[DeTomaso] cooling question

[Asa Jay Laughton]

Chris,
For what it's worth.  I replaced our radiator at a Tech Session at Roger 
Sharps house one year on our way to the Fun Rally.  The old one was 
leaking slightly, like yours.  By the end of the day after nearly 
everyone had gone home, we found the brand new brass radiator had a 
cracked fitting and was leaking.  We put a bottle of stop leak in it and 
drove to Vegas.

Along the way we found it didn't totally stop the leak but it slowed it 
down enough it was manageable.  We'd add more water every so often and 
we made it to Vegas without incident.  While in Vegas, I contacted the 
same vendor and traded him for a new Fluidyne Aluminum radiator (I also 
gave him a bit more money).  I swapped the radiator out in the pits at 
Las Vegas Motor Speedway.  Took me all of about two hours with very 
little assistance.

My point is, it -can- be done quickly and easily.  Here are a couple of 
tips:
- Put cardboard in front of the radiator to help prevent any damage to 
the front once it's loose and ready to come up and out.  Same for 
installation.  In my case, I still had the front fans, and even though I 
removed everything, there were still objects in the way.  The cardboard 
saves from damaging the radiator when one arm gets tired and drops it.  :)
- Use a good fender cover.  That sucker isn't exactly light and you'll 
want to rest on the way out.
- Be prepared for a bit of a coolant mess.  Use a good size catch bowl, 
drain in increments.  Remember there are several gallons in the system.

Good luck,
Asa Jay

Asa Jay Laughton, MSgt, USAFR, Retired
&  Shelley Marie
Spokane, WA
******************************
http://www.racingagainstautism.com
http://www.teampanteraracing.com


On 12/4/2010 09:15, Mike Thomas wrote:
> You will save yourself a great deal of time and aggravation if you remove
> the front deck lid prior to trying to remove the radiator and reinstalling
> it.  Trying to lift that thing out and then position it for installation,
> much less do all the hookups, with the lid in the way is a real PITA, and a
> two-person job to avoid damage to the car or radiator.
>
> You will need two to remove the lid and reinstall.  Tape or trace around
> where the hinges are located on the deck lid side before unbolting to
> minimize the alignment when reinstalling, and just find a safe place to
> stand it on it's edge while it's off.
>
> Mike Thomas.
>