Radiator Mounting Bracket Detached - Need A Quick Fix!

[road robert]

Hello B Buddy's, my radiator bracket is detached from the upper tank, I am planning on using Gorilla 5 minute Epoxy to secure it - think that will work? I'm not worriend about it falling out, the upper hose will also help keep it in place once it's back in... I know it was originally soldered buit want to drive it this weeken then down to Carlisle! Did a flush & drain installing new upper and lower hoses...

 

[dadsbee]

Solder is THE quickest fix there is. Clean mating parts with sand paper, flux, torch, solder. Done deal in 5 minutes...

 

[Fran Blacker]

Solder it back on or have radiator shop do it.

 

[Vertex_Jeff]

I have successfully used JB weld to do a temporary repair on that exact issue. The temporary repair ended up lasting for the remaining 3 years i drove the truck.

 

[pnora]

Hello B Buddy's, my radiator bracket is detached from the upper tank, I am planning on using Gorilla 5 minute Epoxy to secure it - think that will work? I'm not worriend about it falling out, the upper hose will also help keep it in place once it's back in... I know it was originally soldered buit want to drive it this weeken then down to Carlisle! Did a flush & drain installing new upper and lower hoses...
View attachment 1879212

I doubt the monkey fix will work. As said fix it right. I could fix it in less time than you could epoxy it.

 

[RR Fan Dan]

Solder it back on or have radiator shop do it.

I doubt the monkey fix will work. As said fix it right. I could fix it in less time than you could epoxy it.

Tough crowd.

I have successfully used JB weld to do a temporary repair on that exact issue. The temporary repair ended up lasting for the remaining 3 years i drove the truck.

This looks promising. It is what I would try. Epoxy it. Gorilla is good stuff.

 

[dadsbee]

Just remember... use some crap on it and the rad shop bill will certainly rise next round.

 

[pnora]

Tough crowd.


This looks promising. It is what I would try. Epoxy it. Gorilla is good stuff.

Some people are just hacks. Gotta ask your self are you one to.

 

[RR Fan Dan]

I don’t know how to weld and I don’t own a soldering gun so in this case yes. I wouldn’t really consider it a hack. You won’t see it and it will be as strong as a weld.

 

[pnora]

Just remember... use some crap on it and the rad shop bill will certainly rise next round.

Thats for sure. The poster has the radiator out its a no brainer not to fix it right.

 

[pnora]

I don’t know how to weld and I don’t own a soldering gun so in this case yes. I wouldn’t really consider it a hack. You won’t see it and it will be as strong as a weld.

Then be smart and take it to someone who can fix it right. Epoxy has its place and can be a quick fix but in this case I would never call it permanent or as strong as correctly soldering.

 

[QuickBpBp]

I don’t know how to weld and I don’t own a soldering gun so in this case yes. I wouldn’t really consider it a hack. You won’t see it and it will be as strong as a weld.

You wouldn't use a soldering gun... Mapp gas and solder just like doing copper pipes.

 

[440 4 speed]

Look up a friend possibly a plumber, if a friend buy him lunch and a beer. Do you really want to risk having something happen on the road. Destroy your engine, suck the fan into the rad? Then a tow back!

 

[RR Fan Dan]

You wouldn't use a soldering gun... Mapp gas and solder just like doing copper pipes.

See told ya I didn’t know what I was doing. I can sweat copper pipes though, so if it’s the same thing as a blowtorch, flux, and solder, I could do that. Maybe @road robert could do that too. I’ll shut up now and quit putting in my two cents.

 

[RonnieLongball]

Ok, here is what you do. I worked at a rad shop for a long time. Get some flux, liquid flux is better than paste. Make sure there isnt any **** between the rail and that top tank. Flux it up, take a long flat screwdriver and get in that tab on the top of the rail. Use the screwdriver to hold the rail tight to the tank, heat the top of the rail, and dont let go of the rail until it’s stuck. From that point, solder is added to smooth out the sides but not required

 

[Davefinan]

See told ya I didn’t know what I was doing. I can sweat copper pipes though, so if it’s the same thing as a blowtorch, flux, and solder, I could do that. Maybe @road robert could do that too. I’ll shut up now and quit putting in my two cents.

There should be room for everyone’s opinion here. I agree with the soldering fix if you are able to do it , if not it doesn’t seem to be a situation where you ruin anything if you try the epoxy.
Example: I had a 67 sport fury that had pinhole rust through on the gas tank under the tank strap. I used plumbers epoxy to seal it and it didn’t leak for 25 years

 

[eldubb440]

if you're gonna epoxy it......... rough up both surfaces so it has something to grab. You could even drill a couple small holes through the tab for the epoxy to squish through.

and the lesson here is......... if you're making an emergency epoxy fix on anything; just do it, and keep it to yourself........and if it fails, you can blame the last guy

 

[Davefinan]

if you're gonna epoxy it......... rough up both surfaces so it has something to grab. You could even drill a couple small holes through the tab for the epoxy to squish through.

and the lesson here is......... if you're making an emergency epoxy fix on anything; just do it, and keep it to yourself

Hilarious…..but seems to be true

 

[road robert]

Thanks everyone - some folks are helpful and others are just bullies calling us hacks! lol I am a decent backyard mechanic that fixes "hacks" on my '71 road runner every time I work on it owned more than 5 years! I just don't do hot work nor want to DIY this now and risk damaging the solder joint that holds the upper tank then have a leak and be screwed - and all the shops are closed for the holiday weekend. I am actually plannning to replace the radiator (it's about that time) BUT driving to Carlisle 420 miles in 5 days so no time for that now... I'm going with this "fix" since the cat is already out of the bag ha ha:

I have successfully used JB weld to do a temporary repair on that exact issue. The temporary repair ended up lasting for the remaining 3 years i drove the truck.

Now I just need to choose the right J-B Weld option (this looks good UNLESS I hear from Vertex_Jeff with the exact one he used that comes with a 3 year guarantee)

 

[pnora]

Thanks everyone - some folks are helpful and others are just bullies calling us hacks! lol I am a decent backyard mechanic that fixes "hacks" on my '71 road runner every time I work on it owned more than 5 years! I just don't do hot work nor want to DIY this now and risk damaging the solder joint that holds the upper tank then have a leak and be screwed - and all the shops are closed for the holiday weekend. I am actually plannning to replace the radiator (it's about that time) BUT driving to Carlisle 420 miles in 5 days so no time for that now... I'm going with this "fix" since the cat is already out of the bag ha ha:


Now I just need to choose the right J-B Weld option (this looks good UNLESS I hear from Vertex_Jeff with the exact one he used that comes with a 3 year guarantee)
View attachment 1879457

And when you are miles from home and the radiator meets the fan you can pat yourself on the back. No bullies here we just all learned from experience. You asked for advice and the majority suggested what is correct.