Radiator Restoration Query

[Tommy68]

Hi Camaro owners:

I'm having my original 2-core Harrison radiator restored. It's in pretty rough shape. The radiator was stock with my 1968 2d Camaro MT no a/c 327. The individual doing the restoration said he cannot reuse the original upper and lower brackets. I'm not sure if that's correct and would appreciate any expert guidance. I'm going for originality in the restoration. Many thanks.

[X66 714]

Camaros have brackets on the sides so I'm not sure what he means. Maybe get a second opinion...Joe

[169indy]

Do you mean the TOP & BOTTOM core plates, *(I,e, Core top plate, Core Bottom plates with holes for hanging for paint during mfr.)?

I seem to remember a thread at .crg about the hoops guys were jumping thru to get their OLD plates installed on new cores then shipped to the Rad shop for install on their rads, Something about having your shop remove the core plates, clean them up then ship them to the NEW core mfr. to install on the New Core & ship them to your Rad shop for install with your tanks and mounting brackets, Guy were saying it is a pain and the shop were not very interested in the logistics of the whole ordeal.

Does that sound like what you are up against?

(Edit Spelling)

[scuncio]

If you have some flexibility on timing, I will have an excellent original 1968 2-core MT radiator available in a few weeks.

[Tommy68]

Hi -

Just to clarify. Yes, I'm referring to the top and bottom core plates that run horizontally across the top and bottom of the radiator core. I'm guessing that in order to install a new core those plates have to be cut off and it's nearly impossible to reinstall them on the new core without leaking occurring. I'm interested in knowing if it's worth trying to find a rad shop that would reinstall them on a new core or just forgetting it. Many thanks.

[Mr.Nickey Nova]

I had two radiators recored by a local shop and he was able to reuse the top and bottom core plates. Not to many shops even want to bother with recoring a old radiator. I remember him telling me this, said you can't get any more original than that. I was more concerned with the tanks than anything, but he did save the upper and lower frames or plates.

[Therocknss]

Green's Radiator in Newark Ohio did my original l78 big block radiator Three core. They used my original upper and lower plates and tanks and installed the new core. $500 is what they charged