1969 L46 Radiator

[Dennis W.]

Hello all - The Judging Manual shows the 350 hp cars had cooper and aluminum radiators. Page 72 indicates that 350 hp manual cars had aluminum radiators and 350 hp A/C cars had cooper radiators. My car has both a manual transmission and A/C. It does not have an expansion tank. I cannot find label, tag or part number on the radiator where I would expect to find them based on the Judging Manual.

This is numbers matching car with very few exceptions. It was built May-June 1969 and sold July 2, 1969 (POP). I have a lot of the repair record receipts but there is a big gap in these prior to 1991. Based on all the above, I am suspecting that the radiator may have been replaced. What brought this on was that I bought a replacement top radiator hose for a cooper radiator and it's too short.

Does anyone know which radiator a manual, A/C, L46 car should have? Does anyone have a picture of their cooper & aluminum radiator and label (Harrison)?

Thank you - Dennis

[Joe L.]

Re: 1969 L46 Radiator

Hello all - The Judging Manual shows the 350 hp cars had cooper and aluminum radiators. Page 72 indicates that 350 hp manual cars had aluminum radiators and 350 hp A/C cars had cooper radiators. My car has both a manual transmission and A/C. It does not have an expansion tank. I cannot find label, tag or part number on the radiator where I would expect to find them based on the Judging Manual.

This is numbers matching car with very few exceptions. It was built May-June 1969 and sold July 2, 1969 (POP). I have a lot of the repair record receipts but there is a big gap in these prior to 1991. Based on all the above, I am suspecting that the radiator may have been replaced. What brought this on was that I bought a replacement top radiator hose for a cooper radiator and it's too short.

Does anyone know which radiator a manual, A/C, L46 car should have? Does anyone have a picture of their cooper & aluminum radiator and label (Harrison)?

Thank you - Dennis

Dennis------

1969 Corvettes with L-46 used either a copper/brass radiator or an aluminum radiator. For the most part, I believe that early cars used the aluminum radiator and later used the copper/brass but there may have been either type used on any car. It could be that even early cars with A/C also used the copper/brass radiator. The two types of radiator had a completely different configuration

In any event, in order to convert a car from one type to the other, it would involve also changing the radiator support and the fan shroud since both were specific to the type of radiator. In addition, the aluminum radiator required the external supply tank whereas the copper/brass used integral tanks with a filler on the right side tank.

I would say that the easiest way to confirm what type of radiator that your car originally had is to observe the right side inner fender well for signs of a external supply tank bracket/installation. If none, then your car was originally equipped with the copper/brass radiator.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1969 L46 Radiator

The aluminum radiators also look quite different from the copper/brass ones.

Can you post a picture? Does your radiator have any Harrison labels, or a logo on the right hand side?

[John C.]

Re: 1969 L46 Radiator

Dennis

A 1969 with A/C, regardless of what engine or transmission is in it, would use a copper radiator. A 350 HP engine with A/C would not use an expansion tank.

John

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: 1969 L46 Radiator

I don't know if this will help, but I attached 2 photos of the radiator in my '69 A/C car. The tanks are the original but the core is a replacement. It is also an automatic (cooling lines).
Jeff

[Dennis W.]

Re: 1969 L46 Radiator

Thanks all, I appreciate your input - See several attached photos. There is no overflow tank and no indications of one.

It cannot be seen well on my photo but, just below the top of the passenger side tank on the rear, there is a butterfly shaped logo. It says, "Jim's Auto Radiator Delray Beach 3942." That probably tells us that the radiator, at a minimum, has been rebuilt if not replaced. However, I haven't been able to find a photo of the identifying markings for an original cooper radiator.

Recall that what got this started was that I bought an upper radiator hose. The only reason for this was to have one with the GM logo & number. The hose I bought from Paragon has the correct part number, per the Judging Guide for a cooper radiator. However, the shape just doesn't look like it will be a good fit. Notice in the attached photos that my hose seems to be molded just right with no kinks or wrinkles. While the hose I bought is the same length at 21 inches, I'm afraid it would kink if I bent it enough to connect it. I wouldn't want to return it if connected, exposed to anti-freeze, etc.

I appreciate your thoughts - Dennis

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1969 L46 Radiator

It appears to have been recored, as you noted.
Is there an overflow tank? I would assume not. Given that, the overflow hose should not have a clamp, and should route straight down.

There should be a Harrison logo on the right side of the radiator in the area shown by the arrow.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1969 L46 Radiator

Thanks all, I appreciate your input - See several attached photos. There is no overflow tank and no indications of one.

It cannot be seen well on my photo but, just below the top of the passenger side tank on the rear, there is a butterfly shaped logo. It says, "Jim's Auto Radiator Delray Beach 3942." That probably tells us that the radiator, at a minimum, has been rebuilt if not replaced. However, I haven't been able to find a photo of the identifying markings for an original cooper radiator.

Recall that what got this started was that I bought an upper radiator hose. The only reason for this was to have one with the GM logo & number. The hose I bought from Paragon has the correct part number, per the Judging Guide for a cooper radiator. However, the shape just doesn't look like it will be a good fit. Notice in the attached photos that my hose seems to be molded just right with no kinks or wrinkles. While the hose I bought is the same length at 21 inches, I'm afraid it would kink if I bent it enough to connect it. I wouldn't want to return it if connected, exposed to anti-freeze, etc.

I appreciate your thoughts - Dennis

Dennis----


I think this radiator might have been re-cored with a core that was longer than the original. If so, that would explain your problem with the radiator hose.

[Dennis W.]

Re: 1969 L46 Radiator

Thank you all, very helpful.

Patrick - I did find the Harrison logo. As you know, the logo is stamped into the tank and mine is pretty darn faint. It's doubtful I would have seen it without knowing where to look or taking it out for a close inspection - not planned! Would you mind photographing two things for me?
1) The same view of the upper hose that I attached above.
2) Looking down on the overflow hose so I can see how it is routed and if it simply hangs or is attached?

Joe - That could be. I will look at it again with that in mind.

Many thanks - Dennis

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1969 L46 Radiator

I don't own a 69 L-46, but see Chassis photo Ch 1.3 in the new Judging Guide for the overflow hose. Your hose is also not the correct style.

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: 1969 L46 Radiator

The hose attaches to the nipple without any clamps and just hangs down.
Jeff