Original Radiator

[SIKKI-6]

Hello, I am new to the forum and joined after buying an all original 71 C10 big block truck, ac, hugger orange/white. The ONLY rust the truck has is on the passenger side inner fender where it bolts to the core support. So my question is, I have been going thru it all and cleaning. The original Harrison radiator may not be worth cleaning per the radiator shop but the end tanks are perfect. Should I buy a new radiator or just replace the core and use the original tanks? What would be a descent price to pay for the shop using the original tanks?
Thanks

[70STOVEBOLT]

I can't answer your question, but welcome to the board!

[SIKKI-6]

Originally Posted by 70STOVEBOLT

I can't answer your question, but welcome to the board!

Thank you!

[davepl]

I'd get a price on having a new one built (recored) using your tanks vs just buying a replacement. Because these trucks are still actually used by people, service items like rads are still available, not just as "restoration" parts.

They're as low as $126 on RockAuto for my '70 big block. Hard to beat that, and it must be the big one because I spec'd 402 big block in the search.

[SIKKI-6]

Originally Posted by davepl

I'd get a price on having a new one built (recored) using your tanks vs just buying a replacement. Because these trucks are still actually used by people, service items like rads are still available, not just as "restoration" parts.

They're as low as $126 on RockAuto for my '70 big block. Hard to beat that, and it must be the big one because I spec'd 402 big block in the search.

I am waiting until Monday when the radiator shop will call me with a quote using m tanks and building me a recored. I had searched on rockauto and did see any but I will certainly look again. Thanks!!

[davepl]

Enter: "1971 chevrolet c10 pickup 6.6l 402cid v8 radiator"

Results:

VISTA-PRO 433369 $126
SPECTRA CU369 $175

[SIKKI-6]

Originally Posted by davepl

Enter: "1971 chevrolet c10 pickup 6.6l 402cid v8 radiator"

Results:

VISTA-PRO 433369 $126
SPECTRA CU369 $175

Got it, thanks!!

[wbc409]

I looked into this a couple months ago for my truck. I got a spectra from summit. I should have spent more money for a different radiator. The seem between the core and tanks was the wrong contour causing an issue with the factory hold downs and rubber cushions.
The rubber cushions are reproduced as restoration parts and have a shape and contour faithful to the originals.
Getting your original radiator recored will be more expensive, probably double what a cheap replacement will cost. But I think you will be much happier with the fit.

[SIKKI-6]

Originally Posted by wbc409

I looked into this a couple months ago for my truck. I got a spectra from summit. I should have spent more money for a different radiator. The seem between the core and tanks was the wrong contour causing an issue with the factory hold downs and rubber cushions.
The rubber cushions are reproduced as restoration parts and have a shape and contour faithful to the originals.
Getting your original radiator recored will be more expensive, probably double what a cheap replacement will cost. But I think you will be much happier with the fit.

You are correct, it will be more expensive doing a recore with the original tanks and being happy with the results versus spending on an aftermarket rad. I am just trying to stay with all the original parts as I can. If I was doing an LS swap then it wouldn't matter bc you always have to fabricate on certain things.

[wesmigletz]

I would go with a re-core. The replacement radiators are no longer copper/brass and don't look "right" to me.

[SIKKI-6]

Originally Posted by wesmigletz

I would go with a re-core. The replacement radiators are no longer copper/brass and don't look "right" to me.

I agree! I will be doing that even if I have to pay the price.
Thanks!

[wesmigletz]

Originally Posted by SIKKI-6

I agree! I will be doing that even if I have to pay the price.
Thanks!

I think you'll be happy with it doing it this way the first time.

I'm about to do this on my 67 Nova SS. It is a 327 car and came with a 4 core radiator. I'm going with a high efficiency core (more fins per inch than OE), but want the tanks and brackets to be original.

[Freddo]

I recently bought a 'Spectra' radiator from Rockauto. There was definitely some modifications needed to make it fit because of the way the tanks fit the core. It was thicker and didn't fit my 'holddown' braces. I had to take out the rubber brackets on the holddown braces and fashion homemade braces from pieces of a bicycle inner tube. The radiator sat about an inch higher which meant fashioning some hardware to move the shroud down that inch so that the fan didn't chop into it. These were mods I wasn't very happy to make but they weren't too difficult. The radiator shop quoted me $400 plus to do the recore of my original radiator which at triple the cost of the new one, seemed excessive. I don't see this ill fitting plastic & aluminum POS lasting anywhere near the 49 years that my original radiator lasted, but I have to say that it's keeping my truck cool.
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[roboticjunky]

I bought the Vista-Pro 433369 from Rockauto a month and an half ago. It's copper and brass (all metal) and 4 core 2 5/8" thick. If you don't have the 4 core brackets, you need them and had to cut the rubber bushings down. Also the bottom of my fan shroud had a lip that had to be cut.

Here's more info on that radiator. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/pli-433369

[In The Ten Ring]

Originally Posted by roboticjunky

I bought the Vista-Pro 433369 from Rockauto a month and an half ago. It's copper and brass (all metal) and 4 core 2 5/8" thick. If you don't have the 4 core brackets, you need them and had to cut the rubber bushings down. Also the bottom of my fan shroud had a lip that had to be cut.

Here's more info on that radiator. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/pli-433369

Would this radiator you have linked here (4 core) work with a 250 6 cylinder?

[roboticjunky]

Originally Posted by In The Ten Ring

Would this radiator you have linked here (4 core) work with a 250 6 cylinder?

If the 6 cylinder radiator is the same as a V8 radiator, then I would say yes. Honestly, don't know the difference with a I6 and a V8 radiator.

The radiator I posted has the curved inlet just like the stock radiator.

[In The Ten Ring]

I bought a replacement radiator from Advanced Auto but I haven't taken it out of the box! If it's plastic though, I'll try and get something else and the one linked above is pretty nice although the link says "not available."

[roboticjunky]

Originally Posted by In The Ten Ring

I bought a replacement radiator from Advanced Auto but I haven't taken it out of the box! If it's plastic though, I'll try and get something else and the one linked above is pretty nice although the link says "not available."

It's available at Rockauto (close out deal because they stopped making it). I just used the link to Summit Racing for a better description and it had a review of someone with a C10 from 2 years ago. I found another site that had that same radiator and had it listed for $400, but most websites don't have it (except Rockauto has it).

[In The Ten Ring]

Originally Posted by roboticjunky

It's available at Rockauto (close out deal because they stopped making it). I just used the link to Summit Racing for a better description and it had a review of someone with a C10 from 2 years ago. I found another site that had that same radiator and had it listed for $400, but most websites don't have it (except Rockauto has it).

I just ordered this radiator. I called Rock Auto but it was not worth my time as the operator had no idea what it was made out of. *I had forgotten that the copper brass info was located on the Summit Racing page.

[roboticjunky]

Originally Posted by In The Ten Ring

I just ordered this radiator. I called Rock Auto but it was not worth my time as the operator had no idea what it was made out of. *I had forgotten that the copper brass info was located on the Summit Racing page.

Ya, Rockauto sometimes doesn't give much info on the items they sell. That's why I try to check other websites for the same item.

I wouldn't have bought it if it wasn't all metal, 4 core, and had a thick core. If it was plastic, I would have gone for aluminum radiator made by Champion from Jegs or Amazon.

I went this Vista-Pro because it was a lot cheaper and was what I wanted.

[In The Ten Ring]

Stopped making it? I better call Rock Auto Monday then, thanks!

[roboticjunky]

Originally Posted by In The Ten Ring

Stopped making it? I better call Rock Auto Monday then, thanks!

I know. I suggested the radiator in another thread.

It keeps my motor cool. I use a 180 thermostat, new water pump, hoses, and radiator and the truck runs at 177 degrees.

[hdff]

Welcome to the forum! What part of Houston are you in? Maybe we can get together some time and talk trucks...

Also we love pictures, soooo

[toolboxchev]

I had my 4 row re-cored last summer and with the 100 degree heat today I was barely pushing 180 on the stock gauge.

There is a company out of Canada that make industrial forklift cores with thicker material and I paid about 450 bucks.

It was worth it in my mind.

[Already Gone]

Originally Posted by toolboxchev

I had my 4 row re-cored last summer and with the 100 degree heat today I was barely pushing 180 on the stock gauge.

There is a company out of Canada that make industrial forklift cores with thicker material and I paid about 450 bucks.

It was worth it in my mind.

Whats the name and address of the Canadian Company that does the cores?