Cubelodyte Posted August 25, 2011 Share Posted August 25, 2011 The word has come from my radiator guy that the radiator's shot. This certainly explains my recent overheating problems! It's down to 20% flow and needs either recoring or replacement. Recoring is going to run me ~$700. I haven't seen a lot of replacement radiator places for classics online (except all the really old-timey stuff like all-brass radiators).Does anybody have a good vendor they recommend for new, replacement radiators? Do any exist? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest martylum Posted August 25, 2011 Share Posted August 25, 2011 Hi-I'm a restorer and have had 2 radiators recored in the last year. One-a 53 Buick Roadmaster unit has a special core material which is expensive to buy-the car is a Skylark so we bit the bullet-$700 installed at my local radiator shop. The second was a 35 Chevy with original core-the cost for a similar core material was $400 installed which was a breath of fresh air after the Buick.6 months later I found a 35 Chevy rad. NOS in the crate for less than $300.-a bargain which we no longer need.My radiator repair guy explained the 53 core is an unusual material costly to buy from only one source.So keep on looking and you might get lucky. If I were going to drive the Chevy on a Great Race I'd buy the NOS radiator because I'd get new tanks which are less likely to be brittle than 70-80 year old used tanks.Martin Lum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted August 26, 2011 Share Posted August 26, 2011 Cube, I dont know where you live, but $700.00 sounds steep to me. That is if you remover/replace yourself. Mine was $365.00 two years back. Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cubelodyte Posted August 26, 2011 Author Share Posted August 26, 2011 I'm in California, and I did already pull the radiator myself and took it in to this guy's shop. I was expecting around $400, but then this is the first time I've ever needed a radiator recored. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 4 bufords Posted August 26, 2011 Share Posted August 26, 2011 i had the radiators from my 62 amd 63 buicks recored for 500 each,4 bufords from ct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted August 26, 2011 Share Posted August 26, 2011 A core is not just a core. How many rows? Fin density? More rows and fins = better cooling and the repairer ought to be able to tell you what he is planning to use.BTW, my 56 radiator was $500 in 2003. 3 row w/ extra fins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cubelodyte Posted August 26, 2011 Author Share Posted August 26, 2011 You know, I don't know how many rows. I'm guessing (the thing's still at the shop, so I can't check) the fin density is 8/inch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted August 26, 2011 Share Posted August 26, 2011 I've had 4 50's rads done. Cores have to be custom made. They were all in the $750 range..........Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Phillips Posted August 26, 2011 Share Posted August 26, 2011 Don Hart Radiator Repair in Waller, Texas. $400 for new radiator core four years ago for my 1958 Rambler Ambassador 4-dr. hardtop station wagon (327 V-8, not some wimpy Rambler six!). They have a web site and they will make a new one if you send them your old one.Pete Phillips, BCA #7338(yes, guys, I own a Rambler)1925 Buick model 261949 Buick model 56-S1949 Buick model 591950 Buick model 76-R1954 Buick model 48-D1959 Buick Electra 2-dr. ht.1962 Buick Electra 225 4-dr. ht.1963 Buick Wildcat conv. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buick5563 Posted August 26, 2011 Share Posted August 26, 2011 Here ya go, (Rambler) Pete:Radiators, Gas Tanks, Coolers, POR-15 Rust Paint, Lizard Skin and More... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 Pete Phillips, BCA #7338(yes, guys, I own a Rambler)QUOTE]Oohhhh a Rambler... LOL.. Actually, there is a fellow local to me who has a 60? Rambler Ambassador with a factory 4 speed, dual shifter car with overdrive. Quite sweet! Gotta look and see if I have a picture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 If the radiator was not leaking when delivered to the radiator shop, and if the shop did not at least take off the top tank and attempt to rod it, it may not be shot. I have three 55's that are using original radiators. 20 years ago I took one with overheating problems to a radiator shop and after a simple visual inspection they determined that I needed a new core for $500. I took it to another shop that quoted a core for $250 and left it. They called 2 hours later and said it was ready --- it was sound and all it needed was to be rodded ($75) --- I just drove that same car 4664 miles (75,000 miles since repair) without problems with that radiator (the heater did leak ).In the meantime my 76 Olds has had 3 new cores or radiators installed...it seems that the replacement cores or radiators are junk!Willie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 Sorry for hijacking your thread Cubelodyte. But here are some pics of that ( gasp) Rambler. Don't know much about Ramblers but I suspect this one is quite rare. Now back to the Radiator thing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 I just had my 58 radiator done for $500 ....the heater core was $300. I had to change my pants after he told me about the heater core, since the last heater core I did was $140 in 2005. He upgraded my radiator to a 3 row, though. It was a 2 row. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron65 Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 Definitely go 3 row if you can...they used a factory 2 row core in my Special for about $475 4 years ago, but I wish I would have spent a little to go bigger at that time. It runs nice and cool most of the time, but easing up toward 65-70 MPH for awhile on the freeway, and then getting into stop and go traffic still makes it run a little warm, in the upper range of normal. Even with a Caddy limo 7 bladed fan! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron65 Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 Pete...show us pictures of the '58! How cool! John, that's a '63 Rambler. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosiesdad Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 My upper and lower tanks were good. Did a 3 row for my '50 for $475 at Mel and sons. Concord CA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 Good deal, rosiesdad. That should keep her cool! Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cubelodyte Posted September 4, 2011 Author Share Posted September 4, 2011 My upper and lower tanks were good. Did a 3 row for my '50 for $475 at Mel and sons. Concord CA.I'll have to keep them in mind.In the meantime I was thinking about how ugly the recored radiator would look against its support bracket so I took it off. At first I thought it was riveted to the chassis, but I found the 15/16" nut and lock washer securing it to the bottom. The impact wrench made short work of it.The bottom of the support bracket with its integral bolt. Note the rectangle of... something that acted as a spacer of sorts between the bottom edge of the bracket and the chassis.I'm not sure what exactly it's made of; I gently pried it off the bolt and separated one of the six or possibly seven layers that make it up. I can't tell whether it's like gasket cork, leather, some kind of impregnated cardboard, or what. I first thought they might be rubber but they're brown and vaguely fibrous inside. Not really sure what to replace it with; none of my parts catalogs or the shop manual make any reference to it that I can find.Does anybody here even know what this stuff/thing is called? I could put it back on the bracket when it's repainted but obviously I'd rather replace it with something a little fresher. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted September 4, 2011 Share Posted September 4, 2011 That would be classified as a body mount. Bob' Automobilia lists a few Search - body mount . You can also find them from Steele and Metro rubber or make your own from a section of truck tire sidewall or cut pieces out of an old radiator hose and stack.Willie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 Personally I prefer quarry conveyor belt material. Nothing tougher..........Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Phillips Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 That body mount takes some of the road shocks off of the radiator, is my guess. Okay, I took a photo of my '58 Rambler Ambassador 4-dr. hardtop wagon today. Forgive me for hijacking this thread! I hope you guys will let me back after this. Either 196 or 186 (can't recall which) of these were made and it is one of two known in existence today. That's the original paint.Pete Phillips Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron65 Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 Pete, that is so cool...for some reason I'm a sucker for that vintage of Rambler wagon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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