32 radiator

JOANNEM

JOANNEM

Senior Member
My fan blade hit my radiator and knocked a hole in one of the tubes. I got it repaired and had it checked to be sure there weren't any leaks. There are none. When I took it back to have it installed the mechanic thought it looked like crap!
He wants me to get a new one!
Can anyone look at these before & after photos and make a recommendation?
Can I get this radiator fixed so it looks like new?
Or do I need to get another radiator? I was told that this is an original 32 radiator and I am trying to keep my car original.
But I am no mechanic & I am frankly out of my league here!
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
thanks
 

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If you are worried about the repair, you could have a new core installed in your original radiator. Be prepared to spend $750-1000 for a new core.

Maybe this was already addressed, but what caused the car to hit the radiator? I would want to make sure that was addressed before spending anymore on a radiator.

Neal
 
I sell Walker radiators which are a good fit and have been virtually trouble free but if I wanted a very close duplicate to the stock radiator with stock filler and non pressurized I would contact Brassworks.
 
I am questioning why a real radiator shop would not rake out the fins (as Don mentioned) and paint it before returning it to you. Other than that , you can even get a fin rake at Harbor Freight (I know, I know). Paint it and for sure fix the fan problem first. Second option would have it re-cored by a better radiator shop. Or buy the Walker radiator sitting in my garage. But I think you should fix yours.
Just an opinion
 
It appears that the judicious use of needle nose pliers is in order along with a fin rake to straighten out the fins.
 
By looking at the "after" pic (as in after the radiator shop did the repair work), it's looks like the fins were straightened, tube repaired and painted. I've had 3 radiators with various damage repaired by a local shop and the results are comparable to yours. I don't have fine point show cars so I'm not concerned with them not being perfect. As long as it runs cool and doesn't leak I'd run it in a heartbeat.

If you don't I'm looking for a 32' V8 radiator and would gladly buy your old one.....
 
Thanks for all of the input.
I went to another radiator shop & he said he could sell me a new one or rebuild with a new core. He is going to give me prices on both options.
But he also said that the new radiators are thin type metal and he thought it would be better to rebuild what I have.
But I will have to wait to see what he comes up with.
 
As Neal said, find the cause first before putting your repaired or another radiator in there. Could be several things, Stay rods not connected, generator bearing failures etc.
 
I guess that makes it NW of Merle Haggard, too.

BTW... Anybody know of a REAL radiator shop, almost anywhere in southern or central calif ???
 
Bob, In southern California, Oxnard Radiator in guess where, Oxnard. Been around forever. Good ole school radiator shop. They have recored both my 40 and my 32. Perfect work, uses the best material, (there are different quality cores out there) and gets it done. Nice guy. Only place I would go for any radiator or heat exchanger work. 805-483-3447
My opinion
 
I just got my 32 banger radiator recored by Beco radiator in Concord CA. It is perfect. Stock filler and not pressurized. Its been there a long time and their work is perfection. It was $700.00. Jim
 
I would fix the problem of why the fan hit first. Then I would use your radiator, it doesn't look that bad.
 
Is your car a 100 point car? If not, just that that radiator. It has a story and fits like it should. And I also wonder what made the fan hit?
 
The fan hit the radiator because the cotter pin fell out or there wasn't one! :confused: So far I have taken the radiator to 1 parts house & 2 radiator shops. The parts house said to get it fixed even though they have one. So I took it & got the radiator fixed. Then I took it to another radiator shop and he also said that it would be best to use that radiator because they don't make them like that anymore.
So I am going to try to straighten out the fins & go ahead & use the radiator.
Thanks for all of your advice.
It is greatly appreciated.
 
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