69 L46 Radiator and Fan Shroud help needed

[Keith M.]

Hi all,
New guy here. Starting what will be long gradual resto of my numbers matching 1969 L46 350/350 4spd manual. S/N puts it at a late October production date. I want to use "correct" parts wherever possible....the standard being NCRS judging.

My current issue is that I need to replace the radiator and cannot figure out for the life of me what the original one was nor which to get to be "correct". Here is what I have discovered. Currently the fan shroud in there appears to be plastic...def not metal...but no idea if that is original. According to the latest NCRS judging guide p192...69s of my flavor could have come with either aluminum or copper radiator. on p195 of said guide "Copper Radiator Usage Table" indicates 350/350 Base w/ or w/o AC manual trans w/o oil cooler...so not totally sure if that table is intended to signify copper was ALWAYS used for the configurations listed...or SOMETIMES used for those configurations. Then...on p197..text at the top of that page states copper radiators use plastic fan shrouds yet the table at the bottom of that page has two entries for the 1969 manual...one indicating metal and the other fiberglass. Further...the Restoration Guide says all cars with aluminum radiators used a stamped steel fan shroud....I cannot find any of those anywhere online.

So first I gotta tackle what radiator to get to stay "correct"...then I will have to tackle the fan shroud identification. That being said...I cannot find any source online for a copper radiator...(Zip, Corv America, etc.)...so is that not even an option.

Any guidance here much appreciated.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 69 L46 Radiator and Fan Shroud help needed

Copper radiator, plastic shroud.
What do you have with the car now?

No one makes a completely correct reproduction, so don't worry about looking for one.

I would recommend finding a used one, and having it re-cored. You will want to use the original end tanks AND the original top & bottom bars. You are only having the CORE replaced. Be specific when you have the work done. My last two I painted myself with Eastwood's radiator paint.

PS. Wait for Doc Rebuild to open back up, and use his radiator seals.

[Keith M.]

Re: 69 L46 Radiator and Fan Shroud help needed

Copper radiator, plastic shroud.
What do you have with the car now?

No one makes a completely correct reproduction, so don't worry about looking for one.

I would recommend finding a used one, and having it re-cored. You will want to use the original end tanks AND the original top & bottom bars. You are only having the CORE replaced. Be specific when you have the work done. My last two I painted myself with Eastwood's radiator paint.

PS. Wait for Doc Rebuild to open back up, and use his radiator seals.

Thanks. This is helpful. I just had it towed the other day to the shop I am gonna work with on this first phase which is primarily to get it running and drivable again. So I will swing by in the morning and try to get an ID on what rad is in there now. Highly doubtful it is original. So what you are recommending that in order to be as "correct" as possible I should try and find an original copper rad and have it recored? in copper? I also presume that anything available from the usual suspects online would cost me some judging points...being as none are copper?

[Patrick H.]

Re: 69 L46 Radiator and Fan Shroud help needed

Even the copper ones available through catalogs or your local store are not correct.
Judges will look for the correct shaped end tanks, the Harrision logo, and the cutouts on the upper and lower braces. Those are all features noted in the JG.

[Keith M.]

Re: 69 L46 Radiator and Fan Shroud help needed

Even the copper ones available through catalogs or your local store are not correct.
Judges will look for the correct shaped end tanks, the Harrision logo, and the cutouts on the upper and lower braces. Those are all features noted in the JG.

Great to know!! So if I end up re-coring one...can/should I specify copper??? or does the core material itself not matter for judging?

[Patrick H.]

Re: 69 L46 Radiator and Fan Shroud help needed

They won't use anything else. Aluminum won't work with brass end tanks.

[Richard K.]

Re: 69 L46 Radiator and Fan Shroud help needed

Keith,
Please check your message inbox.

[Richard K.]

Re: 69 L46 Radiator and Fan Shroud help needed

Looks like Mid America is now selling a reproduction.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 69 L46 Radiator and Fan Shroud help needed

Looks like Mid America is now selling a reproduction.

