I just purchased a 1985 Foretravel, and the radiator busted as I was driving it home that same day. I bought it for my brother who is homeless. Now, I am desperately trying to find out where to get a new radiator and have no idea where to start. I don't know what kind of engine I have. I need help finding this information. Any help would be great! I have pictures of the VIN and Model. Hope that helps.
You might pull it and take it to your local radiator shop. They should be able find/build you one. I doubt you will find a ready built new one.
Looking at the weight the engine must be gas and front mounted ? If so, remove the rad , take to a pic and pull or parts store .
Looks like Chevy 454 . tT the rad should be the same or similar to 1990 P30 step van. Gogleate it and compare pictures. It should not be too expensive.
Gas powered, spark plug gap setting on the air cleaner, duh which also itself identifies it as a gas coach. How bad is it leaking? Bars leak may get you home. Metal radiator can be resoldered. And welcome, glad you stepped up to the plate for your brother!
Definitely a GM 454. Diagram on air cleaner shows a "spread bore" Quadrajet carb with air injection pump (A.I.R. smog system)
How far is the coach now from your destination? If it's not going to ever be driven by your brother, it might be cheaper to just get it towed to where it will be permanently parked.
Phred,look at the 4th picture,the whole top of the radiator came apart,needs a new one ,looks like it would be a bear to even recore.
206,might help if you told us where it is and where you are going.
Wow that looks like a major overpressure event with the radiator cap stuck shut. How far to home?
Thank you so much everyone for your replies! So, it broke down right on the freeway to make matters worse. So, we ended up towing it home that same day ($800 bill).
We removed the radiator and brought it to Seattle Radiator Works and they are quoting me about $600 to rebuild it. I would really just like to see if I can buy a new one being that it looks like this wasn't th first time the radiator was broke. It has a tag on it from work that was done on it before. I just really don't know where to start looking for a new one.
Get some JB Weld -- and Bob's your uncle.
To the OP, take the radiator to a radiator shop and have it fixed. A $200 to $300 repair should get it on the road if you're doing the work yourself.
I'm guessing if the radiator is in that condition, there may also be other mechanical "issues". Possible money pit?
If where you are going to put it as others have said towing may be the lesser of two evils
Part of the issue with this thread is, like all new ForeForum members, a moderator must approve their posts. So, replies are not immediately posted. Yes, even moderators sleep sometimes.
Also, please, lets confine comments to fixing the mechanical aspects. Comments on social issues are of little or no value to the OP.
Thanks.
Moderator
The OP's motivation to help her brother is wonderful. An older FT would make a fine and secure "home" if parked but my concern is that attempting to run down the road in any MH requires much more money than simply buying the rig in terms of fuel costs, ongoing general maintenance and the inevitable "next thing" that needs repair.
My thought would be to look for a place to "tow and park" the rig so it can be lived in. Lot rent alone could be the first cost to minimize. Concentrate on making it livable first since we know nothing about it's internal living systems...heating/cooling, cooking, plumbing, electric.
Only after it's an acceptable "house" physically and financially would I focus on driving related costs...engine, transmission, tires etc..
I wouldn't want your kindness in helping your brother turn into a much bigger problem to manage even without the costs themselves.
My 2 cents.
A possible cracked head or head gasket issue from the looks of it. If you do drive it leave the cap loose and just add water. Truck junk yard might yield one.
Hope this helps: I've had work done at Seattle Radiator and they are a first class outfit! ^.^d
Craneman do you think a cracked head gasket caused the overpressure in the radiator?
Thank you all! I am trying to get it running so I can move it into a mobile park and pay rent for my brother to live in.
Also, is there any chance this could be a Dodge 440 motor? When I look for another radiator on google it seems to look like it but then it's a 7.4 l. It looks like it could be this one (1980-1985 Chevrolet P30 Radiator - Cooling System - APDI 80-85 P30 Radiator... (https://www.partsgeek.com/gbproducts/DC/3600-05164767.html)) but in the specs it says it fits a 5.4l and I have a 7.4l...
Stefanie,
Yes, a bad head gasket or cracked head could allow cylinder compression into the cooling system. Pretty easy to tell-- remove the radiator cap and start the engine. If you see bubbles, you have an engine problem.
In many cases, an older trailer would make a better choice for a permanent residence, and would be less of a money pit, as it would only have RV issues, not RV issues AND chassis issues.
Hello all,
Having had a 1984 FT on a Roadmaster Chassis with a 454 motor...if you notice the sticker on the air filter the letters "XFZ" in the corner, that is a model number for the 454...I believe it to be a Chevy 454 motor. Also 7.4l is a 454.
Good luck in you new adventure,
John
Hi John and Stacey - I'm so confused because when I google a radiator for that motor, it doesn't seem to match the radiator that I have. Is it possible that I don't have the correct radiator for the motor I have?
Please forgive my question if I'm not asking correctly. I know nothing about cars nor RV for that matter.
