Scrap Buick Copper Radiators?

Discussion in 'The Big Chill' started by BQUICK, Jul 3, 2018.

  1. Brett Slater

    Brett Slater Super Moderator Staff Member

    Is there a code breakdown for the big block/Stage 1 cars?
     
  2. copperheadgs1

    copperheadgs1 copperheadgs1

    They are different for AC and non
     
  3. copperheadgs1

    copperheadgs1 copperheadgs1

    IA code tanks are the most common. They appear on most.
     
  4. Brett Slater

    Brett Slater Super Moderator Staff Member

  5. Duane

    Duane Member

    "Is there a code breakdown for the big block/Stage 1 cars?"

    Brett,
    It takes a while to figure out the correct rad for a particular car. It depends on the options, year, and sometimes when it was built. There is at least one of the 70-72 years where the "Radiator Code Sheet" was changed in mid production. You need to figure out if it's a Stage 1, or a GSX, and then look at the sheets.

    Even then you can still get the wrong answer. The codes for the 71 GSX's do not match up with what was installed in the cars, at least not for the small block cars. I had the original rad (correct radiator with the tag, hose clamp, date code, etc.) in my old 71 350 X, and bought the car from the original owner who swore that it had never been changed, and it did not match the sheets. (The car still had the original hoses on it when I got it.)

    Then you get the issue where they may have been short on a certain rad and installed a substitution...often a larger one.....or where different plants stocked different rads.

    Or maybe the car was ordered with heavy duty cooling. In that instance a 350 non-AC car would have come with the largest radiator available, which would make it appear that it had an incorrect rad, and one that should have come with a Stage 1 or GSX with AC.

    There are simply too many variables to do what you are asking.
    Duane
     
    Last edited: Jul 18, 2018
  6. Brett Slater

    Brett Slater Super Moderator Staff Member

    Thanks for the explanation.

    I'm surmising that there's a good chance the Harrison in my car could very well be the born with, 3 row radiator.
     
  7. Duane

    Duane Member

    If the date code on the rad matches your car then it probably is.
    Duane
     
  8. Brett Slater

    Brett Slater Super Moderator Staff Member

    Perhaps I missed that but where is that located?
     
  9. Duane

    Duane Member

    Brett,
    If you look at the pictures that James Weinman posted earlier on this thread you will see a small raised letter code between the 2 code letters "CF" for the tank. In his post it is an "A", which means it was built in January. I have a breakdown in my book listing the codes for every month.
    Duane
     
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  10. Brett Slater

    Brett Slater Super Moderator Staff Member

    I'll have to look at both the tank and the book when I get home.
     
  11. copperheadgs1

    copperheadgs1 copperheadgs1

    Brett remember if you can’t find it probably no one else will either.
     
    Brett Slater likes this.
  12. Brett Slater

    Brett Slater Super Moderator Staff Member

    Good point! Haha
     
  13. Brett Slater

    Brett Slater Super Moderator Staff Member

    Looks like an April code - which would be either too early or late for my car - but to quote my radiator guy when I had it tested last year: "It's not the best radiator but it doesn't leak."

    20180720_082728.jpg
     
  14. BQUICK

    BQUICK Gold Level Contributor

    One is. OI

    Anything desirable?
     
  15. 70 gsconvt

    70 gsconvt Silver Level contributor

    I paid over $350 to have my radiator redone in copper. Everyone just wanted to sell me an aluminum one for $125. Keep those tanks.
     
    Brett Slater likes this.
  16. BQUICK

    BQUICK Gold Level Contributor

    Well they're gone....got $90 for seven radiators. I know one of them was the original for my 70 x Stage 1
     
  17. Brett Slater

    Brett Slater Super Moderator Staff Member

    That's unfortunate.

    Too bad you didn't list all the tank codes on here. I'm definitely sure someone could've used one.
     
  18. nekkidhillbilly

    nekkidhillbilly jeffreyrigged youtube channel owner

    how do you cut the tanks? i have 3 or 4 350 radiators laying around.
     

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