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I have Lola's radiator at a shop hoping it can get repaired. The core has several places that drip water. The 1st shop I took it to quoted me $800 to recore it. Does anyone have any info or suggestions on where to find a sub $800 repair? The tanks are great. It will be Monday before I hear something from the 2nd shop.
Ben, I had radiator recored at a shop in Spring Tx (just north of Houston) for $600.
Like yours, my tanks were good, but core was trash. If you would like I can look up name and address for you
Ben, I was able to find name of radiator shop faster than I thought. The Name is All Cure Radiator at 19226 Kuykendahl Rd, Spring Tx. Phone 281 350 6259. Don't know how far away you are, maybe this will help. Bill
Bill, We are east of you in Beaumont. If the radiator shop I dropped it off to Friday gives me the same heart attack as the 1st one I will give them a call. I guess it is the copper for the cores as well as the slim amount of sales that keeps the prices jacked so dang high. Has anyone used a "generic" radiator that is easily obtainable but doesn't require much modifications to use?? We are not looking to enter Lola at Pebble beach we just want to enjoy cruising in her.
$800 sounds like there's quite a profit margin to me......
My radiator shop has re-cored 2 '56 radiators for me, (the most recent in 2012) and they were both in the $400 range.
Tim
It's supposed to be fun!
1949 De Soto Custom Convertible (project)
If you are not worried about originality, a 57 Chevy radiator can be made to work if you relocate the outlet, or use different hoses. These are available new for a couple hundred bucks.
Good Luck
Steve
$800 sounds like there's quite a profit margin to me......
My radiator shop has re-cored 2 '56 radiators for me, (the most recent in 2012) and they were both in the $400 range.
Tim
The 2nd radiator shop just called me and his quotes ranged from $775 to $1075 depending on the "tube style" of core I went with. Tim, would you mind asking your radiator shop if that price is still good? If so I would be happy to ship my radiator to them opposed to getting raped locally.
I had a similar problem w/ my '53 Firedome. Ended up with an aluminum radiator off ebay from a place in California. Its for a Powermaster and so the outlet is on the wrong side. Also, its a 4-core radiator and so had to remove the spacer and file maybe 1/32 off the mounting flange for it to fit. Otherwise its outstanding. Excellent quality and cools much much better than the original - a nice extra here in Texas. Think i paid $200 or so for it. No idea if they make one for the '56 but if you're not dead set on original I'd look into it.
Welcome back Donny! I have not seen you post for a couple of years or so. Hope everything is well and you are settled in. Please keep your useful advice moving. See you around. I do not want to totally hijack this post.
I have found a radiator (aluminum) from Champion Radiators. It is a universal "Mopar style" radiator that I'm thinking just might work. I need to pickup my sieve from the radiator shop and measure it and see if it might work. Will have to fab up some brackets for the shroud though. Might be the cats whiskers.. We shall see.
Here's what I found http://www.championradiators.com/page/423048204
Glad to hear you may have found a solution.
I finally got a chance to pull my file and discovered that my memory is terrible. The most recent radiator we had re-cored actually cost much more; in the $650 range. I wouldn't be surprised at all if your earlier comment about the price of copper has a lot to do with the significantly increased costs of the new cores.
It's supposed to be fun!
1949 De Soto Custom Convertible (project)
That is the brand I put in the '53. outstanding quality. Very heavy gauge tanks. If you can make it work, I think you'll be very pleased with it.
If you can wait until I get home around the 3rd week of April, I can sell you a honey comb Firedome radiator for the cost of Shipping.
If you can wait until I get home around the 3rd week of April, I can sell you a honey comb Firedome radiator for the cost of Shipping.
If the radiator can be repaired or is still in good working order I'll dance at your wedding! 3rd week of April will work out just fine. I ordered in a complete brake rebuild so I have plenty to keep me occupied till then. Let me know when you are ready & we can get together to get that radiator shipped.
Thanks!
Ben
In Northern California we have been taking radiators to a place that is the supplier of cores for most of the shops in Northern California. They will do a radiator if we carry it in and all transactions are cash with a receipt.
These folks really know their stuff. They have both regular tube and dimple tube they can use with the cores. My '47 radiator was in the $600-$800 range.
I use it with a water pump that was rebuilt with a brass hi-volume impeller. The engine is rebuilt and the block was acid dipped to get it really clean.
At the Reno convention running around in 100+ weather with the 5000 pound car with four people at times we never got much past 190F.
If you can get the "dimple tubing" I recommend it. It causes the water to tumble in the tube and you do not get striations in the water column. Better thermal transfer our of the heat.
James
