67 Coronet Radiator -- What Would You Do?

Posted By: markz528

67 Coronet Radiator -- What Would You Do? - 07/31/11 03:20 AM

67 Coronet 500 383 (some cam, Holley Street Dominator intake and 750 Holley Carb) with AC. Run on street and my daughter races it (ran 15's last year).

AC was broke last year (old Weiand Intake and Edelbrock 600 cfm carb) and car ran hot.

So for this year I got the radiator cleaned. I see that there are still some deposits in the radiator. Car still runs hot and with the AC on it overheats.

The fan clutch is not great so I bought a replacement. I also figured I may need to recore the radiator. Found out the radiator I have is from a 66 C body 383 with AC - - I figure that radiator should be fine - - right? I also have a 69 C body 440 radiator listed for all applications that I can use, but I think it may have some deposits also.

Local shop quted me $750 to recore the 66 radiator with higher cooling than stock core. That's more than I am wiling to spend.

I talked on the phone with another shop and their pricing seemed more friendly. My wife will bring it down Monday to get a price to recore.

I also see that US Radiator US Radiator has radiators for the car. Anyone ever use them before? Prices don't look horrendous.

What would you do?

Posted By: Neil

Re: 67 Coronet Radiator -- What Would You Do? - 07/31/11 03:44 AM

Have you checked your local auto parts store? The Napa store here located a new radiator for my old chevy pickup for about $200.00ish a few years back. They sell radiators for many older applications so it might not hurt to ask.

I also think those recore prices are too high. You can buy a nice aluminum radiator for that kind of $$$.

Also make sure you have a spring in the lower radiator hose. Over the years people replace hoses and neglect to install the old spring into the new hose.

Posted By: ahy

Re: 67 Coronet Radiator -- What Would You Do? - 07/31/11 03:56 AM

Checking NAPA is a good idea. It would also be worth checking radiators.com. I've used their stuff on two DD's and its been fine.

As posted you can get a nice high capacity top tank style aluminum radiator for less than the re-core price you were quoted. Check out Mancini. They have Griffin and also their "muscle car" radiator. I'm running their muscle car radiator in front of a 496 with AC and it works great. I painted mine black so it didn't stand out.

Posted By: markz528

Re: 67 Coronet Radiator -- What Would You Do? - 07/31/11 04:26 AM

Quote:

Also make sure you have a spring in the lower radiator hose. Over the years people replace hoses and neglect to install the old spring into the new hose.

Great - - I threw the old spring out and the new hose doesn't have one. Any idea where to get a new spring?

Posted By: Neil

Re: 67 Coronet Radiator -- What Would You Do? - 07/31/11 04:29 AM

One thing to watch out for on the aftermarket aluminum radiators is many do not have a way of mounting the factory fan shroud. Some old cars can run without a shroud and still be ok and other cars have to have a shroud or they overheat.

Posted By: Neil

Re: 67 Coronet Radiator -- What Would You Do? - 07/31/11 04:31 AM

Quote:

Quote:

Also make sure you have a spring in the lower radiator hose. Over the years people replace hoses and neglect to install the old spring into the new hose.

Great - - I threw the old spring out and the new hose doesn't have one. Any idea where to get a new spring?

Junkyard or get some thin steel wire and wrap it around a pipe and make your own.

Posted By: DennisH

Re: 67 Coronet Radiator -- What Would You Do? - 07/31/11 07:45 AM

4 core locally for my 26" $400. Should be less anywhere on the planet except San Jose. It leaked the first time. OK now. Thermal. Green. 180 Superstat. Mancini Billet (Billet meaning overpriced) thermostat housing. NO high flow or big volume pump baloney. Stay with stock. 175-180 all day long.

Posted By: rapom

Re: 67 Coronet Radiator -- What Would You Do? - 07/31/11 12:39 PM

Get rid of the clutch fan and get a fixed one (stock 5 or 7 blade). They work so much better on the street at keeping the temps down.

Posted By: crlush

Re: 67 Coronet Radiator -- What Would You Do? - 07/31/11 12:57 PM

shouldnt cost more than $400.00 try another radiator shop. or start looking for an aluminum.

Posted By: terzmo

Re: 67 Coronet Radiator -- What Would You Do? - 07/31/11 01:17 PM

My 498 stroker would overheat in traffic(cool down the road)..final answer was...champion alum rad,shroud and 7 blade clutch fan...tried everything else...electric fans...6 blade clutch fan, etc....)7 blade fan is steel)

Also the rad is 2 one inch rows and is 26 inch...fit right in with drilling on passenger side only. Even tranny lines matched.

