aluminum radiator on my 68

[james Kekeisen]

Is it possible to repair pin hole leaks on an aluminum radiator. I presume they can't be "soldered" like a brass and copper one? Was the original radiator aluminum? It is a small block 4 speed without a/c or power steering.

Joe Lucia, I recall you saying that the Griffin was about the best replacement one could buy. I went on Dewitts and there are a bunch of them listed. My current one has the lower hose connection that runs parallel straight up the side of the unit. The 68 is the only one they don't have a picture of.

Thanks Jim

[Duke W.]

Re: aluminum radiator on my 68

The aluminum radiators are generally considered irreparable. If you could fix a pinhole now, you'd have another in a month or two. Once they develop pinhole seepage they are corroded internally and it's time for last rites.

I recommend you go with DeWitts. Their radiator is an excellent reproduction from the original tooling and will restore your cooling system heat dissipation to peak design capacity. Use a 50/50 mix of Texaco Extended Life Antifreeze (Dexcool), and change it every two years. All the lab and field tests show that Dexcool's organic inhibitor package provides better corrosion protection for aluminum, but all the inorganic salts deposited in your cooling system from conventional antifreeze reduce its long life properties.

Duke

[Joe L.]

Re: aluminum radiator on my 68

James-----

Your application originally used an aluminum radiator of GM #3155316. The absolute best replacement for this radiator, which has been discontinued from GM for about 15 years, is the DeWitts reproduction of this radiator which Duke mentioned. For your particular application, the Griffin would be a second choice as far as I'm concerned.

The DeWitts reproduction of the GM #3155316 radiator will provide a radiator which will have the same cooling capacity as the original radiator and it will be very durable if maintained properly. The configuration of the unit will be exactly as original, too.

These radiators are not inexpensive, but on an inflation-adjusted basis, they're less expensive than the GM units were when they were available. In fact, even on a non-inflation-adjusted basis, these radiators cost about the same now as the GM radiators did when they were discontinued 15 years ago. Plus, they're made using much better alloys and fabrication technology. If I were replacing the original radiator in ANY 63-72 Corvette originally equipped with the GM #3155316 aluminum radiator, I would only replace it with the DeWitts reproduction of that radiator. Absolutely. Positively. Without a doubt. Period.

[Jim T.]

Re: aluminum radiator on my 68

James I am not saying anything against what is mentioned in the above posts. I have a original owner 68 and back in 73 the factory aluminum radiator was leaking. Not wanting to spend the money it would of taken to buy a new aluminum radiator from GM in 1973 I bought a non aluminum replacement and installed it. I have always tried to replace the coolant every two years, very inexpensive maint, and I am still using the same replacement radiator in my 68. It has been removed for minor leak but has given very good service. For the amount of time I have used the replacement radiator I have no complaints on its durability or its ability to perform especially when I take the years of use into account. If I was going to have the car judged I would have to change to the correct aluminum radiator for max points even though it would still not be the original radiator.