Got the original radiator rebuilt

[bull]

It seems to be getting harder and harder to find places that can (or will) rebuild the old bucket header radiators commonly found on the '68 and older Mopars but I finally found a local guy who could fix my original 22" 4-speed unit. I'd say "restore" instead of "fix" but since he didn't actually take any dings out of the top tank... I was originally quoted $550 by a another reputible shop but they weren't sure they were up to the task and wanted to ship it off to who-knows-where to see if there was a core that could be attached to the top tank. I wasn't too thrilled about the idea of my radiator leaving town on a UPS truck so I called a local restoration shop who told me about a guy in the next town over who could do it. I generally avoided this place before because it's a nasty mess (and I have a thing about car shops that are nasty messes) but they said they could do it and they did. It wasn't cheap though I can tell you that much. They took it from the original two-row core out to a high capacity three-row and were still able to use my original sides and both tanks so that's good. The only thing different (other than the core being an inch thicker) is that the header looks a little different but once it's bolted in place no one will know unless they reach down and feel it. I didn't want to run an aftermarket aluminum because I prefer the stock look and I don't want to feel obligated to store a bunch of the original parts for the rest of eternity.

Here's a few before/after pics:

[rav440]

looks good  i have to get mine done  i dont need the extra row put in but its not in the best of shape either it took a had hit when the runner slid off of the floor jack  the tanks have about a 1/2" arch to them  but im going to see if the radiator guy can fix it .

[bull]

looks good  i have to get mine done  i dont need the extra row put in but its not in the best of shape either it took a had hit when the runner slid off of the floor jack  the tanks have about a 1/2" arch to them  but im going to see if the radiator guy can fix it .

I wouldn't hesistate to get a higher capacity core, especially if your core needs to be replaced anyway. It's better to have too much cooling capacity than not enough.

[firefighter3931]

Looks great Curtis !   

That should keep things nice and cool   



Ron

[bull]

Looks great Curtis !   

That should keep things nice and cool   



Ron

I hope. It's bound to do a much better job than the stock setup.

[tommymac]

I had the same thing done to my 68 2 row Rad.He got a 3 row core from a rad rebuilder place in Freeport Maine  I paid about 550 for the job,Best thing I ever did,New motor runs real cool,even in mid day sun,160-170 all day,I couldnt belive all the crap inside my old one,NO WONDER!!

[bull]

I had the same thing done to my 68 2 row Rad.He got a 3 row core from a rad rebuilder place in Freeport Maine  I paid about 550 for the job,Best thing I ever did,New motor runs real cool,even in mid day sun,160-170 all day,I couldnt belive all the crap inside my old one,NO WONDER!!

Mine was on the shelf, hasn't been in my car for years, but when I took it in there was a bunch of dog food inside the tanks that mice had apparently stored. They put it in my deck lid too. Now I feed them D-con.

[rav440]

looks good  i have to get mine done  i dont need the extra row put in but its not in the best of shape either it took a had hit when the runner slid off of the floor jack  the tanks have about a 1/2" arch to them  but im going to see if the radiator guy can fix it .

I wouldn't hesistate to get a higher capacity core, especially if your core needs to be replaced anyway. It's better to have too much cooling capacity than not enough.

mine is already a 3 core 

[Dans 68]

Hang onto those #2898043 radiators that originally came with the '68 383 4-speed cars. They are rare and getting rarer...I just paid $400 for one that was already re-cored, and I feel very fortunate.... Just don't ask my wife what she thinks about it. 

Dan

[bull]

Hang onto those #2898043 radiators that originally came with the '68 383 4-speed cars. They are rare and getting rarer...I just paid $400 for one that was already re-cored, and I feel very fortunate.... Just don't ask my wife what she thinks about it. 

Dan

Yea, I was lucky to get the original with my car and I knew they were both too rare to separate. I'd say $400 is a steal if it's already been recored. Is it a 2-row or 3-row now?

