Harrison Radiator Applications & Identification for A-Bodies

...currently this project covers '68-'72, but info still useful. Shows that driver side IA definitely '68-'72. I assume the IF was driver side...

 

Well that’s what you asked about, what was inside the parentheses.

As far as the drawing is concerned the revisions call out the changes;
therefore where the 2 changes for revision “E” are noted on the drawing “SW” replaced “SU”.

Also according to this drawing the Stage 1 info was added to this drawing in revision “D”, which was on 8-9-68.

Obviously they were working on the engineering aspects before the Stage 1 option was introduced.

The only problem with going backwards thru the revisions is you often can’t tell “where on the drawing” the revisions were noted/ changed. Sometime it is intuitive and sometimes it isn’t.

The other issue with this page is I have no other revisions for this page. All the copies I have from 69 assembly manuals all show rev “E” as the last revision, so it makes it harder to figure things out.

Also according to the drawing it shows that SU was still available at the time of rev “E”. It is still showing on 2 places on the drawing.

They only way to “possibly” tell when “SU” went out is to look at an early 70 assembly manual page. That might show you what happened to the radiators after the 69 rev E time period.
Duane

 

...yep, totally misunderstood that.

'70 page has revs to "M" (4/6/70) with nothing on SU. Preceding '69 cooling page (11-5.3) has revs to "L" (3/5/69) with no rad info. Conclusions: All '69 Stage1 got SW. Early GS w/I7 and no I6 g0t SU. '68 GS w/I7 and no I6 got SU. Looks like SU joins SK as a rare GS radiator. Speaking of SK, anyone know tank codes, and still need tank codes for SE, CL. and CR.

...do you have examples, I'm seeing SJ and SW for both.

Will someone with a '72 AM look thru Section 0-12 Availability Table second column (Sales Code) for codes I6, I7, and IG, and scan what you find. I need to understand how Buick was handling HD cooling, given they cancelled I3...

 

I just found what I’m pretty sure is the original radiator for my ‘68 GS400 convertible-non A/C car.
It’s an SE code; the car was built in Flint the fifth week of January.

Patrick

 

I received info on a 22k mile 68 GS400, non AC car with original radiator.
SE code with IA and CF tanks.
09B, Fremont car.

 

...great, thanks guys! Now only 3 codes away from absolutely knowing Buick used only IA driver side tank on their 13 '68-'72 radiators.

Still need copy of '72 Assy Manual page(s) Section 0-12 Availability Table for I6, I7, and IG in second column (labelled Sales Code), to clarify how Buick handled cooling upgrades after I3 cancelled. In prior years, relationship between I6, I7, I3, and IG was made clear in 0-12 descriptions for those Sales Codes. Hopefully also true for '72 I6, I7, and IG...

 

Hello, I am new to this site, but have been researching radiator codes as well.
I believe I can ad pertinent information to aid in your research.
The first thing I have found is that all 1968-72 and beyond 2 and 3 core radiators all use the same driver side tank.
The embossed stamp is IA or will be blank.
If it is a 4 core tank it will be IF or blank for the driver side.
The number on the bottom of the rad code tag actually references the transmission cooler inside the passenger side tank.
It is a Harrison internal number and has no meaning, either higher or lower in numeration. There are certain numbers that are constant with all divisions as far as the top transmission cooler.
An example would be the number 74. All the top radiators have this as there transmission cooler.
The CA embossed code on the passenger side tank is pretty much universal for radiators from 1968-1970
The CF embossed came about in 1971.
In 1972 AA and AC were predominate for the passenger side.
I have many radiators and tags to draw upon.
As such I have found that GM and or Harrison in their wisdom reuses the same tag codes not many years later from the initial release.
I have a SK radiator code radiator. The tag is IA driver side CF passenger side and the number 0 with the part number 3014621.
As far as the part number is concerned , the last check digit I have found has no bearing on date of manufacture.
Another piece of info I have found, until 1970 the radiator may or may not have only a year embossed on the passenger tank, 1971 and later is when a month was added.
What is interesting with the info I have read here about the SK radiator being a radiator for the GS either 1968 or 69 is that the CF passenger tank code would indicate it is a 1971 radiator.
Furthermore, the embossed date on the passenger tank is E 1 which would be May of 1971.
I would like to ad that the SK code radiator I have is for sale if anyone is interested .
Thanks.