The radiator is sized for both the coach and the motor, just a it would be sized for a Chevy pick-up truck or van. It must be removed and matched or a part number from Foretravel.
How much one has to spend on a radiator repair is directly related to how far the coach needs to go and what caused the problem. We don't have the answer to either of those questions.
I mentioned JB Weld in a previous post. I repaired a hole the radiator in my 1981 Foretravel in the remote AZ desert using JB Weld and it lasted for over 10 years. I sold that coach and I'm sure that repair is still good.
Did'nt Alchemist have the 454 maybe he will chime in.The way that it split tells me there may be other problems besides a radiator,
any chance you can purchase a towing plan to get it to where it goes?
Hi Dakota - The coach was intended as a living space for my brother. He wont be driving it anywhere. However, the place where I want to move it to is about 45mins away and I'm assuming that I need to fix the radiator to move the coach there. I'm not sure if JB Weld would help? The entire upper part of the radiator has split wide open. I posted a picture above of the damage.
The day it broke down on the side of the freeway, we called a towing company. And, it wasn't cheap! It is currently at my mother's house. Waiting to get the radiator fixed, so that we could drive it to the mobile park. Hopefully soon.
It does look like it. But, that one is for a 5.4L and mine is a 7.4L.
Stephanie,
If it fits the only difference will be the cooling capacity. If it is just going to be parked it would be fine.
I wish you luck in this endeavor.
Are you sure the mobile park is even willing to let you park this coach there? Many parks have age and/or condition guidelines.
There was a reason the radiator "split wide open". It was most likely "pressure" caused by heat. JB Weld is capable of making a temporary repair of things like that. If you can get the radiator to hold distilled water or coolant, you can make the 45 minute trip by watching the engine temperature gauge and stopping to let the engine cool off if necessary. Leaving the radiator cap off will allow you to travel without building up pressure in the radiator.
There appears to be something like 25 tubes that are completely separated from the tank. With this much damage you surly have some major pressure getting into the cooling system. The radiator cap either didn't open and relieve the pressure or there was more pressure than what it could handle. In either case you must have major leak from the compression side of the engine to the cooling side. By looking at these pics. a new radiator is not going to fair any better. If you do put a junk yard radiator in and leave the cap loose you might make the trip, might not. If you are going to have the coach set up permanently you may be money ahead to just tow it to it's final resting spot.
Pamela & Mike
My heart is breaking. I was just trying to do a good deed and it turned into a nightmare. :'(
How far did you drive it before the radiator blew? One of the less expensive ones online you found will do as good or better as far as distance and you can leave the cap loose to keep it from happening again.
There is an old saying ..... I believe it to be true.
"No good deed goes unpunished"
But..... it will all work out, it always does for those who don't give up.
You are doing the right thing and once this setback is over, you will have comfort in knowing you did what you thought was best.
Repair or replace with a good used radiator, install a new cap and watch your gauges closely. Get to your destination and take the rest one step at a time.
Wish you luck.
We drove it about an hour away and that's when it broke down. I'm sad to think that maybe the seller knew about these issues and assured me that it was a smooth machine.
A motorhome is a complicated piece of machinery and many things can go wrong, especially if the operator is not familiar with all the systems involved. Losing power can cause a total loss of braking and steering ability. You need a good mechanic to get you out of this problem.
And if you ever buy another motorhome, don't even think about driving it without a Road Service policy like https://member.coach-net.com/Renew/default.aspx
It may even be a good idea now, before you try to move this coach again.
As I briefly mentioned earlier, if just looking for an RV as an inexpensive residence, a motorhome of any kind is NOT the way to go.
A trailer IS.
Steffanie. at this point you may want to go back to the seller with your disappointment in not being able to get your brother in a home and off the street. If he is an honest seller, he many help with repair or towing.
if he knew there was a problem, he will just blow you off. what do you have to lose at this point.
Stefanie,
You are trying to do a good deed, and you've got yourself in a bind. You need to find someone with some basic mechanical knowledge to help you out. Surely you have a partner, or relative, or a friend from work...anybody who has worked on cars as a profession or as a hobby. Dealing with this radiator, and any other immediate problems that might arise, is not rocket science. It will just require a little dirty work and some parts chasing. Any halfway competent shade-tree mechanic should be able get you temporarily moving again, without spending a fortune.
The blown-up radiator in your coach could very well NOT be correct for this application, so don't let that confuse the issue. There is no telling who put it in, or where it came from. If you can find a honest mechanic to help you, they can probably examine the way it is mounted and hooked up, and tell right away if it fits properly or was just "forced" into place to make the coach drivable enough to sell.
It shouldn't be hard to get the coach running good enough to get to the camp ground. All you need is a little experienced help!
Agree with Chuck-- certainly to the point of getting a more accurate diagnosis of the ROOT CAUSE of the problem.
If it is a blown head gasket or cracked head, investing in a new radiator may be a waste of good money.
The Roadmaster chassis used the 454 Chevrolet engine and a radiator that is the same as the Dodge motor home chassis so that is why it looks like a dodge radiator.
