74 454 radiator

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Dec 16, 2015 | 04:53 PM

bballboy06

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Sep 2013

Posts: 254

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From: Charleston SC

74 454 radiator

Can anyone give some insight on a radiator for a 454? i have original but has holes and it rusted

i see prices all over the place ranging from aluminum ebay radiators around 200 to new old stock stock radiators for 450.

anything would be helpful

thanks

Dec 16, 2015 | 04:56 PM

MelWff

Race Director

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 18,703

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depends on what you intend to do with the car, does it have to stay original. If so have the current one recored at a radiator shop. If not look at a DeWitts aluminum radiator.

Dec 17, 2015 | 07:43 AM

Easy Mike

Team Owner

Joined: Jun 2000

Posts: 38,923

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From: Southbound

Cruise-In II Veteran

Quote:

Originally Posted by MelWff

...have the current one recored...

Dec 17, 2015 | 10:22 AM

rklessdriver

Safety Car

Joined: Apr 2005

Posts: 3,624

Likes: 431

From: Dale City VA

If you can't get your orginal re-cored.... As said DeWitts is the best.

ZIP has DeWitts direct fit alum radiators for $399. That price can't be beat for what your getting.

http://www.zip-corvette.com/68-82-c3...-radiator.html

I have one for my 72 454.
Will

Last edited by rklessdriver; Dec 17, 2015 at 10:23 AM.

Dec 17, 2015 | 04:03 PM

GUSTO14

Le Mans Master

Joined: Sep 2003

Posts: 8,812

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From: eastern NC

DeWitts is having their 2015 Annual Sale right now... couldn't come at a better time.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...nual-sale.html

Good luck... GUSTO

Dec 18, 2015 | 03:44 PM

bballboy06

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Sep 2013

Posts: 254

Likes: 0

From: Charleston SC

what if i could get a brand new old stock of the original radiator for about 450.

would that be worth it? or should i go aluminum?

thanks

Dec 18, 2015 | 05:06 PM

GUSTO14

Le Mans Master

Joined: Sep 2003

Posts: 8,812

Likes: 2,029

From: eastern NC

Quote:

Originally Posted by bballboy06

what if i could get a brand new old stock of the original radiator for about 450.

would that be worth it? or should i go aluminum?

thanks

My response would be, it depends... I bought a new GM radiator in 1991 for my 1973 convertible from a local Chevrolet dealer. Supposedly made in the USA. By 1997 every time I would blow debris out of the radiator with my air hose (carefully), I would lose some of the fins. They just seemed to be dissolving. The inside of the radiator looked like new and it was not leaking.

I started looking at Dewitt's radiators and would speak with Tom every year at Carlisle. They didn't then offer a replacement for my '73, but Tom said he could sell me a core and just have my tanks added to it if they were any good. I finally went ahead and bought a core and had my local radiator repair folks replace my core. It's been over 15 years now and doing just fine.

So for me, it depends on when the NOS was made (as well as how it was stored). If it was made any time around 1991 (?), I wouldn't touch it.

Good luck... GUSTO

Dec 19, 2015 | 09:29 AM

CFD E59

Racer

Joined: Nov 2008

Posts: 315

Likes: 46

From: Chicago Illinois

Dewitts

All I can say form my personal experience is Dewitts. I installed a aluminum from Dewitts and temps are no longer a problem, Great quality and a perfect fit. Good luck