Rad was under 250 new.. stock plastic shroud from a 70 RR fit perfect.can't say enough good things about it

Posted By: markz528

Re: 67 Coronet Radiator -- What Would You Do? - 08/02/11 03:11 AM

Quote:

shouldnt cost more than $400.00 try another radiator shop. or start looking for an aluminum.

So I brought it to another local radiator shop. Pretty much same work as the other shop that quoted $745 out the door. This is for a higher cooling capacity than my stock one.

This shop quoted $445 and will be ready by the end of the week. That is the route I am going.

I really did not want to go with a an aluminum radiator on this car. But I also was not going to spend $745.......

Thanks for all the advice.

Posted By: JohnRR

Re: 67 Coronet Radiator -- What Would You Do? - 08/02/11 04:33 AM

Quote:

Quote:

shouldnt cost more than $400.00 try another radiator shop. or start looking for an aluminum.

So I brought it to another local radiator shop. Pretty much same work as the other shop that quoted $745 out the door. This is for a higher cooling capacity than my stock one.

This shop quoted $445 and will be ready by the end of the week. That is the route I am going.

I really did not want to go with a an aluminum radiator on this car. But I also was not going to spend $745.......

Thanks for all the advice.

And get a spring in that lower hose , if the hose is sucking shut having a radiator the size of the pacific ocean isn't going to do a thing .

Posted By: DAYCLONA

Re: 67 Coronet Radiator -- What Would You Do? - 08/02/11 04:36 AM

4 row 26" radiator from US Radiiator, shroud, solid fan, flush the system, drain, ZEREX G-05 50/50 with water and with Redline Water Wetter, ditch the clutch fan, and make sure there's a spring in the lower hose..

Posted By: DennisH

Re: 67 Coronet Radiator -- What Would You Do? - 08/02/11 12:27 PM

Quote:

4 row 26" radiator from US Radiiator, shroud, solid fan, flush the system, drain, ZEREX G-05 50/50 with water and with Redline Water Wetter, ditch the clutch fan, and make sure there's a spring in the lower hose..

Yes except keep the thermal fan and shroud. Ma knew.

Posted By: markz528

Re: 67 Coronet Radiator -- What Would You Do? - 08/19/11 02:00 AM

Quote:

And get a spring in that lower hose , if the hose is sucking shut having a radiator the size of the pacific ocean isn't going to do a thing .

Well I couldn't find a spring so I made one out of 304 stainless spring wire (got it at McMaster Carr). Not perfect but I think it will work! My dad sent me his spring manufacturing tool he made years ago - - he is 95 now. My first attempt at making a spring. I would do better next time..........

Posted By: 67_Satellite

Re: 67 Coronet Radiator -- What Would You Do? - 08/19/11 03:10 AM

Quote:

My 498 stroker would overheat in traffic(cool down the road)..final answer was...champion alum rad,shroud and 7 blade clutch fan...tried everything else...electric fans...6 blade clutch fan, etc....)7 blade fan is steel)

Also the rad is 2 one inch rows and is 26 inch...fit right in with drilling on passenger side only. Even tranny lines matched.

Rad was under 250 new.. stock plastic shroud from a 70 RR fit perfect.can't say enough good things about it

I have the exact same set-up, zero problems with heat. The factory fan shroud had a gap which was easily filled with a strip of closed cell foam,otherwise it fit great.

Posted By: Big_E

Re: 67 Coronet Radiator -- What Would You Do? - 08/19/11 04:38 AM

Quote:

Quote:

And get a spring in that lower hose , if the hose is sucking shut having a radiator the size of the pacific ocean isn't going to do a thing .

Well I couldn't find a spring so I made one out of 304 stainless spring wire (got it at McMaster Carr). Not perfect but I think it will work! My dad sent me his spring manufacturing tool he made years ago - - he is 95 now. My first attempt at making a spring. I would do better next time..........

The original spring I have here has the end of the wire bent (curled) in towards the center on the hose. This would keep the wire from working through the hose.

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: 67 Coronet Radiator -- What Would You Do? - 08/19/11 06:18 AM

W a pair of pliers I'd curl the last 1/4" all the way in toward the center