I don't see one on their site for a manual transmission with copper/brass radiator.

All of their radiators are from DeWitts, so they would likely show on that site first.

[Richard K.]

Re: 69 L46 Radiator and Fan Shroud help needed

mamotorworks.com
Part #609-905
GM #3956109
"1968-1972 Corvette Flexible Radiator Shroud Injection Molded Small Block"
For 26" Radiator Cores
$229.99 + $20 Shipping
(ad marked as "the last one" FWIW)
looks exactly like the shroud in my late production, '69 L46 350, manual, no air

[Patrick H.]

Re: 69 L46 Radiator and Fan Shroud help needed

You meant shrouds; I meant radiators.

And I still don't believe that MidAmerica makes these.

[Richard K.]

Re: 69 L46 Radiator and Fan Shroud help needed

Keith,
I've owned my late production, November, '69 L46, 350, manual, with no air since 1975.
Early on in my ownership, many written Corvette guides, and enthusiasists, suggested that my car should have an aluminum radiator. My car though never looked altered, and had a copper 26" radiator with a "plastic", injection molded radiator shroud.
If your car has the plastic shroud, as opposed to metal, your car, almost certainly, came with a copper radiator.
As Patrick said, an original radiator will be difficult to find. Page 195 of the judging guide shows that you car should have a #3018803 radiator with an MK9 tag. That is what is in my car. Caution: know what a "correct" radiator should look like before you buy one! The judging guide has a good description.
If you want to replace the shroud, the mamororworks.com site has what you need.

[Keith M.]

Re: 69 L46 Radiator and Fan Shroud help needed

Thanks so much for all the input. I finally got around to getting some pix..or at least tried to. What It can glean so far is that it is likely "correct" if not possibly original radiator. It does have the Harrison stamp and other appearances of the original style...AFAIK. Interestingly there is a tag on the rear of the RH (passenger) rad tank about half way down which is i believe where the MK tag should be. It shows Mid State Radiator in Westboro (sp?) MA...which is interestingly the city where I purchased it in 1997 from what was at least the third owner. My guess is it was re-cored by that place and they put their stamp on top of the original...would this be a common practice when re cored? In any event...it seems original enough...and if I can confirm it to be "correct" I will have it re cored in copper...too much corrosion to not do so. Any thoughts or other direction greatly appreciated. Planning to replace the plastic shroud..put back a repro extension...hoses...etc etc.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 69 L46 Radiator and Fan Shroud help needed

Original end tanks. The upper beam does not “appear” to be original any more.
I would use that shroud, as it will fit better than any repro, and I can’t see anything wrong with it.
Fan does not appear correct, and of course it should have a fan clutch.

[Keith M.]

Re: 69 L46 Radiator and Fan Shroud help needed

Hi,
My goal for the vehicle...over the next handful of years...is gradually restore as correct as possible....starting now. First wave will be (some of) the most obvious stuff...to get her running again.

Is/should the part number be on the radiator anywhere??

Not sure what to do about the upper rad beam. For now my plan would be pull the rad and have it re-cored...too much corrosion... and go from there...being that it is at least mostly correct and original. So while I am doing that gonna replace heater hoses, rad hoses, shroud seals...and possibly pull the rad support and do the support-to-body seals. As for the shroud...it has a tear all the way through front to back on the lower section..will try to get a pic. I assume something like that can't be repaired??? So that being the case...and no shroud extension but remnants of it in one place at the bottom...figured it best to replace shroud and get an extension and attaching hardware for both.

And yes...she is a my Franken-vette...with much done (incorrectly) to her by previous owners. No AIR/smog system, incorrect fan and no fan clutch, incorrect intake manifold and at least one exhaust manifold, no spare tire nor storage assembly....and on and on....Her restoration will surely be a labor of love.
Thanks!