Hi.. My stock radiator in my 65' Electra 401" AT, No AC is leaking somewhere.. I dropped it off at a local radiator shop, and will hear the verdict monday.. Which cars share radiator with mine, or are there replacement radiators that only require small mods to fit? Thanks..
I assume that yours is a 4 core Harrison. Your two letter tank codes are embossed in the copper on the back of each tank. If the tanks are good, we would typically reuse the tanks and order a new core. I would not count on buying another used unit because it may also have a core that is no longer good. You cannot tell if a core is good until it is boiled in a special solution and pressure tested.
The radiator shop had a tank, where he would pressure test it.. Just looked shortly when I carried in the radiator, and the "water" in his tank looked white'ish.. Did the nailhead's use the same radiator as other fullsize cars? When I browse around, other radiators have the oil cooler in the passenger side, where mine has in the driver side, and the inlets are off to..
The only cars to use the exact same radiator as yours are 1964 through 1966 Electras and Wildcats. Many others maybe close enough to work with changes such as changing/rerouting hoses or transmission cooler lines or fabricating or modifying mounting brackets. I agree with flynbuick, a used radiator is always a gamble. Re-core yours or get a new reproduction one.
Your radiator guy will measure your current core, have another core made to those dimensions and transplant your tanks onto your new core and internal trans cooler.
The key is to find a person experienced enough to not bend up you tanks during the transplant. We have some here and to be sure you have some old craftsmen in Europe. Look at some of there prior work.
According to the homepage, they started the business 1950.. I had a good feeling dropping it off.. They make sheetmetal parts and so on as well.. http://xn--svendborg-autokler-u4b.dk/?page_id=335 I measured my radiator, calculated from mm to inch, to 33,8" wide - 18,7" high - 3,15" wide I found this from Summit, which almost fits, and at $215 compared to $595 for a direct fit at another vendor.. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-381431 I'll just have to wait until he phones me and gives me some news.. Thanks for the inputs..
For piece of mind I would still have a detailed conversation and look at their work. We have a local shop that bears the same name as it did 50 years ago. It was bought several times during this period. My opinion is they do not do good work.
If you want a copper Harrison like the originals, you have to service a used unit. For the closest somewhat Harrison look alike in aluminum try Dewitts.it will cost $600-700. https://www.dewitts.com/collections/chevelle-radiators/products/aluminum-radiator-manual
Well, the radiator guy phoned med yesterday, and told me my radiator' is fine.. No leaks and overall good condition.. Must be my lower rad hose then.. It's coming from the driver side.. I checked it twice, run my finger on the underside, no water, as in none at all.. The hose is not original, it's one of those universal ones, but it has been on and fine for the 8 years I had the car.. Will change both the upper and lower hose.. Thanks for the wisdom..