I sent Stefanie a pm and told her to pull the dip stick and check the oil, if it was not milky looking, get someone to pull the spark plugs and turn the engine over to see if there is water in the cylinders, if there is engine damage tow to the park.
One more thing about RV's and overheating. There are some serious mountain grades in the western US and trying to push a heavy motorhome -- or even a car -- up a steep grade creates a lot of heat. To keep from overheating, it will be necessary to get in the right lane, turn on your emergency flashers, shift to a lower gear and slow down.
As you slowly climb the grades, pay attention to the burn marks on the pavement. They were all caused by people who failed to monitor their gauges and overheated their vehicles so severely that they started on fire.
True dat! There is a road off 395 going east into Death Valley, it's called SR 190. I don't know what the % of the pull is, but there are not only splotch marks all the way up, but 50 gal drums of water alongside the pull! We made it fine, but guess what gauge my eyes were on all the way up? Yikes!
Just an idea Stefanie but if it were me I would try to trade the MH for a travel trailer.. One that would suit your brothers needs can be had for not much money.. I would list my offer on craigs list and take the first reasonable offer of trade.. My bet is you can get that done before the radiator can be replaced and you can move on, and any friend with a pick up truck can move it for you for nothing.
Stefanie, I'm sure I'm not the only one who hopes you were able to fix your radiator problem and get your Foretravel to where you wanted it to go. Please give us an update.
Hi everyone! So, we were able to remove the radiator and took it to a radiator shop. They are quoting me $756 to recore it. I decided to wait. So, currently, I'm looking to see if I can find a replacement. However, this thing is so ancient that I don't think anybody has this radiator anymore. Maybe I can post pictures and someone can help me identify it??
OK, so a top tank, down flow radiator with "L" shaped mounting brackets on the sides. For a experienced radiator expert (not me), that should help narrow down the search. Kinda unusual top tank design - there are two inlet hose connections on top tank. The one in front is centered and connected to a extended fill point (see photo in original post). The one in back (connection to engine) is on the driver side. Bottom outlet (engine connection) on passenger side. Transmission cooler connections on bottom tank.
Googling...
There are some sites out there that have radiators you can match up,will try and find them,found them when I was looking for
a replacement for the gen,you could even oversize somewhat,where are you located you could always check another rebuild shop.
Look around on E bay ;3 Core Performance RADIATOR for 55-58 Chevy-/K-Series Truck/ Pickup/... (https://www.ebay.com/itm/3-Core-Performance-RADIATOR-for-55-58-Chevy-K-Series-Truck-Pickup-Suburban/322850749193?fits=Model%3ATruck&hash=item4b2b677b09:g:MG0AAOSwdGFY1Tkv:sc:FedExHomeDelivery!33578!US!-1)
700$ is a ripoff IMHO. You should be able to match something up. You might have to use a separate trans cooler but for 2 - 400 $ should be able to solve this.
Post up your zip code and city and I'll check my network for peeps that may be able to help you out.
Mike -
Her post says Seattle Area - lots of folks out here living in RV's full time as Rents are stupid high and buying a place out of reach for most. Try the area, I am south of Seattle by about an hour, go there all the time - will PM to see how I might help out as well
Never rule out anything when one is desperate.
Take a look at farm tractor radiators, construction equipment radiators, school bus radiators, anything that could "do the job" if a regulator radiator can't be found. Don't limit yourself to RV and truck radiators
Farm & construction equipment radiators are built tough and also big enough to dissipate heat.
The blown radiator may only be a symptom of a larger problem but I believe that JB Weld can repair it. Just use clamps (vice grips) to close the gap as best you can and put on a coat of JB Weld. Let it cure, remove the clamps and add another coat. Repeat as necessary until the entire breach is closed.
Remember to leave the radiator cap off when you drive it to the RV park.
I'm in Seattle. Zip code 98108. Thank you!
When I saw the pictures of that radiator, I thought to myself, I've seen one somewhere. I think it might be the same as goes in a GM series 60 or 65 truck. Anyway not that uncommon or rare. Certainly not that high of a price.
I wonder if Billy Jack at Foretravel parts might have a clue what it is out of??? He is super helpful - worth a call to Foretravel Part and ask......
Just a quick FYI.... my calls to FT after we purchased our 86 GV was met with the standard response.. . no records exist from 83-88 or 89 due to a reported fire... our Q & A regarding equipment specs, transmission, appliances, etc were met wtih WE don't know anymore...
It looks like a radiator for an M600 dodge motorhome chassis 1978-1979.
Looks like plenty of options on E bay. Make one work.
Detroit Radiator look them up on the web. Bruce Mallinson @ Pittsburg Power Pittsburg, Pa.
I hit a big bump that broke the radiator mounts and put the radiator into the fan taking out a half dozen tubes in a big van I owned. I crawled under and pinched off the broken tubes and then used JB Weld to fill the ends. I let it set a couple of hours and then continued our trip. Drove it for years after that. JB Weld does amazing repairs.
Pierce