1982 Radiator

[Mike R.]

Does anyone have a source for a correct radiator for a 1982? The usual suspects such as DeWitts, Paragon, Corvette Central, etc, all come up with aluminum replacement

[Joe L.]

Re: 1982 Radiator

Does anyone have a source for a correct radiator for a 1982? The usual suspects such as DeWitts, Paragon, Corvette Central, etc, all come up with aluminum replacement

Mike-----


What you're looking for is a GM #3053440. It was discontinued without supercession in July, 1994. So, it's been gone almost 20 years now.

What's wrong with your existing radiator? Is it not original? If original, why couldn't it be re-cored?

[Dick W.]

Re: 1982 Radiator

Mike-----


What you're looking for is a GM #3053440. It was discontinued without supercession in July, 1994. So, it's been gone almost 20 years now.

What's wrong with your existing radiator? Is it not original? If original, why couldn't it be re-cored?

Believe it was available through AC Delco sometime after that. Don't have the old catalogs anymore, but I seem to remember purchasing a few in the last '90's

[Mike R.]

Re: 1982 Radiator

Joe

It's the original radiator and is plugged up. Not surprising after + 30 Years. I am ooking for an alternative to recore but it may not be an option.

Mike

[Joe L.]

Re: 1982 Radiator

Joe

It's the original radiator and is plugged up. Not surprising after + 30 Years. I am ooking for an alternative to recore but it may not be an option.

Mike

Mike-----


If the tanks are in good shape, a re-core is, functionally, virtually as good as a new radiator-----maybe even better from the point of originality. That's because SERVICE radiators, depending upon when manufactured, may differ in minor ways from the originals, especially as it relates to the tanks.

[Jim T.]

Re: 1982 Radiator

Joe

It's the original radiator and is plugged up. Not surprising after + 30 Years. I am ooking for an alternative to recore but it may not be an option.

Mike

Mike, My original owner 1970's radiator is original and still doing the cooling. It has been removed and cleaned by a radiator shop at least once and leaks repaired a couple of times. Still has the original core. Have you taken your 82's radiator to a radiator shop for an estimate for cleaning?

[Dick W.]

Re: 1982 Radiator

Mike-----


If the tanks are in good shape, a re-core is, functionally, virtually as good as a new radiator-----maybe even better from the point of originality. That's because SERVICE radiators, depending upon when manufactured, may differ in minor ways from the originals, especially as it relates to the tanks.

In one of my prior lives, among other ventures, I owned a radiator repair shop. The radiators of the mid seventies to sometimes in the eighties (nineties) were not of the same quality as the earlier units. It is my belief that either the tubes were either thinner or made of a different composition. It was not unusual to see a five year old core have so many leaks that they were not worth repairing. Also the tank seams were bad to split.