Radiator ? for the pro's

asanti · Post by **asanti** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 2:49 pm

Ok I believe my stock radiator's on it's way out. Specifically the tabby things where the trans oil lines go (it's an ATX). I can't seem to get them to stop leaking tranny fluid regardless of how tightly I clamp the damn lines

. I got them to stop for a good while, but I'm noticing that they're starting to leak again

. I'm thinking just buy a new radiator since the one I have's the stock original. Aside from Howell, does anyone else sell a good aftermarket performance radiator for our cars? and will a rad that's made for an SRT-4 fit in a non-SRT?? I have a line on one hell of a deal on a SRT-4 Griffin radiator, and going by the parts numbers on Howell's site it will fit; guess I don't want to waste money if I don't HAVE to, but I think it's time to upgrade. HELP?

LINK to the radiator I'm lookin at--> http://www.howellautomotive.com/index.a ... ProdID=200

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 3:11 pm

Try chaning the copper crush washers first.

If you still want to change the rad, head to a quality local rad shop and get a re-core. Normally cheaper and better.

Post by **Diablo0** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 3:14 pm

I have the Koyo in my white SRT motor swap and it works great.

http://www.modernperformance.com/produc ... c6843ad6dd

It'll work in a Neon...

asanti · Post by **asanti** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 3:17 pm

Copper washers? O RLY

?? You mean that there are copper washers on there, or are you talking about the brass-looking nipples that the tranny lines go into? I can get a brand new Griffin radiator for less than $100, so I might just go for that but if it's THAT easy a fix, I'll give it a shot.

Thanks
Allex

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 3:21 pm

One thing to keep in mind...

Your car+Auto=Radiator with built-in cooler

SRT4+Manual=Radiator without cooler.

The one you are looking at will work since the rad is made with the fittings in it, but a stock one won't.

Post by **occasional demons** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 3:33 pm

Separate ATF cooler FTW! Then you wont't have to worry about it leaking into your coolant.

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 4:24 pm

Good point!

Would keep your trans cooler as well

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 4:36 pm

asanti wrote:Copper washers? O RLY ?? You mean that there are copper washers on there, or are you talking about the brass-looking nipples that the tranny lines go into? I can get a brand new Griffin radiator for less than $100, so I might just go for that but if it's THAT easy a fix, I'll give it a shot.

Thanks
Allex

Nevermind, I just looked it up. Most times it's a banjo fitting with a pair of copper crush washers. Most of the time it just needs crush washers and it's fine. Neon has nipples instead so that fix won't work.

Two other easy fixes:
~Replace nipples if it's an NPT style
~Check to see if the end of the hose is cracked. Pretty common with that type of connection as well.

asanti · Post by **asanti** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 7:32 pm

I'm thinking the brass nipples are the culprit . The hoses are brand new. They were brand new 7 months ago, and I recently bought new hoses and put them on roughly 2 months ago thinking the same thing: "hoses are leaking". I think it's the brass nipple the hose goes into because there's a small wet spot underneath it. It's not HELLA leaking, it's almost "misting".

Either way if I need to I'll get a separate cooler for the trans once I get a new rad.

Later
Allex

NickKo · Post by **NickKo** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:04 pm

asanti wrote: It's not HELLA leaking, it's almost "misting".
Allex

Sounds like you NEED NEW Transmission HOSES !!
Even if they are new, they may be damaged.... perhaps they were overtightened ??

Please get this fixed soon or you may end up walking .....

A girl that I know who used to work at my company lost a transmission in her Neon because one of the transmission hoses blew like you described.
Basically, she blew the hose and kept on driving it, that's what ruined it.

I would get some trans cooler hose of the proper diameter / size, and replace it ALONG WITH the HOSE CLAMPS.

-Nick

asanti · Post by **asanti** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 11:58 am

NickKo Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:04 pm Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

asanti wrote:
It's not HELLA leaking, it's almost "misting".
Allex

Sounds like you NEED NEW Transmission HOSES !!
Even if they are new, they may be damaged.... perhaps they were overtightened ??

Please get this fixed soon or you may end up walking .....

A girl that I know who used to work at my company lost a transmission in her Neon because one of the transmission hoses blew like you described.
Basically, she blew the hose and kept on driving it, that's what ruined it.

I would get some trans cooler hose of the proper diameter / size, and replace it ALONG WITH the HOSE CLAMPS.

-Nick

Most definitely

Later
Allex

asanti · Post by **asanti** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:22 pm

Sorry for the "21 questions"

but, as a side note, has anyone ever heard of or used these radiator hoses, any feedback good or bad? Anything better out there you'd recommend? If anyone's used them or something similar, any installed pics? LINK --> http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... Track=true

Later
Allex

NickKo · Post by **NickKo** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 3:02 pm

asanti wrote:Sorry for the "21 questions" but, as a side note, has anyone ever heard of or used these radiator hoses, any feedback good or bad? Anything better out there you'd recommend? If anyone's used them or something similar, any installed pics? LINK --> http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... Track=true

Good question.

I have some heavy-duty "high mileage" heavy-duty reinforced hose (used for police applications) on my 1971 Plymouth Valiant.... It's green in color.

The color is not what's important, it's that it's reinforced.
I have no experience with the OBX hose, but the cutaway does look like it has more nylon reinforcent than normal.
Too bad the seller doesn't have any hoses for Neons WITH a/c, otherwise I'd buy it.

-Nick

asanti · Post by **asanti** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 9:37 pm

NickKo Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 3:02 pm Post subject:
Good question.

I have some heavy-duty "high mileage" heavy-duty reinforced hose (used for police applications) on my 1971 Plymouth Valiant.... It's green in color.

The color is not what's important, it's that it's reinforced.
I have no experience with the OBX hose, but the cutaway does look like it has more nylon reinforcent than normal.
Too bad the seller doesn't have any hoses for Neons WITH a/c, otherwise I'd buy it.

-Nick

Actually, they do

! I most likely will pick them up as well.
Just found this: LINK http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... OTORS:1123

Later
Allex

NickKo · Post by **NickKo** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 6:00 pm

asanti wrote:
NickKo Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 3:02 pm Post subject:
Too bad the seller doesn't have any hoses for Neons WITH a/c, otherwise I'd buy it.

-Nick
Actually, they do ! I most likely will pick them up as well.
Just found this: LINK http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... OTORS:1123

Way Cool.

Thanks for the tip !!

-Nick

snkmug · Post by **snkmug** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 12:49 am

just get a 20 dollar external cooler and zip tie it though the rad fins, and run new hoses to the transmission......