Cheapest Place to buy a new Radiator? Input appreciated

[darkone]

hey all, wondering if anyone knows where i can get me the best deal on a new radiator. i took mine to a shop the other day and they said it failed the pressure test (needing re-cored) Guess i gotta find me a new one, since im probably not willing to trust a used one at this point, but where does a guy get one for cheap? any input appreciated. thanks!

[Lemield]

I bought mine for my big block C20 at O'Rileys for a little over 200 bucks if I remember correctly....then I got 60 bucks for the old one at the metal recycler....

[flashed]

I bought my small block radiator at O'reileys for around $175 I think about a year ago.

[cdowns]

maybe if you listed a location?

they sell them downtown by me cheap

[darkone]

spokane, wa

[ges55]

You could try www.radiators4less.com
I got one there & it works fine.

[eagleuh1]

I have an Autozone 4 core metal, no plastic radiator in mine for a year now. About $200. The upper and lower c channels were wider on new one, so my shroud sat closer to engine, but worked. It was stock type rad. with tranny cooler in it.

[MagmaJct]

http://www.hawkesradiator.com/
1-800-498-4710

The phone number is to their supplier, I believe. I've called when Hawkes was closed and I got some national distributor. They can connect you to a retailer in your area. If you check out their web site, they have a "smart" chat where you can ask questions and their "computer" will find what you are looking for and a price.

It's creepy because I've "chatted" with the computer not realizing it was a computer, but "their" English was "off". I eventually asked "it" if "it" was a computer and it exclaimed: "Yes! I am a computer!". Odd.

But it was helpful. Check it out!

I've bought two radiators from them over the last few years.

[CG]

I got a really good deal on a couple of new radiators from board member 67 cst swb. It was a really good price (which I cant remember) shipped right to my house. One of em is in Longhorn Mans burb and the other is leaning against a wall in my shop hoping to someday be put to use in my panel. You might shoot him a PM, no idea if he can do the good deals any more though.

[arlen]

$151.73 for a 2 core all aluminum from vistaautoparts.com if you use the lookup on the left of the page it won't give you a radiator option for our trucks, you have to select from the featured parts in the center of the page, then you can narrow it down to your specific vehicle. I'm not far enough along in my build to need one for my truck yet. I did buy one for my 89 Subaru daily driver, was $45 including delivery, all brass. Came Fedex, took 2 days from CA to WA. Fit perfect, works great, made in China. I would definitely buy from them again.

[darkone]

Originally Posted by arlen

$151.73 for a 2 core all aluminum from vistaautoparts.com if you use the lookup on the left of the page it won't give you a radiator option for our trucks, you have to select from the featured parts in the center of the page, then you can narrow it down to your specific vehicle. I'm not far enough along in my build to need one for my truck yet. I did buy one for my 89 Subaru daily driver, was $45 including delivery, all brass. Came Fedex, took 2 days from CA to WA. Fit perfect, works great, made in China. I would definitely buy from them again.

i got the one from vista, it looks pretty ****ty, and it doesnt fit, what a headache, now i have to return it.....

[El Campo]

I got a 2 core from Champion Cooling Systems on eBay for around 150 bucks. All 100% welded aluminum (including tanks), comes with cap. Welds actually look good on it. Have had for a year now and doesn't leak a drop, keeps I6 almost too cold. Perfect fit. Would definitely buy again!!! Oh yea and has warranty too including guaranteed fit.
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[danleaman]

Went the Auto Zone route on my c-20. Radiator did not come with heater hose nipple so I had to install fittings in the water pump. About four months after the install it started to leak at the tank seams. Auto Zone replaced it on warranty as they do with about 90% of their stuff. So far so good.

[slikside]

Originally Posted by danleaman

Went the Auto Zone route on my c-20. Radiator did not come with heater hose nipple so I had to install fittings in the water pump. About four months after the install it started to leak at the tank seams. Auto Zone replaced it on warranty as they do with about 90% of their stuff. So far so good.

About 3 months ago when I was looking around, I priced AutoZone and they were definitely priced to sell. It was a 4 core, brass and copper (so they said) for about $180 (not including tax) IIRC. The thing was, they didn't have one in stock so I couldn't look at it, or touch it. Special order only, and once you do that, you pretty much own it. Oh, I think it was a lifetime warranty too.

Bottom line for me was, sounded to good to be true, so I thought it was. Didn't order it. Went with a recore from the local family radiator shop down the road; been there for decades. It wasn't cheap, but I was confident in the product.

Lifetime warranty on a radiator? For these trucks? I think they will loose their backside on that deal. People keep these trucks for a veeeery long time, and radiators don't last forever no matter how much you take care of them. I'm betting the AZ version certainly will NOT last as long as an original.

