C2 Radiator Date Coding

[James W.]

I have an original 65 Corvette VIN #22095 (mid July 1965) with an original radiator surge tank dated 65D. The radiator in the car is date 65J (September 1965), which was obviously replaced for some reason sometime after the car left the factory and prior to being purchased by us. We have owned the car since 1974 and have not done anything to it except regular maintenance and much needed repaint in 1978. My question is; do to the strike at the factory, would this have anything to do with the very early dated expansion tank (April 1965), three months earlier than the build date of the car? If I was to replace the radiator with a correctly dated one, I would think that staying with the 65D date code would be correct based on survey data in Noland Adams' book showing 1965 Corvettes from VIN #19357 having a 65C, #20658 having a 65C and #20689 having a 65D date coded radiator, most of those cars also having surge tanks dated 65D also.

Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

James West
Omaha, NE.

[John H.]

Re: C2 Radiator Date Coding

James -

There was no strike in 1965. You'd be fine with what you propose.

[Wayne M.]

I suspect expansion tanks done in batches

James -- I don't think the strike (late Sept to early Nov 1964) would have had an effect on June/July '65 cars. If you look at Nolands list (pg.314, there are no 65B's, E's or F's, because [IMHO] Harrison had already produced enough to satisfy the estimated remaining production.

My early August '65 car has its original 65G exp.tank (but not orig.radiator).
So I would stick with the 65D, unless you come across other July cars earlier than yours with original 65G's.

[James W.]

Re: I suspect expansion tanks done in batches

Wayne,

I noticed that also that there were no radiators dated with B's, E's or F's, hence my decision to lean toward the 65D date as a replacement.

A good friend of mine here in Omaha has a original mid-July built (VIN #22161) L78 equipped roadster with a 65D date expansion tank and a 65F dated radiator. Our cars were built approximately 66 cars apart. I know that the L78 radiator in the car which is the second design radiator is different than the small block radiators. I would bet that the 65F dated radiator in his car is due to the fact that it is the second design with the curved upper inlet and was manufactured later in production.

Thanks to both you and John for your responses.

James West