Here, check the price on this one. It will make you feel better:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1968-Dart-Barracuda-HEMI-383-Super-Stock-Radiator-033_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286Q2em20Q2el1116QQitemZ350025732922QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

[rav440]

Hang onto those #2898043 radiators that originally came with the '68 383 4-speed cars. They are rare and getting rarer...I just paid $400 for one that was already re-cored, and I feel very fortunate.... Just don't ask my wife what she thinks about it. 

Dan

Yea, I was lucky to get the original with my car and I knew they were both too rare to separate. I'd say $400 is a steal if it's already been recored. Is it a 2-row or 3-row now?

Here, check the price on this one. It will make you feel better:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1968-Dart-Barracuda-HEMI-383-Super-Stock-Radiator-033_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286Q2em20Q2el1116QQitemZ350025732922QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

you would think at that price he could throw the shipping in for free . 

[Belgium R/T -68]

Mine had a #045 in it, is that something to keep? I'm planning to put a 26" in it for my stroker.

[Ghoste]

It's a little more common but I'd still hang on to it.

[62 Max]

I have a friend that has a radiator shop,third generation.Quote from him last year," Any shop that charges more than $350 regardless of core choice and condition when you take it there is giving you the shaft".There are three shops within 30mi of me and they all are at that figure or less.My Max Wedge radiator 4 core $225,Superbird 056 also 4 core $260.Dart 340 22" 3 core $200.All cores match original configuration.All prices + 6% PA sales tax.Shop around. 



Of course,maybe you guys live in the wrong place!

[BROCK]

Finding a really good radiator shop can easily make it worth the extra money to get what
you want.  The good & reasonably priced shop I use replaces all parts over 20 years of
age; which actually keeps me away from him for my restoration work

[rav440]

I have a friend that has a radiator shop,third generation.Quote from him last year," Any shop that charges more than $350 regardless of core choice and condition when you take it there is giving you the shaft".There are three shops within 30mi of me and they all are at that figure or less.My Max Wedge radiator 4 core $225,Superbird 056 also 4 core $260.Dart 340 22" 3 core $200.All cores match original configuration.All prices + 6% PA sales tax.Shop around. 



Of course,maybe you guys live in the wrong place!

where in PA. do you live ? id like to take my rad there

[62 Max]

I have a friend that has a radiator shop,third generation.Quote from him last year," Any shop that charges more than $350 regardless of core choice and condition when you take it there is giving you the shaft".There are three shops within 30mi of me and they all are at that figure or less.My Max Wedge radiator 4 core $225,Superbird 056 also 4 core $260.Dart 340 22" 3 core $200.All cores match original configuration.All prices + 6% PA sales tax.Shop around. 



Of course,maybe you guys live in the wrong place!

where in PA. do you live ? id like to take my rad there

Check your messages.

[bull]

I have a friend that has a radiator shop,third generation.Quote from him last year," Any shop that charges more than $350 regardless of core choice and condition when you take it there is giving you the shaft".There are three shops within 30mi of me and they all are at that figure or less.My Max Wedge radiator 4 core $225,Superbird 056 also 4 core $260.Dart 340 22" 3 core $200.All cores match original configuration.All prices + 6% PA sales tax.Shop around. 



Of course,maybe you guys live in the wrong place!

That's pretty much what I heard too **UNTIL** it was discovered that the 68 and older radiators use what they call a "bucket header" type core. That's when the price went up by $200.

[Ghoste]

I don't remember any extra charge for anything like that when I got my 67 recored but here in Mayberry it could be that they don't find the older style any more difficult?

[bull]

Not that this is the truth, and not that the radiator guys' motives are pure as the wind-driven snow, but I was told by more than one of them that the bucket header cores are getting hard to come by. The only reason I believed them is because I asked more than one shop about it and discovered it to be a common theme so unless there is a conspiracy...

The only thing I did find as inconsistant is that one shop told me they couldn't even get a bucket-header core and the next one said they could and could rebuild my radiator for about $100 less than I was quoted by the first place (providing the first shop could find a core). So naturally, having gotten worried I wouldn't find a core, I told the 2nd shop to buy the core and buy it fast and rebuild my radiator.