Radiator Damage

[Als73charger]

  When I first got my 73 SE home and started working on it, I noticed previous owner had some window screening in below the the grill and valance. I removed this unknowingly and found out yesterday why it was there. It looks like when I was driving around yesteday, a small rock happened to hit the front of my rad, which caused most of my coolant to spray out by the time I made it home. Anybody else have this happen? and what do you guys do to prevent this from happening to your cars? Al

[Wicked72]

I have never had that happen from a small rock. I have only had rocks cause a leak from them being old and brittle and then a rock can easily damage them. Normally they just dent.

[draftingmonkey]

Never had damage, but being from snow country I never cared for the gravel put down on the roads dinging my radiator up.  Or for that matter bugs and other debris.  My pappy always put window screen in front of his radiators and so have I for over 30 years of driving/car ownership. I never have bugs or gravel in my A/C condenser or radiator so it does work in keeping them clean and the air flowing.

[Troy]

Screen is usually for bug guts/parts. I don't think it will stop a rock that hits with enough force to bust the radiator.

Troy

[Als73charger]

  Our main Freeway in Calgary is Deerfoot Trail. It is Notorius for gravel/cement trucks roaring down the road, sending flying shrapnel into unsuspecting windsheilds and paint. Last night I was able to solder patch the fin on the rad last night, so I think I fixed the leak. I am going to be looking for 2 nice 14" x 14" metal window screens to place in front of the rad.