66BB Radiator question-cutouts & dimple.

[Keith B.]

Experts: I have a org, one owner L-36 with 39K miles on it. 98% of it is the way the factory made it, except carpet and repro KO. My org Harrison, copper rad sprung a leak, need a new core, live in Canada, had my local rad shop make a new core & add my org Harrsion copper tanks to the core. Then I discovered in my NCRS Judging Manual my 22.5 rad has a dimple and two cutouts on the top. The people up here do not make that here, was trying to take my org bar w/nothces and add to my new core. Does not work. I've read about Dewitts restoration cores and this is a costly option shipping from the eastcoast to westcoast.

Question: I may or likely not ever show this car or Bowtie it, is NOT having the dimple and 2 cutouts a big deal. How big of a point deduction would there be (pls explain) AND is there anything else I should be worried about if I stay with the core already made up. Outside of having no dimple and cutouts, they made it 22.5.

Feedback please........

[lyndon sharpton]

Re: 66BB Radiator question-cutouts & dimple.

I just had a radiator recored. same thing the core is off on the top. I am going to live with it, if I get hit I get hit,.

[Mike M.]

Re: 66BB Radiator question-cutouts & dimple.

i bought new harrison radiators from Delco about 7 years ago for my 66 and 67 big block vettes. the cores were identical, had to re-use the original tanks as the service replacement tanks had the upper outlet radiused insead of squared off at the 90 degree . i had to cut out the top strap of the replaacement core to simulate the original cores top strap's cut-outs..carefully drill holes in top then enlarge with carbide burr on right angle air powered die grinder.don't know if delco still services the big block radiators. good luck, mike.

[Joe L.]

Re: 66BB Radiator question-cutouts & dimple.

Mike-----

GM had a replacement radiator available for 66-68 big block applications until recently under GM #52481554. It's discontinued now, though. No matter, it was basically an aftermarket radiator in a Delco box; not a Harrison-manufactured radiator, at all. DeWitts is the way to go.

[Mike M.]

Re: 66BB Radiator question-cutouts & dimple.

joe: the ones i bought from delco had harrison tags on the pass side tanks. it may have been more than 7 years ago when i bought a bunch of them for my midyear bb's. think i still have one or two --will check them out.another reason i'm fairly certain mine were harrison is they only had a 1/4" or so drop-off where the top straps were bent in a brake whereas the generic had a 1/2" drop-off. the originals all had the 1/4" drop-off. regards, mike

[Rob A.]

Re: 66BB Radiator question-cutouts & dimple.

Keith,

If the tanks and core are correct, you can buy the top and bottom plates with the correct, holes and square cutouts. I believe America's Finest Corvettes sells them, here in California.

[Joe L.]

Re: 66BB Radiator question-cutouts & dimple.

Mike----

The original 66-68 Harrison big block radiator, GM #3008566, was discontinued in January, 1999 and replaced by the one I mentioned previously. So, you could still have purchased one of the originals prior to that time (or, NOS thereafter).