punctured radiator!!!

[chevy4life]

Hey guys, so I'm finishing up my ls swap into my chevelle and while i was installing my trans cooler with those special zip ties, it looks like i punctured my radiator core. has anyone had this issue? and how can i fix this?? i really don't need to spend another load of cash on a new radiator. any help is much appreciated!
Anthony

[SparkyRnD]

if you punctured one of the core tubes, you can try to have someone qualified repair it, or seal it off and lose that one tube. But odds are it won't last all that long and you'll need to have it replaced.

[dontlifttoshift]

Replacement will be necessary eventually. Find a dirty radiator shop that has been in business for a 100 years and they can fix it.

No one should ever, ever mount anything to the core of their radiator with those magic zip ties that are shaped just like a saw blade......ever.

[Sean Cooke]

Ran a drill bit threw mine last year, had it welded up & pressure tested ... No issues since..

[MonzaRacer]

Aluminum radiators get repaired with stick tite. Copper and brass get soldered OR heat up header, pull tube out and resolder the hole shut.

[Sean Cooke]

I did the same thing twice, most radiator repair can fix no problem & the place I went to did it the same day.. hasn't leaked at all

[Buryingthesun]

Most OG rad shops can fix it

[gray86hach]

Afco sells a plastic that you melt into the hole. It works great costs about $25

Tim

[CampbellshotrodsAZ]

Is it on the end of the tube, where you can see it, or inside between the fins?

If it's outside on the face, it isn't hard to solder. I had the radiator underneath my 98 Trans Am years ago while pulling the heads. Dropped a 1/2" ratchet on it and punctured a tube. Had it repaired at the local radiator shop, it's been 4 years problem free. Doesn't look all that pretty, but it was under the electric fan.

[Patrick]

You can use JB Weld and a vacuum cleaner. Block off the hose fittings with tape - apply the JB Weld to the damaged area - use the vacuum at the radiator neck to pull in some of the JB Weld. Don't pull in too much. Once it sets up brush on a little more to ensure adhesion. Trust me it works. I have thousands of hard miles on an aluminum radiator with this patch.