I have often thought the same thing.Is there any way to repair these old radiators,or do we just throw them away?
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Re: Cleaning Alum. Radiators/inside
Bob and Dave, I have a 66 with an original aluminum radiator that has some deposits in it that causes the car to overheat on the highway. I have spent the last 7 years nursing this car along. I have pulled this radiator out at least 5 times trying to make it work. I have tried some of the milder flushes, back flowing the radiator, and who knows what else. I finally found a radiator shop 20 miles from my house, where the owner is a long time owner of a 63 (sold it last year). We have talked at great length and his comments, both as a professional in the radiator field and as a Corvette owner, have led me to the fact that: 1.these radiators were never meant to last 34 years 2.there isn't anything that you can do to make a bad aluminum radiator good. 3.the repro unit from DeWitts is a very close match (not exact if you are looking closely). Once I bit the bullet and laid out some serious cash for their radiator I have finally been able to enjoy the full potential of this car. I was finally able to drive it to Carlisle last year which is a 200 mile drive from my house. Before, I was like the proverbial bad kid who could only drive short distances and had to be home before dark. It IS expensive but the alternatives are to buy a brass/copper unit, buy a Be Kool unit, buy a Griffin unit, or buy a DeWitts unit. There are reports from owners with brass copper units that they often do not give adequate cooling. Some owners of the Be Kool units that I have talked with report that it cools well, you just have to modify your radiator shroud or mounting system a bit (not an acceptable alternative). Some have said that it is either a bit too high or too low, I really don't remember. The Griffin radiator cools nicely but it doesn't look original. It has side tanks but does do the job. It is only about $250 less than the DeWitts. BTW, you can check out the DeWitts web site for some of the cooling comparison. Good luck with your decision. In case you are wondering, I have absolutely no connection with ANY of the above mentioned companies. Gary 21316 66 327/350 -
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Bob, I tried the vinegar routine, twice. A neighbor who is a chemist thought that since it was a very mild acid, it might actually work where the store bought compounds don't. I did get a few more paritlces up when back flushing but it really didn't have any noticeable effect when the engine temps rose.Comment
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Re: Oops! One more comment.
Gary, Thanks for your experiance! That was just what I thought, unfortunately.Guess I'll have to break down and get the DeWitt! BobComment
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