hole over to the other side of the radiator to the top radiator hose neck where you can fish the wire through with a pair of needle nose. Put the fitting over the wire and then put a jagged bend in the wire so it will pull the fitting through. Pull it through and then put the nut on the tire valve and tighten down. Push the wire back through and fish it out of the top radiator hose neck.

Your overflow hose will now connect to the tire valve with a hose clamp.

I fixed one like that many years ago and it is still holding perfectly.

Good luck,
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  #14  
Old 03-13-2007, 12:46 PM
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Just a thought - if you want to ...Wizardcooling. will make anything you want.
I have this set up in my w123
Jake
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Radiator DIY-wiazard_cooling.jpg  
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  #15  
Old 03-13-2007, 09:20 PM
Craig
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Originally Posted by BF_JC230 View Post
Just a thought - if you want to ...Wizardcooling. will make anything you want.
I have this set up in my w123
Jake
I was going to check them out too (http://www.wizardcooling.com), but mine failed suddenly, so I just tossed in a Behr. Maybe next time.

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