1989 Ford F150 st6

M Trans

I ended up with a radiator leak - went to Auto Zone gave them the details and they gave me a new unit for $129.00

I'll take it.

Take the OLD radiator out and NO Coolent lines (seem capped) but I did not trace the line due to heavy rain. "NO Places on old leaking radiator for lines anyways.."

Problem - The new unit fits - all seems cool.. but it HAS two smaller I'm assuming transmission connections??? That the OLD unit did not have?

The LARGER connections for the motor are FINE.

Question - Can I just cap them? NOT USE THEM? Do I even need to cap them? WHY were these lines capped/shut off.. etc?

(I never had a problem with the truck or transmission)

This is a heavy duty truck that I bought last year for $500 - I use it like everyday. I never noticed the radiator until today - (not that I'm a motor head)

What gives?

SIDE NOTE - I can't believe it's been since early this past year that I posted. I really must get on here more and more - I want to learn how to do MORE with my pickups.. (little things - like breaks, tune-ups.. etc)

I LOVE my FORDS.

 

Your manual tranny does not need a cooler and therefore has no cooler lines. Da Zone gave you a radiator for an automatic and probably that is all they stock. If you are adventurous, plumb the tranny cooler to your engine as an oil cooler. Otherwise, cap them, or not, and don't let it bother you.

Hey, what part of the Poconos are you in? I was born and raised west of Wilkes-Barre (West Wyoming). My dad used to race at the old Pocono Drag Lodge in Bear Creek

Here is a video, I am the fat blond kid at the end. Now I am a fat gray old man. LOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQKp3QR5Los

 

I wrote you a long reply - and then poof! It was gone. (too tired to re-type it all) Maybe another time.

Hey! Nice video. You had a cool dad!

I'm from the south (most south) part of Poconos - Near Hazleton.


As to my question..

So I can leave the trans lines OPEN - and not worry. "cool" - I'm not even going to touch them... as long as it wont hurt anything..

Distilled water vs. regular tap water? Is it an issue?

Thanks for your help - I need it!

 

Ya go to Harry's U-Pull-It yard then? Tons of halftons there usually, if ya need parts that's the place to look for them.
Yes, you can leave the ports open. Personally I'd just go to the hardware store and spend $5 on two 1/4" NPT solid brass plugs and cap the ports, this way you won't have dirt/spiders/bees getting in there. Water - I always use regular water, never had issues with it corroding aluminum parts, I just put in a new heater core and the old one was in perfect shape so there was really no need for the replacement...

 

I have always used tap water in the radiator.....distilled in the battery.
It wouldn't hurt to put plugs in the cooler line bungs in your radiator. It would keep garbage out.

 

Thanks for the quick replies! I'm off to install this bad boy.

 

It's in - running great! (Or so it seems)

I have to get a pic up of this truck in action! She is a worker bee.

Thanks guys!

I'll have to get on soon and ask a STARTER question.