Radiator refurbishment suggestions

[Jocigar]

Hi all,

What do you guys normally do with your radiators for clean/test/refurbish; farm out or do it yourself ?   

I know of a shop that does general flush and repairs which is hard enough to find now days, should I be looking for a mopar specific place?  should I clean and paint myself and see how it works ?  fins look decent, no major dents.

Also, I think I read that track pak optioned cars had fan shroud, any specific source recommendations for that?

Hopefully I have the correct factory part this time for 440/6:   2998-956   20446  ?

Thanks for help !

[DeathProofCuda]

956 radiator sounds right for a 440/6 car.  Do you have the broadcast sheet for this car?  If built with a 956 radiator, line 3 of the broadcast sheet will have code "56" in the RAD box.

[torredcuda]

Glen Ray if you want to spend the money otherwise I`d have the local shop pressure test it and if good paint it yourself.

https://www.restorationradiators.com/

[Skid Row]

  A good radiator shop should have a Rate of flow machine that tells how many GPM  your radiator is flowing, telling you if it needs to be rodded  or boiled out . This being just as important as a pressure test.

[Dakota]

Glen Ray re-did my heater box core.  Super good people to deal with.   I don't think I've ever seen a negative comment about them in the 10+ years I've been on e-body forums.

As far as my radiator is concerned, I bought some radiator fin straightening tools to tidy them up and then used a radiator paint from Eastwood.   The paint is now about 3 years old and still looks good, plus no cooling issues with my 340. 

[anlauto]

I get a kick out of people who restore cars, spend 10's and 10's of thousands of dollars trying to make everything as correct as possible or as perfect as possible....then get to something like a 50 year old wiring, or heater core or a radiator...and say "Ah...it looks pretty good I can just clean it up and make it look nice...what the heck, save a few bucks"  No disrespect to you Joe, I know what you've been through....but these are usually the guys you see with their car broken down on the side of the road...try getting the anti-freeze smell out of your new carpet

I vote for a full rebuild from Glen-Ray

[Skdmark]

Another vote for Glen-ray.
Bob took care of my A/C heater core and my 22" radiator.

[Racer57]

I had a local shop remove the top and bottom from my 3 core and replace it a 4 core. Don't have a clue how, but that was 15,000+ miles ago without issues.

[Dakota]

I get a kick out of people who restore cars, spend 10's and 10's of thousands of dollars trying to make everything as correct as possible or as perfect as possible....then get to something like a 50 year old wiring, or heater core or a radiator...and say "Ah...it looks pretty good I can just clean it up and make it look nice...what the heck, save a few bucks"  No disrespect to you Joe, I know what you've been through....but these are usually the guys you see with their car broken down on the side of the road...try getting the anti-freeze smell out of your new carpet

I vote for a full rebuild from Glen-Ray

Well @anlauto , you got me to thinking...I don't want to be one of "those guys".   I called Glen-Ray to get a quote on rebuilding my original radiator.   The gentlemen I spoke with said their turnaround time is currently running about 4 months.   He wasn't able to give me a $ quote for the work as that's handled by someone else who was busy at the time.

Anyone have any recent experience with the cost of one of these rebuilds?   I have a 26" radiator if that matters.

[Challenger in NC]

I get a kick out of people who restore cars, spend 10's and 10's of thousands of dollars trying to make everything as correct as possible or as perfect as possible....then get to something like a 50 year old wiring, or heater core or a radiator...and say "Ah...it looks pretty good I can just clean it up and make it look nice...what the heck, save a few bucks"  No disrespect to you Joe, I know what you've been through....but these are usually the guys you see with their car broken down on the side of the road...try getting the anti-freeze smell out of your new carpet

I vote for a full rebuild from Glen-Ray

Well @anlauto , you got me to thinking...I don't want to be one of "those guys".   I called Glen-Ray to get a quote on rebuilding my original radiator.   The gentlemen I spoke with said their turnaround time is currently running about 4 months.   He wasn't able to give me a $ quote for the work as that's handled by someone else who was busy at the time.

Anyone have any recent experience with the cost of one of these rebuilds?   I have a 26" radiator if that matters.

My factory 22" radiator was restored by Glen-Ray, they installed an upgraded core, refinished it including some new fittings and shipped backed to me for $810, but that was in Aug 2021. Looks awesome.

[BIGSHCLUNK]

Another vote for GLEN-RAY. They did me a thicker core a few years back, solved some issues and is holding up great   

[JS29]

  Glen Ray!   

[Rich G.]

I had the local radiator shop recore my radiators. Even the 47 I'm working on. I thought $800 was high but it seems like that's the going rate.

[7E-Bodies]

Glen Ray all the way. Stellar job, stellar communication.

[RUNCHARGER]

My last 2 rads I just took in to a local shop and had them recored. It isn't $200 anymore but turnaround was a day or two. I would feel the shop out a bit to see if they are comfortable doing the job. It shouldn't be a big deal though. They should ask you if you want a high efficiency core and how many rows of tubes.