Radiator Recore / Replacement?

Conrad Rossi

Conrad Rossi

Senior Member
Hello,

My old radiator was deemed "crunchy" by the shop and consequently not repairable. The owner suggested to recore it using a four-core and a VTC fan type (same as the Chevy's from the '60s I understood).

What's your recommendation? To rebuild, replace with an Aluminum radiator? I like in Phoenix, Arizona were as you know is hot.

Your advise is greatly appreciate it. Thank you.
 
I've had several radiators (for our V8's & V-12) re-cored with great success (it's also hot & humid in Florida). I've also replaced two radiators with "new" (OEM style re-pops), one in our '51 F-1 and one in our '53 F-100. So far, they've all worked well. This is my long winded way of suggesting that you have the original re-cored as original.
 
I have a `51 F1 that had a six cylinder engine. I pulled it and put a flathead V-8 in it. I had the radiator re-cored and made a four port to accommodate the V-8. The shop owner told me mine was like yours, maybe he used the word `crystallized'. I picture that as being brittle. They re-cored it as original, but this blew my mind; he said for an extra $10 he would put in an extra row of core. Naturally I took him up on it.
 
Thank you for your suggestions. Is there any special name for the core to be used (e.g. Honeycomb) to keep it with the original look, plus an extra core as suggested by Vic?
 
My 47 was recored by US Radiator, Vernon, Ca. and the 49 by Mattsons in Stanton, Ca. Both did excellent work, they used the stock upper and lower tanks, used modern cores, offset tubes. If you call them Mattsons will suggest an aluminum radiator, US Radiator will offer a few core styles as well. I live in Northern Cal and used these manufacturers. FWIW, Brizios uses Mattson.
Orginal look? Go with the latest core technology, and you'll be having fun on the road.
 
If an exact copy of the original is not needed, I suggest a Walker, copper-brass, radiator. After doing some experimenting with various recored versus a Walker I found there is no doubt the Walker can recover more quickly. However, I have not tried adding a row to a recore job.
 
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I had walker make me a new one for my 39 PU they are the best in my opion. Very good people to work with also.
 
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