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Old Aug 1, 2005 | 02:42 PM
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Default Radiator recore

My radiator on my '69 SB, No air, manual is shot. I was going to replace, but the price tag is a little troubling. i have taken it to a repair shop that is going to recore it, reweld some previosly performed tank repairs, sand blast and repaint the radiator for $275. Is this too much???

Anyone who has had a recore done, I would love to know what you paid.
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Old Aug 1, 2005 | 02:50 PM
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St. Jude Donor '11, '16-'17
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Just bought a radiator for a '77. $329
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Old Aug 1, 2005 | 02:57 PM
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Originally Posted by The_Dude
Just bought a radiator for a '77. $329
an aftermarket replacement would be 399, a Dewitt repro would be over 700. Their direct fit is 500.

I'm figuring with the rebuild I can save a few bucks and keep my original tanks.

Is the rebuild a bad option???
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Old Aug 1, 2005 | 03:10 PM
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Carefully put the original in your attic for posterity and get one from DeWitts. Should last you another 35 years.
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Old Aug 1, 2005 | 03:38 PM
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Originally Posted by theesir
Is the rebuild a bad option???
Not at all. As long as the tanks are in good shape a recored radiator should be as good as a new stock radiator.
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Old Aug 1, 2005 | 04:25 PM
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Obviously I just don't go around pricing stuff for Corvette years that aren't my own, but A-zone, oreilly's etc have a stock replacement for my 76 for $272 - free shipping to the store. So to me, $270 on a rebuild of original is not worth it unless your going for the gold.
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Old Aug 1, 2005 | 06:33 PM
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Usually the A-zone, etc stores will carry an aluminum/plastic
replacement. For me, the re-cored original is the best bet.
I've never had an AL/plastic replacement last much more than
a few years.

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Old Aug 1, 2005 | 06:53 PM
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Default Rockauto has em...

Copper Core
Brass Tank
Crossflow
4 Row

279.00 and 332.00
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Old Aug 1, 2005 | 09:05 PM
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I had my 76 radiator recored/cleaned and painted for $50.00 at Steve's Radiator in Yorktown, VA. Didn't need any welding, just repair of the fins that were crushed.
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Old Aug 1, 2005 | 09:20 PM
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I had my radiator recored about a year ago. It cost me somewhere around 250.
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Old Aug 1, 2005 | 10:14 PM
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Default new replacement

Originally Posted by fl_rider
Copper Core
Brass Tank
Crossflow
4 Row

279.00 and 332.00
While I can't exactly verify these dollar figures, they sound like what I found when I had to choose between repairing and/or replacing my original aluminum (I couldn't stop the leaks) vs. a new copper/brass unit. Glad I did the latter, and I've saved the Al++ unit for the next owner along with the old radio & the old clock etc.

My new replacement stuff is very reliable!
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Old Aug 1, 2005 | 10:33 PM
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I had my radiator rebuilt during my restoration, I don't remember the cost but it looked new and worked perfect. So I guess it really doesn't matter re-core or after market. I just like original, so my choice was easy. Good luck no matter what you choose.
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Old Aug 2, 2005 | 12:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Buzzardz_vette
I had my 76 radiator recored/cleaned and painted for $50.00 at Steve's Radiator in Yorktown, VA. Didn't need any welding, just repair of the fins that were crushed.
For $50, it didn't get recored. Yours was "rodded out", which means they cleaned it. Recoring means removing the tanks, and soldering in a new core (the part with the fins).
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Old Aug 2, 2005 | 12:09 PM
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I had my old radiator rodded for around $50.00. It lasted a few more years before developing a leak. Because I'm cheap, I ended up purchasing a new radiator off ebay for about $140.00. This radiator has 4 rows instead of 3 like my old one. Had it for 2 years with no problems to day.
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