Junky Spectra Radiator

[mam.haggis@hotmail.com]

Reluctantly I installed this cheap radiator with its plastic tanks and single row core, what a piece of garbage! The first problem I had was the holes did not line up for the shroud and the two bottom holes were so big, the plastic clips just fell out.
The brass insert in the bottom tank leaked and when it came time to drain the fluid I couldn't screw the drain plug out far enough, it would have taken hours ! By the time I was able to screw it out it pissed fluid all over the frame and engine bay _ what fu_ck_n mess !!
Even if it was pressure tested it would not have shown up, Spectra had put this plastic screw plug in where the "O" ring sealed up against the plastic tank. The brass insert would have leaked up against the "O" ring and it would not have shown up.
The brass fitting has the coolant temp sensor screwed into it with type of Japanese pipe thread. Tightening up on that made no difference. I would not have dared tighten it up any more then I did for fear that the crappy plastic tank would break.
I ended up returning it and buying an all metal one from CSF radiator, it was more then double the price, but it is made in the US and the quality has to be better.