What are my options for a replacement radiator?

[MaximRecoil]

The car is a 1969 318 automatic.

First, are there any radiators from a more modern vehicle that will fit? If so, that would make it a lot easier to find in a local junkyard.

Second, if getting one from a second generation Charger, does it matter what the options were on the car; i.e., engine size, transmission type, etc.?

[resq302]

Personally, I would find a radiator shop and just have yours recored!  Might cost about the same as as new rad but you know this one would fit and have the ports on the right side!

[Cooter]

There was a time when one could find and actually buy a good, used, radiator from a junkyard...This was around about 1974....



Today, it isn't worth it with all the companies maing aluminum radiators that are a direct fit...

[Kern Dog]

I'll go out on a limb and guess that you are not interested in a 100% factory correct radiator? If an aftermarket radiator is okay for you, consider checking with your local NAPA , Car Quest or Advance/Kragen/O'Riellys stores.

[twodko]

The radiator in our 69 was 40+ years clogged. We had it boiled and cored. Its like new again. 

[BananaDan]

I got a new one from Glen-Ray, www.hemiradiators.com, if you want a factory correct unit.

[Kern Dog]

Glen Ray seems to be the epitome of radiators, but for $ 1000 , they BETTER be.

[BananaDan]

Yes, expensive, but it is a perfect factory looking radiator.

[Charger-Bodie]

Yes, expensive, but it is a perfect factory looking radiator.

I agree! Mine is from Bob too. His radiators are better than originals. 1000.00 is alot,but you can spend not much less than that on a recored one if you need to find one and rebuild it. If you have one already recoring is a viable option.

[MaximRecoil]

How many different styles of radiators came in 1969 Dodge Chargers? Will the radiator from any '69 (or '68 or '70) Charger fit and work in any other '69 (or '68 or '70) Charger?

Is the Spectra Premium CU512 radiator any good and will it fit/work?

Any specific aluminum ones that would work (preferably cheap, i.e. $200 or less)?

[Kern Dog]

I have a Griffin in the Charger. It came without mounts and without a trans cooler. I paid $200 for it in 2003. I had a radiator shop weld on tabs to mount it:  $85. The trans cooler was $35. I still haven't made a shroud for it yet. It has never overheated with the 493.

[MaximRecoil]

I ended up using the radiator out of a junkyard 1985 Dodge Ramcharger (318 automatic, same as my Charger; I've gotten several parts from it so far). The length and height were the same as my original radiator, but it was a little thinner. The radiator hoses were in the same locations (upper hose on driver side and lower hose on passenger side). Two of the radiator's bracket holes lined up with original mounting holes in the car's radiator core support, and I drilled two new holes in the radiator's bracket to line up with the other two original mounting holes (so I didn't have to drill into or otherwise modify the car's radiator core support at all).

My original radiator was designed so that the transmission cooler lines attached directly to it with flare nuts, but this Ramcharger radiator is designed to accept 5/16" transmission rubber hose. That's not a big deal, since I'm going to be making new transmission cooler lines anyway (all the metal lines on the car should be replaced).

I'm going to hold onto the original radiator. I might get it recored some day.