Need a 5ktq Radiator

[Mike Veglia]

My radiator split in one of the caps last night on the way home from work.
I'm pretty sure all is okay with the engine, except for my almost new (did
water pump and timing belt job only about 4k miles ago) water pump (or
something behind the TB cover) now makes bad noises. I never did get a
coolant loss alert from Hal, so I need to check the coolant bottle sensor
now too. The temp gauge never went extremely high, but I suspect things were
pretty bad since there wasn't a lot of coolant left when I pulled into the
carport. After allowing time for the engine to cool I filled up the cooling
system to fire the car up to see what was up. Aside from the nasty water
pump noise I noticed coolant escaping through a split in the (plastic)
radiator tank right below the upper hose fitting. I know, you all "told me
so" about these dang plastic tank radiators when I put this one in some 50k
miles ago. Anyway, true to form this car once again got me home and didn't
strand me anywhere (I was two blocks from home when I first noticed steam
from under the hood). I'm pretty sure the head is okay, no nasty steam, etc.
from the exhaust and the engine is running fine. Thank goodness for the 4kq
"spare car" we bought back when my wife's ovloV 850 turbo wagon lost a
cylinder back in the beginning of the year.

Anyway, I thought I heard a rumor here that all metal Modine radiators for
our cars are no more? Is this true? If so, I'll likely just get another
plastic one--I guess. If all metal Modines do still exist, what's the best
source? (Rod at TPC only has plastic O.E. AKG ones for the not so great
price of $169.00.)

Mike Veglia
Motor Sport Visions Photography
http://www.motorsportvisions.com