Rad repair

[Justink]

What all have you guys done to fix a radiator leak?  Mine has a pretty big leak where the fan once hit and busted a few fins open.  Heard an egg will work temporarily.  Any ideas or am I stuck taking it to the repair shop?

[w squared]

A little bit of belt dressing will fix you up. And more carpet.

[Justink]

A little bit of belt dressing will fix you up. And more carpet.

Will the carpeting just act for a sound deadener so as I don't hear the motor blow from over heating? 
And belt dressing is an awesome idea, put less stress on everything therefore less heat. 

[dubbleJs]

As  trail fix (that lasted all of may long weekend) I pinched off the couple rows that were leaking with pliers....just stop the coolant from getting to the holes.

[apeman]

just buy a new rad...they are cheap..do you want something that you just threw together temporarily cooling your engine when you are on the trails or on the highway? 
Call Tom Woods, he will verify my ideas...

[Justink]

just buy a new rad...they are cheap..do you want something that you just threw together temporarily cooling your engine when you are on the trails or on the highway? 
Call Tom Woods, he will verify my ideas...

I just can't justify spending about 200 bucks on a radiator when that's a third of the price of the truck

[Pookapotamus]

also a new rad will give you 2 cores instead of 1 core and give you way better cooling. if you are worried about the case try and find one a pick n pull.

[cLAY]

You can also take it to a rad shop and have it repaired. Probably cost $50-$100. You can try doing it yourself, I've done it before with propane torch and solder as a camp repair.

I hope you won't go out on the trail though until it properly repaired or replaced. Everybody is "that guy" on the trail at some point or another but to go out when you know its got a problem is disrespectful to the others you are with. If you can afford the gas to go on a run then you should be able to afford to maintain your rig. If not then bum a ride with some else till you can afford it.

[cLAY]

My very adventure offroad was with my old 1973 Dodge 1/2ton. Can you say heavy? First trip out I blew two frost plugs out of the engine(one inside the bell housing) and had to get towed out. Its amazing how much a CJ can pull in low range.

[Evil-Jeep]

I will have patients for the guy who encounters "bad luck" and has something break that really shouldn't have..... u joints fresh out of the box with a defect.... but it is frustrating to be out with someone who breaks down and upon closer inspection you find there last repair "done months ago" consisted of nothing more than a little tape and solder to fix an oil pan puncture, and they justify it by saying.... I figured it would last till fall when I could take it apart and replace it.

As for myself I worry to much..... after my first outing in my TJ a kept hearing a rattle.... I did not drive the jeep for 2 weeks till I found the problem (a pebble that was in between the two sets of floor boards )

I don't think it is healthy to worry as much as me but if you know something is wrong, fix it properly or it will cost more in the long run. As for a new rad costing more than a new rig, if you scrap your current one the next cheap one you buy will have expensive problems as well.

[Justink]

I know where you are coming from.  I could say the same about tires though, but I don't think I'd continue to run bald tires or toss the vehicle instead of replacing the tires.

Find used from wreckers.. find one of the vehicles being parted..  Your ride won't be worth much after the engine has seized!

I'm kinda partial trying to save the rad as it was new about a year ago, and ya I'm not one of "those guys" who will go out with a known problem on my unit.