Not banging on you for buying it, mind you. That warranty stuff will be their problem, not yours, so long as they honor it. Not counting the work involved, of course.

[danleaman]

No offense taken, if I had had the money I would have gone the same route as you but around here a 4 core from a radiator shop will set you back about 300 (new). I still have the last one I bought a few years ago for that price and am going to have it repaired and keep it as a spare.
I've had the truck for over 15 years and it's been my DD all that time. I am way ahead of the curve with Auto Zone!

[eagleuh1]

I bought mine from AutoZone. Was a 4 core SpectrePremium. Made in Canada. It was a good quality radiator. So far in about 1 year and no problems. Also about $200 in Pheonix. Mine started leaking and they had one in stock. Almost perfect fit. Exactly like original except the top and bottom C-channels on the core were full width of the core. Made me modify my aluminum shroud to fit. Don't know how would affect stock shroud. I wouldn't buy their aluminum and plastic end box one though. Thought they had thin plastic.

[1969stepside]

Originally Posted by slikside

About 3 months ago when I was looking around, I priced AutoZone and they were definitely priced to sell. It was a 4 core, brass and copper (so they said) for about $180 (not including tax) IIRC. The thing was, they didn't have one in stock so I couldn't look at it, or touch it. Special order only, and once you do that, you pretty much own it. Oh, I think it was a lifetime warranty too.

Bottom line for me was, sounded to good to be true, so I thought it was. Didn't order it. Went with a recore from the local family radiator shop down the road; been there for decades. It wasn't cheap, but I was confident in the product.

Lifetime warranty on a radiator? For these trucks? I think they will loose their backside on that deal. People keep these trucks for a veeeery long time, and radiators don't last forever no matter how much you take care of them. I'm betting the AZ version certainly will NOT last as long as an original.

Not banging on you for buying it, mind you. That warranty stuff will be their problem, not yours, so long as they honor it. Not counting the work involved, of course.

well i work at autozone and our rads for our truck are just as he said brass and copper the reason there is a lifetime warr is because people forget abiut the warranty and buy them twice we sell good quality rads because i have three on in my 69 my 72 and my s-10

[Bennett68C10]

Originally Posted by El Campo

I got a 2 core from Champion Cooling Systems on eBay for around 150 bucks. All 100% welded aluminum (including tanks), comes with cap. Welds actually look good on it. Have had for a year now and doesn't leak a drop, keeps I6 almost too cold. Perfect fit. Would definitely buy again!!! Oh yea and has warranty too including guaranteed fit.
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I just purchased a 3 row champion off eBay with dual electric fans for 290.00. Will post a pic when it comes in.
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[48richard]

I bought the 4-Row from Autozone earlier this year - less than $150 out the door in Phoenix, and although they didn't have it in stock, it was delivered from their warehouse the same day. Same as Danleaman, I had to move the heater hose to the water pump because there was no nipple. Other than that, no problems. The stock shroud bolted right up.

[oldgold70c10]

Go to Oreilly's and get an aluminum radiator for a full size 1977 Chevrolet Car (will be an Impala or Caprice) with a 350 V8. Part # TPR 433161 Fits perfectly. Total cost $99.99 when I got it 4 years ago and 42,000 miles later still no problems.

[CEE1NG_RED]

Originally Posted by oldgold70c10

Go to Oreilly's and get an aluminum radiator for a full size 1977 Chevrolet Car (will be an Impala or Caprice) with a 350 V8. Part # TPR 433161 Fits perfectly. Total cost $99.99 when I got it 4 years ago and 42,000 miles later still no problems.

...was this installed on your c10 and how many core (2,4)? The previous owner cut off the nipple from the radiators overflow tank so it leaks when it reaches a certain temp. SMH!!!~

[oldgold70c10]

Originally Posted by CEE1NG_RED

...was this installed on your c10 and how many core (2,4)? The previous owner cut off the nipple from the radiators overflow tank so it leaks when it reaches a certain temp. SMH!!!~

Yes, it is in my C10. It is supposed to be a replacement for a 3 core brass/copper, though it is only 2 cores thick. Still, I haven't had any overheating problems. Its been a good rad.

[kcfirstbuild]

So with this alum rad TPR 433161 - Are you able to use the original hoses ?

I'm looking into this also if I cant get a Rad shop to fix my original.

[GMCGrim]

I bought mine from O'reilly's main store on Rowan in Spokane for $180. and its a four core unit

[jschuder]

i got on this site to ask a question like this and found the post about getting a radiator for the 66 caprice instead.i took that advice and the radiator fit perfect and was only a hundred bucks. thanks.