Radiator Troubles.....US Radiator.

[Bob Lynch]

Thanks for all the input guys.
Nothing worse than walking in your garage, looking under the front of the car and seeing a puddle of coolant !!

I'll post up the results when I get the radiator back with prices, quality, PIC's, website details and links.
Tom's Radiator is a family run shop, since 1965.
I'm glad I found it and I hope everyone else here can try the place for re-core needs.

 

[themechanic]

My OE 054 radiator was recored by US radiator before owner Don Armstrong retired and sold the company. It's one of the best parts of the car.

 

[RJRENTON]

As others have suggested, consider GLEN RAY RADIATORS. I purchased the OEM MAX COOLING RADIATOR # 2998956 (more tubes, bigger tubes and more fins/inch) that Bob offers. All brass and soldered construction, guaranteed for as long as you own the car. I use a 50%/50% DEXCOOL water mix with a16# cap. The radiator cost ~ $ 1400 + shipping (approximately $40 to Decatur illinois). The cooling system is NOT the area to try and reduce costs. The car is an original RS23V0A****** an original 1970 GTX six barrel, car 4 speed car. Just quit fiddling ******* around and do it right the FIRST TIME. Use a Flowkooler pump, shroud, and #2806070 TORQUE DRIVE CLUTCH and 7 blade fan. My temps run ~ 185°F (normal operation) to 200°F (with a 100°F ambient day) with a 180°F hi flow thermostat. IF YOU CANNOT afford the $1400 price save your money until you can afford the price for admission....do it right....just my opinion of course.......
BOB RENTON

 

[threewood]

Everyone here seems to jump to that, but there are still old school radiator shops out there that can recore and OE radiator just a well. Bob's got a shop, he just needs to find an old OE radiator for the next round to have it recored. Cores are still obtainable. I highly doubt GlenRay is making their own cores.

Fewer and fewer each year, unfortunately. I had a guy in N KY that recorded my 62 radiator back in 04ish. Still going strong. He is now out of business.

 

[dadsbee]

Fewer and fewer each year, unfortunately. I had a guy in N KY that recorded my 62 radiator back in 04ish. Still going strong. He is now out of business.

Yep, like I said my shop just down the road will be done on repairs when the Father stops "wanting something to do". He's now about 77 years old.

 

[68BabyBlue]

Fewer and fewer each year, unfortunately. I had a guy in N KY that recorded my 62 radiator back in 04ish. Still going strong. He is now out of business.

And with fewer shops, they get more expensive. I spent $300 to re-core the original in Baby Blue in 2013, it was $800 to do the current GTX last year.

 

[Kilrbee]

Everyone here seems to jump to that, but there are still old school radiator shops out there that can recore and OE radiator just a well. Bob's got a shop, he just needs to find an old OE radiator for the next round to have it recored. Cores are still obtainable. I highly doubt GlenRay is making their own cores.

Yes, there are still some old school shops around to do radiator work. Yes Glen-Ray does not make their own cores, but Bob does spec the type of cores he has built for himself. Remember there is a difference between a $400 recore and a $1400 restoration of a radiator. The cheap recore means the guy doing it is working for next to nothing and using the CHEAPEST core he can find because he thinks he is doing you a favor, which lots of times turns out to not be such a favor after all. I understand not everyone has a caviar budget also. Bob does stock some used radiators to restore for customers but most of his work is restoring a customer's existing rads and new reproduction units also. Even if you aren't in the market for a Glen-Ray rad Bob will also answer heating and cooling questions too.

 

[dadsbee]

Yes, there are still some old school shops around to do radiator work. Yes Glen-Ray does not make their own cores, but Bob does spec the type of cores he has built for himself. Remember there is a difference between a $400 recore and a $1400 restoration of a radiator. The cheap recore means the guy doing it is working for next to nothing and using the CHEAPEST core he can find because he thinks he is doing you a favor, which lots of times turns out to not be such a favor after all. I understand not everyone has a caviar budget also. Bob does stock some used radiators to restore for customers but most of his work is restoring a customer's existing rads and new reproduction units also. Even if you aren't in the market for a Glen-Ray rad Bob will also answer heating and cooling questions too.

My guys $400 job, 6 years later.