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Original radiator, rebuild or replace?

Posted By: cudabitten

Original radiator, rebuild or replace? - 04/27/09 02:22 AM

Hi, I am restoring a 74 Cuda, it has the original radiator. Its not in bad shape but I dont want to take any chances. Is there a way to restore it, or should I just replace it?
Posted By: Q5_Ed

Re: Original radiator, rebuild or replace? - 04/27/09 02:29 AM

Send it to Glen Ray Radiator for repair and restoration needs. He did my 69 054 radiator, put new bottom tank and restored the rest. If you want original this is the way to go. Ihad him put high effeciency core I believe. Very happy with the results and customer service. You can save a little shipping by having the tanks and brackets removed to ship to him for a recore if you want. Or just pack it up good and send the hole thing.

Ed B
Posted By: 375inStroke

Re: Original radiator, rebuild or replace? - 04/28/09 11:06 AM

Great thing is your new one will be half the weight and last half as long as the original one. Why do you want to replace what isn't broken?
Posted By: Challenger 1

Re: Original radiator, rebuild or replace? - 04/28/09 11:35 AM

Quote:

Great think is your new one will be half the weight and last half as long as the original one. Why do you want to replace what isn't broken?





Get the original recored by somone local to you.
Posted By: anlauto

Re: Original radiator, rebuild or replace? - 04/28/09 11:40 AM

Take your original to any well established rad shop in your area. They will be able to re-core your rad and save the "correct numbered" top tank
Posted By: 375inStroke

Re: Original radiator, rebuild or replace? - 04/29/09 03:24 AM

What I'm getting at is that the new cores are thinner now, and if the old one is still good and you use coolant, there shouldn't be a problem. Perhaps have it rodded out and use the lowest pressure cap you can get away with.
Posted By: MLR426

Re: Original radiator, rebuild or replace? - 04/29/09 04:37 AM


Get it re-cored. Useing a low pressure cap equals
a mess getting ready to happen.

logan426
Posted By: THESHAKERPROJECT

Re: Original radiator, rebuild or replace? - 04/29/09 03:56 PM

Send it to Glen Ray . He did my ratty lookin 22in rad for $500 with a new high efficency core,refinished the top , installed new petcock and overflow hose AND painted the rad with the correct black paint. You will not get this type of work at a local rad shop . You will not believe how nice your radiator will look when you get it back from Glen Ray.
Posted By: Challenger 1

Re: Original radiator, rebuild or replace? - 04/29/09 04:12 PM

Quote:

Send it to Glen Ray . He did my ratty lookin 22in rad for $500 with a new high efficency core,refinished the top , installed new petcock and overflow hose AND painted the rad with the correct black paint. You will not get this type of work at a local rad shop . You will not believe how nice your radiator will look when you get it back from Glen Ray.



He's not looking to do a numbers matching resto, and every rad I ever sent out for repair came back with the same tanks attached.

I had one done locally last fall and it looked like new and it was about 350 bucks. All I had to do is drop it off down the street and pick it up 2 days later. Everyone paints them when finished. I've had maybe 20 radiators recored as I maintain a small fleet of trucks. I couldn't see shipping it somewhere.
Posted By: Q5_Ed

Re: Original radiator, rebuild or replace? - 04/29/09 11:23 PM

I said what he said, also, less than satisfied with local shop in the past.
To each his own, but worth the end result to me. Not saying local guys cant do the job. For mine my bottom tank was trashed. He made it look new and has all the right parts. If I wasn't lazy I'd dig it out and post some pic's. Came very well boxed, what else can I say.....
Posted By: hemi68charger

Re: Original radiator, rebuild or replace? - 04/29/09 11:34 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Great think is your new one will be half the weight and last half as long as the original one. Why do you want to replace what isn't broken?





Get the original recored by somone local to you.



But also emphasize the uniquiness of the radiator, so in essences, don't screw it up.
Posted By: Challenger 1

Re: Original radiator, rebuild or replace? - 04/29/09 11:49 PM

I understand what your saying.I'm lucky that I have a long time shop near me.

I just realized that I paid big bucks for a 959 radiator from a member here a few years ago that is in my 71. I'd still trust it to the guy down the street.
Posted By: cudabitten

Re: Original radiator, rebuild or replace? - 04/30/09 12:46 PM

Hi, thanks to all the responses. This is a numbers matching restore, this is my first time I have restored so I wasn't sure of all options. The radiator looks like someone had repaired it from the outside, it has some black hard substance on two or more places on the fan side. (maybe someone used that "bar leak sealer" from the inside).Like I said it does not leak, but cooling systems on old cars always seem to be a weak link. I could clean it real good and paint it myself.. where do you look to confirm a numbers matching radiator? is there such a thing?
Chris.

Posted By: DPelletier

Re: Original radiator, rebuild or replace? - 04/30/09 03:12 PM

No, just the right part number. On any full blown resto or even getting a fresh engine, I always get the rad done. Sometimes it can be hot tanked and repainted, but most of the time there is core damage and it needs a recore. There's no way I'd trust that rad with a fresh motor.

Find a good radiator shop and have yours hot tanked and go from there. There are better cores out there than the stock ones as well as some inferior ones. I used a "high performance" 3 row core on my original 22" rad. The tanks can and should be saved.

Cheers,
Dave
Posted By: pushbutton

Re: Original radiator, rebuild or replace? - 04/30/09 03:27 PM

Have it recored,but tell them you will paint it yourself. Most rad. shops don't do very good paint work.
Posted By: streaker

Re: Original radiator, rebuild or replace? - 05/02/09 10:36 PM

My cat Pumkin says"If you want it done right the first time send it to Glen-Ray." That is where I sent mine.

Attached picture 5203153-radiator-pumpkin.jpg
Posted By: OLD318

Re: Original radiator, rebuild or replace? - 05/05/09 10:57 PM

Any reputable radiator shop should be able to re-core that radiator with no issues...
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