settle this argument Father vs Son

[jetcrew]

so herer it is

Have an old VX 2002 commodore 250K we have owned it since 100K and its never missed a beat  we run around in it , its worth nothing to sell so figure its great as an extra car for running around has 3rd party insurance and we pay 6mths rego at a time in case it goes kaput.

So yesterday the radiator split the plastic tank ..these only last 10yrs Im told so 12 yrs is about right .

my dad thinks
Just get a 2nd hand radiator throw it in and keep chugging along.. I get this but the hoses are swollen and the heat tap is looking worse for wear also plastic and also 12 yrs old

So i think
new radiator
new hoses all round for the cooling system
new heat tap
new thermostat
new coolant

and then I  don't worry about  it during the long hot QLD summer ..I know dads generation is diff and they made do and I respect that but its only $400 worth of gear and its done once done right his thinking is I spend $400 on it and then something else goes and then its worth nothing anyway.so why not spend as little as possible.

what would you do ?

jet

[Rumpig]

I'd spend the $400 and know it's going to be ok, rather then take the punt on the secondhand radiator being ok....how do you know it won't split in 6 months time?
Could something else go wrong with the vehicle and you wasted your money...yeah maybe, but then again it could go for another 10 years without issue aswell.

[Steffo1]

I'd spend the $400 and know it's going to be ok, rather then take the punt on the secondhand radiator being ok....how do you know it won't split in 6 months time?
Could something else go wrong with the vehicle and you wasted your money...yeah maybe, but then again it could go for another 10 years without issue aswell.

X2
Quite a few years ago I spent $600 on an '85 Rangie & it went for another 8 years before I drowned it. I reckon it'd still be going if I hadn't done that!

[D4D]

I'd spend the $400 and know it's going to be ok, rather then take the punt on the secondhand radiator being ok

x2

[Swannie]

Spend the 4hungy

Swannie

[wilson79]

I'd spend the $400 and know it's going to be ok, rather then take the punt on the secondhand radiator being ok....how do you know it won't split in 6 months time?
Could something else go wrong with the vehicle and you wasted your money...yeah maybe, but then again it could go for another 10 years without issue aswell.

X2... 10 to 20 years ago your old man would be correct, now days in our throw away society you really need to go new..

[GeoffA]

Nah, just silicone it up, and chuck some Bars-Leaks and a coupla dozen eggs into it......she'll be right.....

[skog]

X2... 10 to 20 years ago your old man would be correct, now days in our throw away society you really need to go new..

Spend the $400 then you know it's right.

[HKB Electronics]

If your going to pull the radiator out then as above do it right,
I would probably also change all the belts if there getting old
as easier to get to them with the radiator is out.

[Mobi]

Yep fix it all and it should be good for a while. As a thought check the water pump as well.

 

[Uncle H]

Concur with everyone else, spend the 400 beer tickets on new rad and hoses etc; and give the cooling galleries a good flush out while you're at it. It's better to spend a bit now and do it right than cheap out on it and have the cooling system fail possible leading to head damage (uneconomical repair and scrapped car)

Is there anything else going wrong with the car that would cause concern in the near future?


Cheers, Paul

[archer63]

Don't they come with an alloy radiator ?
If so, they don't repair them ...just replace with new one.

[The punter]

Bananas, bananas will fix it

[edz]

Its going to be a long hot summer and the last thing you want is for the go buggy to drop its guts,  with mum sitting in a line of traffic at the lights .. Spend the coin, parts are cheap, do it right and you might be able to make it tax deductable  And your peace of mind and ears not being chewed off by a cranky missus will be a side benefit ..

[Big Damo]

How about ground up restoration?

[oldmate]

Buy a new radiator and fit it. Why buy a 2nd hand one that is probably 12 years old?

[Black Diamond]

Theo, we also have an old VX and its a great runaround. Recently did exactly what your looking at. New radiator, hoses and heater tap and whilst your there throw in a new thermostat and radiator cap  for only a few dollars more and for another 10 or so years of happy motoring.
Came across a similar scenario recently and as you said you will get diddly squat for it, so instead of running it to the ground I also fitted new rotors, pads, shocks and front caster bushes. Drives like w new car. You can pick all these up pretty cheap these days and very easy to fit 

[glenm64]

If was my decision it would be decided by how far from home does it roam.
If its only a spare car and breaks down 10km from home big deal.
If it breaks dowm 100km from home different story.
All my regular cars are well maintained.
Ive seen some very happy, extremely neglected old bangers who just dont stop.
Again all comes down to how critical to family use and how far from home.
You can spend $400 on cooling, then be up for hundreds on the next thing, then another, then after spending a grand you decide time to cut your loses.
Cars can be like dogs.
All they really need is an encouraging word and a pat on the head.


Sent from my SM-T810 using Tapatalk

[Jackdawg]

I cant believe you admit to driving a VX commodore!

Tell the tight old bugger to spend the $400!

[Black Diamond]

I cant believe you admit to driving a VX commodore!

I forgot to mention it does a good skid too even if it's on one leg 

[lino6]

Spend the money.

Please post the video explaining how a "group of people on the interweb who I haven't met told me you are wrong"! Reckon that would be a great conversation 

[jetcrew]

Thanks for all the feedback 

Its been an emotive issue , and all points raised are what i was thinking ..Like gunna spend 3-4 hrs pulling it out and putting it back with suspect parts just does not sit well with me, I dont have time to do it again in 2 weeks as I explained to dad.

I will pick up the parts tomorrow and then the decision is made ..no more arguments, he thinks I go overboard with things and I think he is a bit doddgy but like i said lots of respect for me old man he came from humble beginnings and has always helped me and my family out so I value his input but in this case I think I'll follow my own lead.

As some of you know I can be a bit OCD nothing  like JK but still a bit  so i like jobs done right and whats more fun the fresh new parts and that good new part feeling you get after a service or after swapping out old for new.

Thanks again all ..case closed ...new all round 

Jet  

[jetcrew]

Spend the money.

Please post the video explaining how a "group of people on the interweb who I haven't met told me you are wrong"! Reckon that would be a great conversation 

Thats gold ..but he cant even work out his mobile phone so he would ask me why i needed to change the internet and how much was that part. bet he wants all my old parts as spares LOL

[oldmate]

I forgot to mention it does a good skid too even if it's on one leg 

Nothing that a CIG locker won't fix lol

[Black Diamond]

Nothing that a CIG locker won't fix lol

lol the old CIG locker classic stuff, Firmly entrenched in Australian culture