Chevy1925

don't know sh!t about IFS
Staff member
Oct 21, 2009
21,222
5,059
113
Phoenix Az

Chevy1925

don't know sh!t about IFS
Staff member
Oct 21, 2009
21,222
5,059
113
Phoenix Az
So before our trip up to Eagar AZ for TG, the limo decided it didnt like the Ron Davis dual pass rad in it. Core was leaking right at the tank junction. So i pulled it before we left and Ron wanted to see the radiator first hand and see why it was leaking. its 2.5 years old at this point and has maybe 10k on it. Ron gives a 90 day warranty on the rad so i wasnt expecting to get much help with it.

I got a call just before TG from Ron saying they opened up the rad and have nothing definitive on why its leaking other than it may be a radiator flex issue and high pressures i saw from high rpm runs. He initially thought it was electrolysis till i told him i tested it and it was next to non existent (.3v at start up and down to under.1 after warm up) as well as getting new dexcool when the rad went in and about 6 months ago when i put the new engine in. He said they would probably work a deal with me to only pay half for the rad which i thought was fair considering they dont know if the failure was the trucks issue nor do they know if it was a rad issue.

I then get a call today from Ron letting me know the radiator is ready for pick up. i ask how much and he just says "just come pick it up". Holy hell, seriously? I ask if hes sure about that (not that i want to just give money away) and he says absolutely. Apparently hes been getting some calls on dual pass rad's for these trucks and he wants to make sure they stand up. If he doesnt get another call from me, he will be more than pleased UNLESS im calling to buy another rad for something else :roflmao:. he made quite a few changes internally and externally to help with flex as well as the internal pressure it sees and feels it should hold up just fine now.

i could express my gratitude well enough to him and was just surprised as hell. They will be getting my business when ever i can give it to them. So the old girl will be getting a brand new radiator installed for who ever the new owner will be. ill clean the cooling stack out while im at it as well.
 

1FastBrick

Well-known member
Dec 1, 2016
2,210
824
113
Junkyard
Not sure how flexing would be an issue on these. The stock radiators have plastic caps crimped on. It's not a Ford which actually did have issues with frame flex and busted radiators. :spit:

Either way Stand up guy! That's why we used to get our race cars radiators from him. :thumb:
 

Chevy1925

don't know sh!t about IFS
Staff member
Oct 21, 2009
21,222
5,059
113
Phoenix Az
Not sure how flexing would be an issue on these. The stock radiators have plastic caps crimped on. It's not a Ford which actually did have issues with frame flex and busted radiators. :spit:



Either way Stand up guy! That's why we used to get our race cars radiators from him. :thumb:



I really don’t grasp it either as the radiator floats on the intercooler. The intercooler takes the brunt of it. I honestly feel it was more of a high heat and pressure deal that did it but no idea
 

1FastBrick

Well-known member
Dec 1, 2016
2,210
824
113
Junkyard
I really don’t grasp it either as the radiator floats on the intercooler. The intercooler takes the brunt of it. I honestly feel it was more of a high heat and pressure deal that did it but no idea

I would think the same thing, a combo of heat and pressure in the system.

When the motor let go last time was it pressurizing the cooling system that you know of?
 

Chevy1925

don't know sh!t about IFS
Staff member
Oct 21, 2009
21,222
5,059
113
Phoenix Az
I would think the same thing, a combo of heat and pressure in the system.

When the motor let go last time was it pressurizing the cooling system that you know of?

that might be possible but i dont think so. i never pushed coolant out the overflow, no soot in the coolant (heads were cracked in the exhaust ports only) and no other signs other than coolant pissing out the exhaust. i know the HG was good as i went over those with a fine tooth comb and found nothing.
 

Chevy1925

don't know sh!t about IFS
Staff member
Oct 21, 2009
21,222
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Phoenix Az
i only had 2k miles on the oil before i sold it to anthony, if hes willing to take a sample and send it off for analysis along with the miles it had, that would probably give an idea. hes still got 2 oil changes worth of oil too of the 20w-50 race oil lol.
 

Bdsankey

Vendor
Vendor/Sponsor
Feb 1, 2018
3,919
1,076
113
Neenah, Wisconsin
Was just curious. I've been running the S3 in my LB7 for awhile as well as all our personals/tow trucks with great results. The oil in the PSDs seem to be shearing less than Rotella 15W40 which is always a bonus.
 

Chevy1925

don't know sh!t about IFS
Staff member
Oct 21, 2009
21,222
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113
Phoenix Az
Well almost 4 years to the day and 40k miles later. She’s come back home.

Little story on how this transpired.

The 2020, I’m just not in love with. It’s a great truck but it’s just like any other L5P out there and pretty much from the time I wanted to put walker Evans wheels on and finding out they would not make my bolt pattern, I started to loose steam I wanting to build it to suit me. The lack of being able to build the trans to hold compound turbos and me towing also was another big blow. It does great as is but I’m a damn hotrodder at heart. This wasn’t the actual reason yet though but this is what pushed me to the next part.

So near the end of 23, Erin was bugging me about selling her 08 canyon and getting her a newer truck. Frankly, after working on these newer rigs and seeing their issues, plus the fact the canyon has been damn near issue free for 10 years, I was struggling with getting her something newer and having to deal with what I knew would be issues on the 2020 and what ever we got her. Basically I don’t get new vehicles every few years, we hang on to them unless they are problem child’s. So I was like “hmm, wonder if she would be game to daily the new truck and I’ll see if Anthony will sell the limo back”. In Jan, I ask her this at dinner and without hesitation, she goes “oh absolutely!” Which threw me for a complete loop. Told her I talk with Anthony first and make sure he’s ok with that and well… here we are! So now she will have the 2020 to daily and I’ll have the limo.

No big plans for it. Just going to get the interior back to “like new”, get her painted (clear is cracking like hell), bed coating, and fix some other little things. I’m not after big power, I’m kinda switching more towards restoring her back to newish for the years to come.

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Ridin'GMC

I like red
May 20, 2010
618
6
18
MA
I knew you would get the limo back eventually. That's your pride right there, all the memories and time you spent on it whether it's good or bad. That's what you built and learned on.
 
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Chevy1925

don't know sh!t about IFS
Staff member
Oct 21, 2009
21,222
5,059
113
Phoenix Az
Tweaking around on tune, most likely BUT I got a tracker to finish and a flat bed trailer that needs rebuild. Plus what ever I do clean up wise on the limo between then like tires and crap