1960 radiator

[Thomas H.]

If I by a new Dewitts core for the worn out radiator on my 60, does anyone know of a good place to take it in the Philadelphia area that can take the original tanks from the old one and put the new core in?

I could just put one of the Dewitts Direct Fit ones in the car (they don't have an exact replacement for a base 60 engine), but if I'm going to spend that kind of money I'd rather look into fixing the original.

Tom

[Kevin G.]

Re: 1960 radiator

Tom,

You might giving Hance's a call. I have had them do a few older cores for me in the past.


Hance Auto Radiator Shop
659 N Main St
Doylestown, PA 18901
(215) 348-5608

[Don H.]

Re: 1960 radiator

I used their aluminum replacement that looks like the original brass one. I figure that the original can always be rebuilt in the future (if needed), right now I have a brand new radiator. So far (3 or 4 years) it has been perfect. Don H.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1960 radiator

If I by a new Dewitts core for the worn out radiator on my 60, does anyone know of a good place to take it in the Philadelphia area that can take the original tanks from the old one and put the new core in?

I could just put one of the Dewitts Direct Fit ones in the car (they don't have an exact replacement for a base 60 engine), but if I'm going to spend that kind of money I'd rather look into fixing the original.

Tom

Tom------


I'm assuming that you're referring to a copper/brass radiator. In that case, I would think that just about any good radiator shop could transfer the original tanks. Basically, all you'd be doing is having your original radiator re-cored with you providing the core. Radiator shops re-core radiators all the time. However, I believe that DeWitts will also do it for you. So, you could just send them your old radiator and they'll transfer the tanks and send you back a virtually as-new radiator.

By the way, for cooling efficiency you won't do much better than one of their direct-fit aluminum replacements. As the name implies, these are a bolt-in replacement. They appear quite similar to the original radiator when they are painted black, and they provide greatly increased cooling capacity. I've never known of a Corvette that had too much cooling capacity but there are many that are marginal.

[Thomas H.]

Re: 1960 radiator

Tom------


I'm assuming that you're referring to a copper/brass radiator. In that case, I would think that just about any good radiator shop could transfer the original tanks. Basically, all you'd be doing is having your original radiator re-cored with you providing the core. Radiator shops re-core radiators all the time. However, I believe that DeWitts will also do it for you. So, you could just send them your old radiator and they'll transfer the tanks and send you back a virtually as-new radiator.

By the way, for cooling efficiency you won't do much better than one of their direct-fit aluminum replacements. As the name implies, these are a bolt-in replacement. They appear quite similar to the original radiator when they are painted black, and they provide greatly increased cooling capacity. I've never known of a Corvette that had too much cooling capacity but there are many that are marginal.

Joe,

I agree about the cooling effeciency. I used one of the Dewitts replacements in my 71 LS5 and it never ran cooler.

A asked Dewitts if they could do the update for me, but they don't. They offer the core and I was looking at buying that, then having the tank work done locally.

Decisions, decisions.........

Tom

[Thomas H.]

Re: 1960 radiator

I used their aluminum replacement that looks like the original brass one. I figure that the original can always be rebuilt in the future (if needed), right now I have a brand new radiator. So far (3 or 4 years) it has been perfect. Don H.

Don,

Good point. I can always put the original in storage for the next owner to deal with.

Tom

[Thomas H.]

Re: 1960 radiator

Tom,

You might giving Hance's a call. I have had them do a few older cores for me in the past.


Hance Auto Radiator Shop
659 N Main St
Doylestown, PA 18901
(215) 348-5608

A wealth of information you are......

I'll check it out

Tom

[Brooks G.]

Re: 1960 radiator

Tom, I am working on a 1956 Corvette in which the original radiator is copper I guess like yours. In the area where I live I could not locate a correct core. Dewitts has them but I chose to use their new aluminum radiator which looks almost like the original. Cost and warranty swayed my decision to use their radiator rather than to recore my old one. To recore the old radiator was going to cost over $1200.00 plus shipping both ways. The Dewitts radiator painted black (optional) was $625.00 plus shipping. The recore job I think had a year warranty where the new radiator is 3 years. Dewitts new radiator also cools better and more efficiently than the old one would after being recored. They can also put a correct metal tag on the top tank just like the original has. I guess it is only money and your choice. I wish you all the best on your restoration. Brooks Glover (2141)

[Stephen R.]

Re: 1960 radiator

I just used Paul's Radiator repair (610-586-1727) on MacDade Blvd in Glenolden, Pa. I had the radiator on my 59 repaired. They quoted me $500 to have it re-cored, but I decided to go the repair route. They did it for $85.

[Donald L.]

Re: 1960 radiator

Dewitts is offering till 1/20/2011 a 10% discount & free shipping. One needs to order on the Dewitts website and insert
"CFGP" on the name line.