 

The AF Passenger side tank code is a 1972 Oldsmobile 4 core tank, but may be used in other GM divisions.
The rad code tag for that tank with Oldsmobile is ZN.

 

...welcome aboard and thanks for the SK tag info, didn't expect to get that one, as Buick only used it in '69 with 350 engine/automatic. Do you have tags CL and/or CR in your collection. I need tank codes for these 2 to complete my '68 - '72 Buick GS radiator documentation for V8Buick members...

 

Thanks.
I will need to check on the CL tag but the CR tag is: IA for the driver side tank AC for the passenger and 138 is the transmission cooler code.
I will try to upload some photos.

 

SK Tag radiator

 

...where did you learn that the third row number(s) are trans cooler code? My understanding is that it's the radiator core code. For '68 - '71 Buick GS, the SF radiator used a CD passenger tank with no trans cooler. '72 used different pass tanks than '68 - '71, due to filler neck angle and trans cooler line spacing changes. At this point, I don't yet know which '72 rad had no trans cooler, or if Buick just used one with a plugged cooler...

 

...Buick GS '68 - '72 did not use a CA tank, but did use CA radiator code in '72, with IA and AA tanks, and 3 core. Buick used CF tank on '68 - '71 SB, SE, SK, SJ, and SS radiators. We're gettin' there Brett. I'm back from doing taxes, and just need a few more bits on '72s.

Can anyone tell me if '72 CR radiator was a 2-core, and did CL have a trans cooler? I also need someone with a '72 Assy Manual to look thru Section 0-12 Availability Table, second column (Sales Code), for codes I6, I7, and IG, and scan page(s) with that info. I need this to clear up ambiguity on HD and XHD cooling...

 

Here's results from one of my '72 Assy. manual versions. I have another version and can check that.

 

Nothing different in my other one (I didn't check rev. dates but can) but here's the ref. to I3 (HD Cooling) which appeared in both versions.

 

Most every radiator tag has a different numeric number. It is not feasible to have almost 200 different types of radiator core's, especially when they did not really differ from one another.
I have over 40 radiators from different GM divisions and have taken many apart.
There really is no variation in the size of the tubes or the amount of fins, say in a square inch from rad to rad.
The difference from one radiator to another I have found is the size and shape of the transmission cooler inside the passenger tank.
An example, the 1972 Oldsmobile Chassis manual stipulates the different types of transmission coolers.
Up until 1970 the distance between the trans cooler lines was wider than 1971 and beyond.
4 plate, prime surface, cylindrical are some of the different trans coolers that were used.
Its also why some radiators have a 4 core tank on the passenger side but not the driver side, to accommodate larger trans coolers.
To corroborate the trans cooler info, the number 74 is used in all the top rads across all divisions. Most rad code tags do not cross over.
The correlation between the vehicles that got the same number (74) is performance models with steep gears ratios from the factory. V01 is the code that got you this radiator.
Earlier radiators less likely had trans coolers inside, ergo no trans line fittings.
As time progressed rads more likely had the fittings and a cooler inside.
Divisions such as Olds would have a trans cooler inside for vehicles that were standard transmission.
Plugs were used, I presumed not to limit there use to just standard trans cars, It is easier to use plugs.
Other divisions may handle things differently.
Keep in mind that some rad tag codes were used across multiple division and some were unique to just one, and even specific to one type of vehicle.
I have yet to see a 1972 radiator that has not fittings for transmission cooler.
The CA embossed code on the passenger side is used extensively from 1968-70
Not to be confused with the CA rad tag code.
As I previous stated, the CF embossed tank was used on 1971, but not necessarily limited to just that tank code, same should be said for other years.
To help muddy up things more, the passenger side tank codes used in 1972 for instance AA and AC I have yet to see those codes in radiators pre 1972.
The photo of the SK rad tag I posted uses the CF passenger side tank. That tank code is consistent with 1971.
Furthermore, you can see the embossed date on the tank next to the tag, which shows E 1 which is May of 1971.
Given that info, it is safe to assume the radiator is a 1971 model.
The 1968 GS application appears to counter that info, unless it was offered in multiple years?
hope this helps.

 

It looks like you are correct in Buick not using the CA embossed code on the passenger side tank.
It is however used extensively by other divisions from 1968-70.