The Harrison radiator in the 442 is in good shape but pretty gunky inside, so I'd like to have it boiled out and repainted. Are there any rad shops left in the metro anymore?
Seems like rad's have become a disposable item these days.
He ain't cheap but does good work from anybody that I have talked with.
jim larson said
Jan 7, 2020
I use a shop in NE Mpls for my condenser. They mainly work on big AC units, been in business for over 40 yrs. he fit me in dropped off in AM picked up PM. Had quite a few radiators and condenser for old vehicles sitting around that he was going to fix for others. I could drive to the place but don’t remember the name.
Borgen Radiator
I also had a guy Mitch recommended on University Ave weld a outlet the correct way on my Harrison 4 row.
-- Edited by jim larson on Tuesday 7th of January 2020 08:40:13 AM
Bobs_Place said
Jan 7, 2020
Frank at Complete Cooling did all the rad repairs for us at work, also did my rad in the Chevelle.
https://www.completecoolingservices.com/
Lost in the 60s said
Jan 7, 2020
Don't be surprised if a shop advises to just replace the core with new. If the "gunk" is hardened, the only way to get it out is to remove the tanks and use a rod to break it up. At that point, it's less expensive and more efficient to replace the core.
For price comparison, you can buy direct replacement copper/brass radiators too. This link is to a company I have bought a couple from now and have had no issues.
-- Edited by Lost in the 60s on Tuesday 7th of January 2020 01:21:07 PM
SShink said
Jan 7, 2020
Thanks everyone for the suggestions.
I'm guessing disassembling and rodding it out is a pretty expensive proposition.
The other option is to pick up an alum rad from Auto City Classics for $200 and throw it in and put the Harrison on the shelf for the next owner of the car if they want to keep it all original. The ACC rad should fit since they're similar between the Chevelle and 442 chassis. Besides, Chris S. has a super duper '68 chassis rad holder design I can steal if needed.
John D said
Jan 8, 2020
2nd on Tom's...
He did a 4-row recore on Blackie's "Harrison" when I did the LT-1 swap. Kept the original "look", but sealed the OEM cap opening and soldered an air-bleed in it's place.
AK said
Jan 8, 2020
Stan - Like others I had a good experience with Auto City and with Hank's help it was a fairly straight-forward fit... at least in the Chevy. I went with the electric fan package so "1968-1972 GM A-Body Aluminum Radiator with Dual Fans and Shroud SL-282-AT-F"
But as you noted the ACC - is that the "1968-1972 GM A-Body Aluminum Radiator SL-282-AT ?"
SShink said
Jan 9, 2020
Here's what I got from Denny at ACC:
IT IS THE FULL 3" THICK & 28" CORE 33" WIDE TOTAL COME ONLY WITH TRANS COOLER ONLY BUT ( CAN PLUG IT ) $ 199.00 That is the same size as the Harrison that I removed so should fit fine.
I'm going to give a couple of the rad shops a call and get estimates on the re-coring charge for the Harrison, and if it's within a $100 bucks or so of the ACC price I will likely go that route. Although, I've been told it be as much as $500 for a re-core.
SShink said
Jan 14, 2020
Bobs_Place wrote:
Frank at Complete Cooling did all the rad repairs for us at work, also did my rad in the Chevelle.
https://www.completecoolingservices.com/
I talked to Mike at CC this morning, and he was very hesitant to give me any kind of a quote over the phone with too many repair variables, but when I asked how much more than the $200 aluminum radiator it would cost, he said go with the aluminum one, which is what I'm likely going to do.
I'll put the original Harrison in a box and put it on the shelf for the next owner if they want it.
The Harrison radiator in the 442 is in good shape but pretty gunky inside, so I'd like to have it boiled out and repainted. Are there any rad shops left in the metro anymore?
Seems like rad's have become a disposable item these days.
https://tomsradiator.com/
He ain't cheap but does good work from anybody that I have talked with.
I use a shop in NE Mpls for my condenser. They mainly work on big AC units, been in business for over 40 yrs. he fit me in dropped off in AM picked up PM. Had quite a few radiators and condenser for old vehicles sitting around that he was going to fix for others. I could drive to the place but don’t remember the name.
Borgen Radiator
I also had a guy Mitch recommended on University Ave weld a outlet the correct way on my Harrison 4 row.
-- Edited by jim larson on Tuesday 7th of January 2020 08:40:13 AM
Frank at Complete Cooling did all the rad repairs for us at work, also did my rad in the Chevelle.
https://www.completecoolingservices.com/
Don't be surprised if a shop advises to just replace the core with new. If the "gunk" is hardened, the only way to get it out is to remove the tanks and use a rod to break it up. At that point, it's less expensive and more efficient to replace the core.
For price comparison, you can buy direct replacement copper/brass radiators too. This link is to a company I have bought a couple from now and have had no issues.
https://www.completeradiators.com/parts/Oldsmobile~442ZZZZ~1968~V8ZZ6.6ZZLiterZZ400ZZCIDZZGAS~si=s734445051~CompleteZZRadiators/
-- Edited by Lost in the 60s on Tuesday 7th of January 2020 01:21:07 PM
Thanks everyone for the suggestions.
I'm guessing disassembling and rodding it out is a pretty expensive proposition.
The other option is to pick up an alum rad from Auto City Classics for $200 and throw it in and put the Harrison on the shelf for the next owner of the car if they want to keep it all original. The ACC rad should fit since they're similar between the Chevelle and 442 chassis. Besides, Chris S. has a super duper '68 chassis rad holder design I can steal if needed.
He did a 4-row recore on Blackie's "Harrison" when I did the LT-1 swap. Kept the original "look", but sealed the OEM cap opening and soldered an air-bleed in it's place.
But as you noted the ACC - is that the "1968-1972 GM A-Body Aluminum Radiator SL-282-AT ?"
Here's what I got from Denny at ACC:
IT IS THE FULL 3" THICK & 28" CORE 33" WIDE TOTAL COME ONLY WITH TRANS COOLER ONLY BUT ( CAN PLUG IT ) $ 199.00 That is the same size as the Harrison that I removed so should fit fine.
I'm going to give a couple of the rad shops a call and get estimates on the re-coring charge for the Harrison, and if it's within a $100 bucks or so of the ACC price I will likely go that route. Although, I've been told it be as much as $500 for a re-core.
I talked to Mike at CC this morning, and he was very hesitant to give me any kind of a quote over the phone with too many repair variables, but when I asked how much more than the $200 aluminum radiator it would cost, he said go with the aluminum one, which is what I'm likely going to do.
I'll put the original Harrison in a box and put it on the shelf for the next owner if they want it.