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My car came with lots of pieces and parts. This radiator was one of them.
All searches on line show this Harrison Radiator as a 3019190 as a 1969 to 1972 big block. The other number is 76K
Does anyone know if this means it is from 1976?? or does the 7 represent 1967? Are the brass plugs indicative of an automatic radiator?
Just deciding whether to recore this thing for $300 to help with my overheating issue or new Dewitts aluminium for 500
Thanks, Pete
Hi,
The info I have indicates the 3019190 was used for big block engines with automatic transmissions during 70-72 (maybe longer?) production.
I believe it became the service replacement radiator and thus has the date as MW indicated in his post.
Regards,
Alan
69 big block rads had a removable metal identification tag that snapped onto the edge of the tank about a 1/4 inch to the left and in the same relative position as the tag in your pic. I still have my 69 tag but my original rad was not in very good shape. I replaced it with a Dewitt's and am glad of that decision. It runs cool, is of very high caliber workmanship, fits like the original and when ordered in black looks pretty close to the original.
Below is a pic of my 69 tag. It's spring steel and just clamps over the rad tank edge just to the left of the tag in your pic.
Last edited by CanadaGrant; Nov 4, 2016 at 12:14 AM.
Hi CG,
Good photo!
It looks to be in NICE condition.
Because so many were lost or destroyed it's very nice to have the one you have!
I believe the 2 letters were a "broadcast code".
It's intent was to help the people doing the assembly grab the proper part for the car they were working on. It was much quicker to id the code than looking for a part number only.
There were a few other parts with broadcast codes too…. engines and master cylinders to cite a couple.
Regards,
Alan
Thank you so much Alan and CanadaGrant,
You guys always come through with great info. Now I understand the MJ reference in other posts. I guess that makes this one not worth a recore.
Dewitt's it is.
Thanks again, Pete
Since your going new, it's a good time to refurb your support and order new rad seals. I found it easiest to assemble the whole unit, rad/support/shroud outside the car and just drop it in and the whole thing will look and perform brand new. When you lower it back in, there is a swaybar bolt on the pass side that is quite close to the rad. Stick a piece of 1/4 inch vacuum or fuel hose over the end of it before lowering the unit. With the stock fan and new fan clutch, refurbed rad/support/shroud with new seals mine will run at 180 degrees with a 180 stat in 100 degree weather unless you leave it sitting idling for a long time. With a 160 stat, it will run 160. The seals really do work but those rads are nice and look stock unless you really know what you are looking for.
Last edited by CanadaGrant; Nov 3, 2016 at 11:53 PM.
Hi CG,
Good photo!
It looks to be in NICE condition.
Because so many were lost or destroyed it's very nice to have the one you have!
I believe the 2 letters were a "broadcast code".
It's intent was to help the people doing the assembly grab the proper part for the car they were working on. It was much quicker to id the code than looking for a part number only.
There were a few other parts with broadcast codes too…. engines and master cylinders to cite a couple.
Regards,
Alan
Thanks Alan. I could never figure out the reasoning behind their codes. The engine is the L36 option but is labeled LM on the stamp pad and sticker on the right valve cover and the rad that matches it is an MJ. Kind of makes you wonder why they didn't use one code for the same basic setup to keep everything straight...
Last edited by CanadaGrant; Nov 4, 2016 at 12:44 AM.
Hi CG,
The broadcast codes seem a bit confusing to me too.
But when I think about what Chevrolet was doing building so many variations of engines at the same time it's amazing the engine got to the right plant at the right time to end up in the right car at all.
John Hinkley has written that the Flint plant (which was the source of the sb engines for Corvettes) was assembling 5000 engines a day in as many as 100 different configurations!!!! The codes must of helped somewhat.
Regards,
Alan
1969 Radiator date
