[goopwagon]

Bought this 89 Escort LX Wagon a few days ago, 68k miles.

Issues:
Coolant leak
oil leak
loose serpentine
damaged front bumper
damaged rear bumper cover
driver side door dent
damaged headlight (still works)
cracked dash

Pros:
new alternator
new starter
new battery
new serpentine
fresh interior
68k miles

Fixed the coolant leak yesterday. Plastic piece on radiator broke off so I drilled a slightly larger hole and pushed a barb through it. Applied epoxy on the outside for extra seal. Also flushed the filthy overflow tank.

Previous owners had been overfilling the oil tank and I assume blew out the seals. So hopefully sometime this week I’ll get around to replacing those.

 

[marclar]

I'm sure that will hold for a while, but like I said,... that barb comes free with a new radiator. lol. the material is glass reinforced thermo plastic, epoxy does not really adhere to it.

 

[Falconnest]

maybe tap a hole and add a fitting?

 

[pextor]

Digging the license plate.

 

[Squibbler]

I'm sure that will hold for a while, but like I said,... that barb comes free with a new radiator. lol. the material is glass reinforced thermo plastic, epoxy does not really adhere to it.

Those barbs are notorious for breaking. So much so that Dorman created a solution.

https://a.co/d/hYU3bsq

The solution you have will hold until it doesn't, but longer term (assuming you don't want to fork out the $$ for a new radiator for now) if/when that fails, use the Dorman.

 

[marclar]

wow that is genious.

 

[Falconnest]

Those barbs are notorious for breaking. So much so that Dorman created a solution.

https://a.co/d/hYU3bsq

View attachment 55396

The solution you have will hold until it doesn't, but longer term (assuming you don't want to fork out the $$ for a new radiator for now) if/when that fails, use the Dorman.

I’ll have to add this to my bag of tricks. Thanks for the amazing find