C3 General General C3 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

74 Radiator Replacement Question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 15, 2011 | 05:31 PM
  #1  
KHoward's Avatar
KHoward
Thread Starter
1st Gear
 
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Default 74 Radiator Replacement Question

OK guys... I'm new to this, but I've got a 74 that's gonna take some work, so I could sure use any help you can give me. I need to replace the radiator. It seems like Dewitts Aluminum is the recommended part, but is significantly more expensive than other "direct fit" radiators like the ones offered by Champion Cooling Systems. The dealers swear they are direct fit, but the dimensions seem to vary in width and thickness. Does anyone have a suggestion or the dimensions that I should be looking for or a suggestion of a radiator they recently installed that won't cost me $500? Thanks for your help.
Reply
Old Aug 16, 2011 | 10:17 AM
  #2  
MelWff's Avatar
MelWff
Race Director
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,756
Likes: 2,589
Default

The brass radiators from Corvette vendors are under $400.
Reply
Old Aug 16, 2011 | 11:41 AM
  #3  
Easy Mike's Avatar
Easy Mike
Team Owner
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Default

Originally Posted by KHoward
...I need to replace the radiator...
Why? Have your original cleaned and recored.

Reply
Old Aug 16, 2011 | 11:43 AM
  #4  
Willcox Corvette's Avatar
0Willcox Corvette
Former Vendor
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Default

We have the brass radiator for you car in the forum sale section for 330.00.

http://willcoxcorvette.com/product_i...ducts_id=26836
Reply
Old Aug 16, 2011 | 12:12 PM
  #5  
builder's Avatar
builder
Burning Brakes
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,148
Likes: 5
From: South Dakota
Default

I had mine re-cored with extra fins at my local radiator shop. He claims it will have 20-30% better cooling than the original. $450

I also have a 1974 radiator out of a original 58K car. very straight. I pulled it last week and it was full of anti-freeze. When I tried to pull the plug off the bottom, the plug hole solder came loose instead of the plug. Could have it resoldered pretty easy. $150 + shipping. Or I'll have it fixed and want $250 + shipping.
Reply
Old Aug 16, 2011 | 10:07 PM
  #6  
427SIXPACK's Avatar
427SIXPACK
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime Gold
20 Year Member
Community Influencer
Shutterbug
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,831
Likes: 1,959
From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Default

Buy Dewitts & don't look back !!!!!
Reply
Old Aug 16, 2011 | 10:53 PM
  #7  
bluthundr's Avatar
bluthundr
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
Veteran: Air Force
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,223
Likes: 174
From: Fort Wayne IN
Default

Buy one from Advance or Autozone - lifetime warranty and the ability to just drive to a store and get a new one if you ever have an issue
Reply
Old Aug 16, 2011 | 11:01 PM
  #8  
Willcox Corvette's Avatar
0Willcox Corvette
Former Vendor
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Default

Originally Posted by bluthundr
Buy one from Advance or Autozone - lifetime warranty and the ability to just drive to a store and get a new one if you ever have an issue
Bluthundr.. The one from Advanced will have the wrong lower neck.. The original core has a rounded neck with a relief in it for the sway bar. The one from Advanced has an elbow on it that makes a 90 degree bend. This bend will put the neck in the sway bar.

It will not work in the car... GM and Delco both have the same issue. Even the supplier on the repro radiator made the same mistake about three months ago and they had to recall all of them.

Willcox
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-5

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Aug 16, 2011 | 11:46 PM
  #9  
68/70Vette's Avatar
68/70Vette
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,422
Likes: 792
From: Redondo Beach, California
Default

Originally Posted by 427SIXPACK
Buy Dewitts & don't look back !!!!!
Aluminum rules
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To 74 Radiator Replacement Question





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:18 AM.

story-0
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-1
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-2
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-6
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-8
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE