Compatible Radiators

[dirtyshoprags]

Not long ago while trying to bust some rusted nuts on the radiator core support on my 65 C20 I slipped and put a ratchet right through my radiator. It's alright though, because the radiator had been patched with JB Weld about two dozen times already so I knew I was ready for a new one.

Well, a new one from the parts house is about $215. To get the old one re-cored will run about $190. I haven't been able to find any used ones and I'm not really wanting to spend that much, so I went to the junk yard to see if I could find a close match. I found a couple mid 90s Dodge Dakotas and Isuzu Rodeos that look like they might fit. They look similar in width and the inlet/outlet are in the right spots. The support for the original radiator is fairly simple with just the two u-shaped brackets on the bottom, and the one bracket that bolts into the core support on the top, so fitting one of these new radiators in should not be too difficult. I may have to fabricate a simple bracket for the top or use the one that comes with the used radiator, but I'm totally OK with that.

My question is, does anyone have experience with compatible radiators? What have you used? What works? Should I just suck it up and buy a new one? Any input helps. Oh yeah, this is for a 230 inline 6 engine.