Recore radiator for second time?
Thread Starter
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Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 74
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From: oregon
Recore radiator for second time?
Anyone had success having their original radiator re-cored a second time? My original rad from my '73 BB has had one re-core but now is starting to weep here and there. Still cooling fine but I'm afraid it may start to leak more. Thanks.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,105
Likes: 96
From: Sunrise FL
It can be re cored if the tanks are good, AND you can find a COMPETENT shop. There are higher efficiency cores available too.
BUT...recoring radiators is becoming a lost art. New cars rads have plastic tanks and are not fixable. New rads are imported clones and dealer cost around $100!!!
I would bite the bullet and get a new quality replacement.
BUT...recoring radiators is becoming a lost art. New cars rads have plastic tanks and are not fixable. New rads are imported clones and dealer cost around $100!!!
I would bite the bullet and get a new quality replacement.
Last edited by mikem350; Dec 17, 2015 at 11:40 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
I bought a new GM radiator for my '73 Convertible in 1991 from Chevrolet. By 1997 if you used an air hose to blow debris out of the fins, it would just blow the fins out of the radiator. It wasn't leaking, but with no fins, it wasn't going to do much cooling. I contacted Dewitts at that point to see about a new radiator. At that point Tom didn't offer a radiator to fit the '73, but he could sell me a new core. Since mine wasn't leaking and it actually looked great inside I decided to go that route.
I found a local radiator repair shop and took everything to them. They removed my tanks and installed them on the new core. More than 15 years later and it's still doing just fine.
I believe that Dewitts does offer a replacement for the '73 now. You might contact them and see what they have before you spend any more money on your radiator. I believe that they start their annual sale in early January when they generally offer 15% off purchases.
Good luck... GUSTO
I found a local radiator repair shop and took everything to them. They removed my tanks and installed them on the new core. More than 15 years later and it's still doing just fine.
I believe that Dewitts does offer a replacement for the '73 now. You might contact them and see what they have before you spend any more money on your radiator. I believe that they start their annual sale in early January when they generally offer 15% off purchases.
Good luck... GUSTO
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
It depends on where the radiator is now leaking/weeping. If it is within the core, a recore should work just fine. If the leaks are at the junction between the core and the [original] tanks/fittings, either the first recore was done poorly OR that joining area is getting too weak to seal at the normal operating pressure.
The shop where you are considering getting the recore done should be able to asses the part and tell you whether they would have good success recoring it again....or NOT.
The shop where you are considering getting the recore done should be able to asses the part and tell you whether they would have good success recoring it again....or NOT.
Former Vendor
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 5,593
Likes: 631
From: Brighton
I bought a new GM radiator for my '73 Convertible in 1991 from Chevrolet. By 1997 if you used an air hose to blow debris out of the fins, it would just blow the fins out of the radiator. It wasn't leaking, but with no fins, it wasn't going to do much cooling. I contacted Dewitts at that point to see about a new radiator. At that point Tom didn't offer a radiator to fit the '73, but he could sell me a new core. Since mine wasn't leaking and it actually looked great inside I decided to go that route.
I found a local radiator repair shop and took everything to them. They removed my tanks and installed them on the new core. More than 15 years later and it's still doing just fine.
I believe that Dewitts does offer a replacement for the '73 now. You might contact them and see what they have before you spend any more money on your radiator. I believe that they start their annual sale in early January when they generally offer 15% off purchases.
Good luck... GUSTO
I found a local radiator repair shop and took everything to them. They removed my tanks and installed them on the new core. More than 15 years later and it's still doing just fine.
I believe that Dewitts does offer a replacement for the '73 now. You might contact them and see what they have before you spend any more money on your radiator. I believe that they start their annual sale in early January when they generally offer 15% off purchases.
Good luck... GUSTO
Actually we have gotten out of the copper core business. With the difficulty in finding places to do the soldering and the cost associated with it you would be far better off just getting the new aluminum radiator and selecting the Black Ice coat option if you want it to look more original.
