Harrison Radiator Applications & Identification for A-Bodies

Ok, can someone summarize in a chart what has been determined from these 6 pages of posts My brain hurts....

I can't even attempt to explain why the build sheet for my 68 GS400 convertible shows the code for a radiator only used on 6 cyl engines..

 

...started working on just such a chart for '70-'71 in 2019, unable to continue when couldn't find data to support some assumptions. Back at it now, more and better participation /data (thanks everyone). Years will expand to '68-'72, and I hope to include tank data for those who may want to recore correct tanks into "original" radiators. I still need some tag info, supporting assembly manual data, and have questions about years I'm not familiar with, which I will ask for as needed.

...based on chart you provided, your GS got an SB radiator because it was a 400/auto/no air. SB was 2-row with IA and CF tanks, used in GS 350/auto/no air up thru '71. With 400 cubes , I would think maybe a 3-row SE, but I wasn't a Buick cooling engineer in '68...

 

My build sheet says SE, it must be a typo? Should be an SB like you mention. It now has a 3 core with IA and CF tanks (can CF tanks be converted to 3 core?)

My GS was built the 3rd week of April so this chart should be valid for its build date.

 

To add what Duane said, the 72 passenger side tank is different as the trans line fittings are in different locations.

 

I am beginning to think that figuring this out is going to be impossible I just found a build sheet for a 68 GS 350, auto, no AC and the radiator code is SK. The car was built in May of 68 so it should be in the chart I posted. SK is not even an option for a 68 radiator code According to the chart it should have an SB?

 

When I said we figured it out I guess I meant the '70-71's. As @Duane said, the GMAD plants made substitutions at will although you'd think the build sheet would be correct and a substitution made on the line. What's the latest Rev. Date on your '68 page? Is "SK" in the '69 chart?

 

Maybe your car originally had an L6. Surely mistakes happened on build sheets & in production. I'm guessing someone was manually keying all this info in to create the build sheet. Hopefully in your car's case someone on the line caught it but also surely there were also cars that rolled off the line with the wrong parts initially. Maybe yours did and had chronic overheating issues when new.

 

I do not have a 69 manual unfortunately.

I have two build sheets (different GS400's from Wilmington) that have the SE radiator called out on the build sheets so typos must have happened quite a bit. My car was built 2 weeks after the revision date of the assembly manual I have so it should match that info.
The SK radiator call out on the GS350 was off of a Flint PBOF sheet,
The 68 Skylark with auto, 350 build sheet, from Wilmington, shows the correct SB code
Another build sheet for a 68 GS400, 4 sp, Wilmington shows the correct code of SF.

I give up trying to figure out the '68's. I wish I would have checked the tank codes on the radiator that was in my car (may or may not have been original) before I had it converted to a 3 core.

 

...two possibilities, typo or substitution (to verify this, would have to research rad codes to see if SK exists, I doubt it, but...).

As for the SE/SB documentation/build inconsistency, I suspect that as Duane pointed out, revisions were in manual first and rolled out over time. That's why I need latest AM, to see revision record to tell not only when a particular code was introduced, but what it superceded. At this point, I'm guessing SB "replaced" SE for some builds and your car was built during transition.

As f

 

The dates on the Assembly Manual pages are when they were drawn, which is not necessarily when the changes took place at the assembly plants.

Through looking at many other parts changes, I have been able to see that most of the times the changes at the Flint Plant did not happen too much later.
However, it seems like those changes took longer to be assimilated into the other plants.

I guess this makes sense, as Buick ran the Flint plant.
Duane

 

...just to update, I'm making good progress toward a comprehensive '68-'72 chart built on what I had begun in 2019. In addition to accuracy, I want to have tank codes for those who may want to verify or make "correct" radiators from parts. I have all '68-'71 tank/core codes except for radiator codes SE (used '69-'71), and SU (used '68-'69). '72 radiator codes are different (CA, CE, CF, CL, and CR). I don't have any of these. Any of aforementioned radiators/tags/pics you may have access to will go a long way toward making a complete chart. With a pause for anniversary, holidays, and birthday, I hope to have something presentable by end of January...

 

When I get a chance I will see about posting the various 68-72 assembly manual pages here, and will ID them regarding dates they were used.
Duane

 

I have a couple of the '72 model CF radiators so I'll get those tank codes for you. Thanks for working to put together a comprehensive list.

 

Thank you!

 

To clarify, Turbotimmer's GSX is a Stage 1, TH400, no-A/C.

 

...OK, holidays are over, time to resurrect this thread. To make a complete and accurate chart for '68-'72, I need a couple page scans from Assembly Manuals for 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1972, specifically "Radiator and Fan Shroud" page in Section 11-4 and "Heating and Cooling Options " page in Section 0-12. We determined earlier in this thread that Mike Trommeter has latest Assy Manual version for 1968 and 1972, and Duane has latest version for 1969 and 1970. If you two have time to scan those pages and either post here or send me, that would be a big help.

To make this doc more useful for radiator rebuilding, I need tank codes for following radiator codes; SE, SU, CA, CE, CF, CL, and CR. Anyone?
Finally, can anyone verify if code CL radiator has a trans cooler, and is code CR a 2-core...

 

Brett - that is a letter C. The black paint speckles makes it look different but that is a March date code.