radiator replacement for 73

[Thomas O.]

At present the radiator on my 73 is original . I'm thinking that it should be replaced as it is original and will be detalaing engine area. I am wondering if a copper core is an acceptable way to go ? Seems to me that 36 yr old radiator has about served it's time. Thanks for any comments. tom

[Jim T.]

Re: radiator replacement for 73

My original radiator in my 70 is still being used.

[Thomas O.]

Re: radiator replacement for 73

Jim: Thanks for the info on your 70. Maybe I will have the radiator checked evaluated or whatever and get a second opinion as they say. the car has about 66,000 miles and is in real decent condition. tom

[Joe L.]

Re: radiator replacement for 73

At present the radiator on my 73 is original . I'm thinking that it should be replaced as it is original and will be detalaing engine area. I am wondering if a copper core is an acceptable way to go ? Seems to me that 36 yr old radiator has about served it's time. Thanks for any comments. tom

Tom-----

If, by your asking if a copper core is acceptable, you are implying that you think your original is aluminum, it's not. All 1973 Corvettes were equipped with a copper/brass radiator. If you have any doubts about the condition of your original radiator, you could have it checked out by a competent radiator shop and/or have it re-cored with an original style core. Then, you'd have an as-new radiator with the original Harrison tanks.

[Thomas O.]

Re: radiator replacement for 73

Joe: THANKS for the avice apparently the radiators can endure the years in which they are merely standing in the garage. Come to think of it I have a 56 GMC with original pontiac V/8 316.5 and the radiator is seemingly ok. Copper is good. tom

[William M.]

Re: radiator replacement for 73

Tom-----

If, by your asking if a copper core is acceptable, you are implying that you think your original is aluminum, it's not. All 1973 Corvettes were equipped with a copper/brass radiator. If you have any doubts about the condition of your original radiator, you could have it checked out by a competent radiator shop and/or have it re-cored with an original style core. Then, you'd have an as-new radiator with the original Harrison tanks.

Good advice. I actually bought a DeWitts aluminum radiator with the intention of putting it in my Top Flight '73 big block. However, once I compared it to my original, I just couldn't bring myself to do it. So my original is getting cleaned up and re-cored:

[Joe L.]

Re: radiator replacement for 73

Good advice. I actually bought a DeWitts aluminum radiator with the intention of putting it in my Top Flight '73 big block. However, once I compared it to my original, I just couldn't bring myself to do it. So my original is getting cleaned up and re-cored:

William-----


The DeWitt's "Direct Fit" aluminum replacement radiators are just that----a replacement radiator. However, their configuration is very close to the original copper/brass. The most prominent differences are the weld between the tanks and the core and the lack of the Harrison embossment. While there are these differences which can be a negative for a judged car, there is a big positive from the standpoint of cooling performance.

This, particular "Direct Fit" model has a significantly higher cooling capacity than ANY original Corvette radiator ever used from 1953 right up to the present. In fact, it has a cooling capacity which is about 30% greater than the 69-72 big block copper brass, 67-69 L-88 aluminum, 70-72 ZR-1/ZR-2 aluminum, and 73-76 copper/brass. All of those original radiators had about the same cooling capacity and that capacity was the highest of any radiators originally installed in ANY Corvette. So, if one wants to have near-original configuration but MAXIMUM cooling capacity, the DeWitts "Direct Fit" is the way to go.

By the way, I do know of Top Flight cars that have the DeWitts "Direct Fit" installed.