97 F53 radiator
Hey guys I have a 96 Bounder 34j with 11k miles on a 97 F53 chassis.. well we just got back from a couple hour trip the other day and it seemed to run a bit hot but overall ran great. Now I am suppose...
Forum Discussion
I just had the same problem with my 95 Fleetwood Southwind F53 and wound up having Fairway Ford RV install a new radiator, water pump, and belts with I believe one new belt tensioner. Although it only has about 32k miles it has leaked for years and I am hoping to do some traveling this summer and didn't want it to let go at the worst time.
I went with Fairway after getting one estimate of "it'll take 2-3 days or more (18-24+ hours) labor, we won't know until we try" estimate and another "we'll gt back to you." Fairway quoted 8 hours labor and a new two row all aluminum radiator "built from scratch" and all the rest of the service supplies necessary like a/c evac and recharge, coolant, hoses and so on for $2500, with water pump etc additional as needed.
If you take a close look you will see that you need to remove the condenser and at least loosen the hydraulic cooler and take the radiator out the front. I know it looks like it might come out the bottom but apparently it won't. I don't really have a place to do the work myself due to not only CCRs but a slanted driveway to boot, and there's no way I can do it at my RV storage lot.
In all I did need a new water pump and belts, tensioner etc so it was $3150 out the door, with the new water pump etc. and a couple more hours labor for that plus tax accounting for the additional $650. After the run around I was getting elsewhere I think I got a fair deal, as the radiator parts charge was about $1200 of that. YMMV
I mentioned Fairway as I am nearby in Orange County and their labor rate was about the same as the others who would even attempt this. I got a few "we don't do those" from radiator specialists too.
Good luck pulling that sucker!
Dave
I went with Fairway after getting one estimate of "it'll take 2-3 days or more (18-24+ hours) labor, we won't know until we try" estimate and another "we'll gt back to you." Fairway quoted 8 hours labor and a new two row all aluminum radiator "built from scratch" and all the rest of the service supplies necessary like a/c evac and recharge, coolant, hoses and so on for $2500, with water pump etc additional as needed.
If you take a close look you will see that you need to remove the condenser and at least loosen the hydraulic cooler and take the radiator out the front. I know it looks like it might come out the bottom but apparently it won't. I don't really have a place to do the work myself due to not only CCRs but a slanted driveway to boot, and there's no way I can do it at my RV storage lot.
In all I did need a new water pump and belts, tensioner etc so it was $3150 out the door, with the new water pump etc. and a couple more hours labor for that plus tax accounting for the additional $650. After the run around I was getting elsewhere I think I got a fair deal, as the radiator parts charge was about $1200 of that. YMMV
I mentioned Fairway as I am nearby in Orange County and their labor rate was about the same as the others who would even attempt this. I got a few "we don't do those" from radiator specialists too.
Good luck pulling that sucker!
Dave
