Below are thoughts on the need to replace the radiator in my '99 VT Commodore. It is not a task necessary for my survival, thankfully, but it is a task that will need to be done at some point in the somewhat-near-future. Your thoughts, comments, advice, or even offers of assistance in some way, are all greatly appreciated.
My inherited car (my dad's blue '99 VT Commodore sedan, thankfully not in shades of Cop Blue) has one major problem (AFAI currently K): the radiator leaks enough to empty over the course of a day, which is no bueno. Most patches/fix tools/methods are temporary and typically end up damaging the car further over time, so replacement is always the way to go for radiators, which isn't as bad as it sounds, mostly b/c radiators are eminently recyclable.
Here's the thing tho: I don't wanna pay $200+ for a new fucking radiator, esp. if I then have to put it in myself (thankfully not extremely difficult, very easy on the VT, all told). That's extremely pricey for a vehicle I can neither drive (no license, refuse to learn outside of professional education), nor is even registered atm, but I WILL need to be able to move it at some point in the future, so it's on the list of Things I Must Stop Putting Off.
There exists in my city a magical car salvage franchise called U-Pull-It, and the premise is contained in the name: you find and pull it (for all good and ill that entails), you pay less for it. In the case of a radiator, as low as like $90. Huge difference, for a ~24yr old part.
- Pro: Cheaper part that is, likely, easily available and accessible.
- Con: Uncertain if it's possible to check for leaks in the pulled radiator before buying. Not sure they're gonna let me pressurize it/check it w/ soapywourder (soap + water = bubbles through tiny holes.)
- Con: Even if I went out there, found a leak-less radiator of correct make/model at the above discounted price... I do not have an easy way of getting it home, barring an awkward Uber. And U-Pull-It won't do radiator pulls on order/shipped. Blegh.
Also uncertain is whether or not the original radiator part for the '99 VT is a copper/brass core, or was always an aluminium alloy core. The former performs better and (IIRC) corrodes less than the latter, but I may not have a choice if I'm gunning for low-price over performance (which isn't an issue). A U-Pull-It special might also be an original, so could get lucky there.
Another general issue is that, well, it is known: The Car Always Needs More Work. Invariably, I will want some other piece from U-Pull-It, and only discover this after returning from said magical place. But the radiator is the only thing keeping it from being at least driveable (aside from the battery, which I keep letting get fully drained, like an idiot, despite having a garage w/ powerpoint and a trickle charger...) so the radiator is the priority.
She needs love, but limited garage space (it's very clearly a small-car-garage that only barely contains the VT's seductive proportions), no easily accessible ramps, and she being in dire need of a deep clean (undercarriage, engine bay, and interior, all got fucky after being outside for 2+ years, all the fluids except maybe transmission need full super-cycling, etc), and all of that ending up being solvable mostly only by money, is just... Not within my priorities right now.
This whole chost might just be a really roundabout way of hoping a local friend (who happens to be on Cohost) who is Good With Cars (But Specifically Souping Up Little Zoomy Cars So I Understand If They Don't Want To) might take pity and whisk me away to a local U-Pull-It, guiding my quaking wrench hand such that I can get this done without either major fuckups from mistakes/unknowns, or heavy extra costs.
It might also not be that specific thing. It might just be me chosting. Who knows. >_>;