1969 Harrison radiator AC car question

[Kevin S.]

As part of my 1969 L-46 350 /350 AC, PS. PB coupe restoration, I pulled my radiator and core support out because the core support was rotted out in the lower RH corner where the lower hose connects. New core support ordered from Coffman Corvette out of Mansfield, OH through Zip Corvette, along with new seal kit.

My question is the dents I see in the upper and lower radiator hose connections. I am pretty sure the dent in the upper hose connection is from someone cranking down too hard on a tower clamp in the past so I can have that one straightened out.

I am not sure about the larger dent in the lower hose connection. I don't know if that dent is intentional for clearance or did someone crank too hard on a tower clamp on that connection too? I don't want to have that dent pounded out and straightened if it is supposed to be there for clearance? So, I am asking the experts.

Also - when I dropped off my radiator, the owner showed me a steel embossed radiator tag (photo example attached). Does anyone know if there is a company that produces the MK9 radiator tag with GM Part No. 3018803 stamped along the bottom? The tag is shown on P. 194 of my 6th Ed. TIM&JG. As long as I am restoring the radiator, it would be nice to source this radiator tag and clip it back on the radiator.

Kevin
(KS69Coupe)

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1969 Harrison radiator AC car question

You can clean, paint and reinstall the tag, otherwise Gary Bosselman has reproductions.

The dent in the lower hose is to clear the front sway bar.

Be sure to have the radiator shop reuse your upper and lower rectangular bars with the new core. The rectangular notches in them are a judged item.

[Kevin S.]

Re: 1969 Harrison radiator AC car question

Hi Patrick,
Do you have contact information for Gary Bossleman?

Thanks for the clarification on the lower hose. I will leave that one alone for clearance of the front sway bar.

Owner of the radiator shop did a quick assessment and recommended a good internal and external cleaning only. He will pressure test the radiator but that should be fine since it was not leaking when I took the radiator out and it was cooling just fine. So, basically just a good cleaning and de-scaliing. He did not recommend changing the core at this point.

Thank you for your continued help.

Kevin

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1969 Harrison radiator AC car question

Hi Patrick,
Do you have contact information for Gary Bossleman?

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/private.php?do=newpm&u=512

[Mark E.]

Re: 1969 Harrison radiator AC car question

Hi Patrick,
Do you have contact information for Gary Bossleman?

Thanks for the clarification on the lower hose. I will leave that one alone for clearance of the front sway bar.

Owner of the radiator shop did a quick assessment and recommended a good internal and external cleaning only. He will pressure test the radiator but that should be fine since it was not leaking when I took the radiator out and it was cooling just fine. So, basically just a good cleaning and de-scaliing. He did not recommend changing the core at this point.

Thank you for your continued help.

Kevin

If the radiator has more than a few miles on it, core passages probably have scale or other build up, reducing its ability to dissipate heat. Hot tanking may or may not remove these deposits. The only way to properly check for this is to inspect the core by removing the tanks. If the core doesn't leak, doesn't have a significant number of repairs (pinched off passages) then minor scale can be removed by rodding. This will make a big difference in cooling capacity while preserving the original core.

[Kevin S.]

Re: 1969 Harrison radiator AC car question

Thank you - done

[Kevin S.]

Re: 1969 Harrison radiator AC car question

Hi Mark,
Thank you for the details. This car has 53,000 miles on it. It has had 3 radiator flushes in the 12-years that we have owned it. I have been running Prestone 50/50 in the radiator along with Red Line Waterwetter treatment the entire time we have owned the car. I have never had a heating or cooling issue with the car, it's always ran fine and maintains gauge temp at about 190-195. I believe it has a 165 thermostat in it now?

The radiator did not leak when I took it out. Owner of the radiator shop thought it had been re-cord at some point in the past but thought overall it was pretty clean with some minor internal scaling. For now, he is going to just clean it and pressure check it. He was not planning to recore it or indicate that it needed to be re-cored. Guess we will know more once he cleans it and pressure checks it?

The owner of the radiator shop (guy in his late 70's) is aware that this is a NCRS car and said he would do the least amount necessary to keep it as original as possible.

Kevin

[Mark E.]

Re: 1969 Harrison radiator AC car question

Sounds good.

If the car is still together (which yours apparently is not), one way to locate blockages without removing the tanks is by scanning the core with a temperature gun while the engine is running. No hot spots usually means no major blockages.

[Kevin S.]

Re: 1969 Harrison radiator AC car question

Hey Mark,
She's in pieces at the moment but I have used an IR gun in the past to check radiator temps in different locations, water pump, thermostat, upper and lower hoses, various places on the upper and lower parts of the radiator and did not have any concerns. It's a great reminder and easy to do once I get the radiator and other parts of the engine back together.

Thanks,
Kevin

[Mark E.]

Re: 1969 Harrison radiator AC car question

Hey Mark,
She's in pieces at the moment but I have used an IR gun in the past to check radiator temps in different locations, water pump, thermostat, upper and lower hoses, various places on the upper and lower parts of the radiator and did not have any concerns. It's a great reminder and easy to do once I get the radiator and other parts of the engine back together.

Thanks,
Kevin

To clarify, to check for blockages in the radiator core, take temperature readings every few inches along each core tube.

[Kevin S.]

Re: 1969 Harrison radiator AC car question

Thank you for the clarification, Mark. I'm glad you responded with more details because I was not doing that. I can certainly do that in the future to check for blockages in the core....and will.

Kevin