Radiator is bad.. Now what?

[M W.]

Hi all,

I just took my 1964 original radiator out to have it flushed and it's officially shot. Lots of small pin holes. Where do I go for a original replacment? Thanks.

Craig
#36551

[Dennis B.]

Re: Radiator is bad.. Now what?

http://www.dewitts.com

[Gary Schisler]

Re: Radiator is bad.. Now what?

DeWitts makes the best aluminum radiator that looks and performs like your original. I put one in my 66 and was finally able to enjoy the car in the summer.

Gary

[M W.]

They are pricey *NM*

[Joe L.]

Re: Radiator is bad.. Now what?

Craig----

I totally agree with Gary and Dennis; the DeWitts reproduction of your original 3155316 aluminum radiator is the only way to go. I'm not talking about just for reasons of original configuration, either. The main advantage of the DeWitts radiator is that it will provide as-new cooling performance. You won't get that with cheaper, copper-brass replacements.

[Patrick H.]

It's a Corvette, not Yugo. *NM*

[Joe L.]

Re: They are pricey

Craig-----

Yes, they are; good things usually are. However, keep this in mind: the price today is within $100 of GM's list price WHEN THE 3155316 RADIATOR WAS DISCONTINUED 21 YEARS AGO. So, considering inflation over that 21 year period, the radiator is far less expensive today than it was 21 years ago.

[M W.]

Already ordered from Dewitts. Thanks All *NM*

[ralph harlan]

Re: Radiator is bad.. Now what?

We have a radiator shop in our area that will recore [& special build] radiators - even aluminum. Why would a recored original not be preferred to a reproduction?

[Joe L.]

Re: Radiator is bad.. Now what?

ralph-----

There is no way to "recore" a 63-72 Corvette aluminum radiator. These radiators are a "stacked plate" design and are just a core---there are no integral tanks. The radiator supply tank is a separate tank mounted on the fender well. In these early years, Corvettes were just about the only cars to have aluminum radiators.

In the mid 80's, or so, aluminum radiators began appearing on many cars. However, these radiators use a completely different type design and core and they have integral, plastic tanks. These are the type of aluminum radiator that a radiator shop can rebuild and "re-core". However, in most cases, not too much is saved by re-coring over just purchasing a complete, new radiator.

With a modern aluminum radiator, if a plastic tank leaks, it's usually worth having the tank replaced. If a core is bad, all you can salvage from the original radiator is the plastic tanks. The cost of the aluminum core + radiator shop labor charge is usually within a few dollars of the cost of a complete new radiator.

Aluminum radiators have pretty much taken over in later model cars, although copper/brass units are still used in many trucks. In fact, the prevalence of aluminum radiators and the economics of repairing them (as I described above) has taken a very large toll on the radiator repair shop industry.

[ralph harlan]

Re: Radiator is bad.. Now what?

Thank you, Joe. I did not remember my '64 well enough to realize the tank was not part of the unit. That radiator never gave a problem, but I remember replacing the heater core once too often.