Original pre 19000 VIN Radiator for 66 427 BB

[Christopher A.]

I'm looking for an original 427 BB Radiator, pre 19,000 VIN to rebuild.

I think i might have found one, but i am not 100 percent sure.
The radiator came out of a 68 427 Corvette, but the seller does not know much about it.
-It is a copper/brass harrison radiator, but i am not sure where to tell him to look for the part number. Where is the part number located?

-It has the rectangular cut outs and the square cut outs, but no circular holes as stated to be present after VIN 19,000 in 66. However, that does not mean that they did not eliminate the holes and go back to the earlier design for later model year Vettes.

-I am not sure what the side tanks should look like. Should they be the more finished looking tanks or should they be the type that has the ribs that extend from the core and protrude out on the sides of the tanks like the small block radiators? I hope that makes sense.

Thanks!

I hope i am not clogging up the forum too much today.

[John H.]

Re: Original pre 19000 VIN Radiator for 66 427 BB

-I am not sure what the side tanks should look like. Should they be the more finished looking tanks or should they be the type that has the ribs that extend from the core and protrude out on the sides of the tanks like the small block radiators?

Chris -

It should have finished, stamped tanks on both ends; the "ribs" on the ends were only on small-block (and L-78/L-88) stacked-plate aluminum radiators, which had no end tanks.

[Tom D.]

Re: Original pre 19000 VIN Radiator for 66 427 BB

My 67 427 radiator had a tag attached. It has "MK" on it. The car is 390 HP 427 with a Muncie Four Speed.

[John C.]

Re: Original pre 19000 VIN Radiator for 66 427 BB

Christopher

Rebuilding a copper radiator consists of re-coring it. When your done all that is original is the end tanks. At this point there good chance that has already been done to the radiator you are looking at. All copper radiators used the same end tank from 66-68.

I'd just but a new Dewitts reproduction radiator and be done with it. It is as close to original as you are ever going to get.

http://www.dewitts.com/pages/categoryresults.asp?catID=16

If your set on rebuilding an original they do have some very nice photos on the Dewitt's website to show what you should be looking for.

John

[Christopher A.]

Re: Original pre 19000 VIN Radiator for 66 427 BB

So the part numbers are only on a tag, not on the radiator itself, is that correct?

Ill post pics of this radiator tonight. I see a slight difference in the top plate from the picture in the NCRS judging manual. On the end of the top plate, where it stops and there is a space between the plate and the end tanks, is more curved than at a sharp 90 degree angle like the one pictured in the manual.

[Christopher A.]

Re: Original pre 19000 VIN Radiator for 66 427 BB

You are probably right. I was just weighing the two options.

I spoke with the radiator shop and they want around 400-500 for the work and the guy that has the original radiator that needs to be recored wants a bit too much for it-close to 200.00. So, at this point, it would be best just to buy the dewitts. Unless of course i manage to find a really cheap or free original radiator.

[Michael H.]

Re: Original pre 19000 VIN Radiator for 66 427 BB

You are probably right. I was just weighing the two options.

I spoke with the radiator shop and they want around 400-500 for the work and the guy that has the original radiator that needs to be recored wants a bit too much for it-close to 200.00. So, at this point, it would be best just to buy the dewitts. Unless of course i manage to find a really cheap or free original radiator.

I believe you'll get a longer warranty if you go with a DeWitt, check that out as well.

[Ronald L.]

Re: Original pre 19000 VIN Radiator for 66 427 BB

66 and 67 are different and I challenge you to find a difference other than age, dewitts has the tools that made these. Avoid the NOS stuff from the 80's its all wrong and just do the math. End tanks core plus labor is more than the dewitts.

Then again with a 20500 vin, its the same as the 19000's, and the core support never out of the car does not have the tube supports either.

Don't get started on the JG, the part numbers for the BB rad hoses are wrong too.

[Tom D.]

Re: Original pre 19000 VIN Radiator for 66 427 BB

A photo from Dewitts.

Taken from http://www.dewitts.com/pages/categor...s.asp?catID=16

Note the 66 Part number is diff. Their 67-68 Photo looks the same to me.

[Christopher A.]

Re: Original pre 19000 VIN Radiator for 66 427 BB

Update:

Here is a picture of the radiator that i currently have installed in my car. I'm not sure why i thought it had different end tanks, but they appear to be the correct design.

The second set of pictures are a radiator from another 66 Corvette, which is local to me, and it appears to be a correct replacement or an original. The owner of this car is upgrading to an aluminum radiator and i have the opportunity to purchase the radiator for cheap, but before i do so, i wanted to post pictures and get opinions on it and the one i currently have installed.

I can't find any tags on either of the radiators, but they both have passenger side tanks with the Harrison name and fill instructions.

Thanks!

Radiator 1-currently installed

Flat top, no notches or cut outs.









Radiator 2-Have the option to buy