1968Radiator words of warning

[Chuck R.]

Hoping to save myself from shelling out the big bucks for a Dewitts type of radiator, I purchased an after market brass radiator from my very reputable radiator shop.

Here are the issues I encountered.

1) My original aluminum Harrison is 16-1/2" tall from the top row of passes to the bottom. The new is 16" What happens is by missing that extra 1/2" in height, it forces the radiator mounting bracket to angle downward causing it to want to pop off when snugged up to the support. When I re-mounted my Harrison the problem went away as that extra 1/2" allowed the bracket to pull straight across to the core support locking it snug in place. Also, the new radiator would not properly mate up to the lower foam seals creating an air gap.

2) The mounting ear on the top of the radiator is at least double the width necessary for the rubber cushion in the bracket to slip over. What happens with this, is that this extra wide ear hits both outter edges of the bracket also contibuting to the bracket and rubber cushion popping off the radiator's ear.

This morning I returned to the radiator shop with both radiators and the core support and expalain the situation to the Gent who wanted his "hot shot" custom radiator tech to take a look at.

Of course my word of caution was to not mess around with my core support and not to screw up my Harrison radiator.

For those of you who tout the top sheld radiator vendors and avoiding these types of issues that's all fine and good and in my instance it drives that point home. I'm not providing this to receive lectures on woulda coulda shoulda, just trying to educate future radiator buyers as to the on-going pitfalls of the aftermarket world.

I'll keep you posted and P.S. to Joe Lucia, the core support wasn't mis-shaped after all.

Chuck

[Michael W.]

even if it fit perfectly,

would your engine be cooled adequately, given the downgrade in type from aluminum to copper/brass?

[Chuck R.]

Re: Yet to be determined

as I'm putting the power plant and cooling system together for the initial start up.

I was figuring that if it fell short on cooling capacity, I am prepared to install booster fans I already own to compensate. If it still did not effectively cool, then I very well may have to retrace my steps and indeed go aluminum but I hope not.

We'll see Mike,

Chuck

[Anthony S.]

Re: Yet to be determined

I had my Harrison radiator re-cored for about $350 at a reputeable local shop.

It fit perfect, haven't had much more of a test other than cam break in.

Good luck..........

[Chuck R.]

Re: Thats good for us to know Tony

Still a far cry less expensive than the big boys.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Thats good for us to know Tony

I`ll bet he has a Harrison cooper-brass radiator, not aluminum.

Patrick

[Chuck R.]

Re: Probably the case Pat

I had my supposed "good" Harrison radiator flushed at the radiator shop and pressure tested and sure enough, there was a leak two passes up from the bottom and on the side.

He said other than trying to cobb it up and get lucky (which probably wouldn't work), there was no professional repair that could be done so it's toast I guess. Bummer!

On a good note, the radiator shop fabbed up a new mounting hoop for the top of the brass radiator and now it pulls in nice and straight the way it should.

They also bent up and mounted a nice piece of angled tin to close up the small air gap at the top without having to drill into the core support, all for no charge. That's my deal for the month I guess

Now if it only cools the way I hope it should.

Chuck

[Jack W.]

Re: Probably the case Pat

your brass replacement will be down ~25% in cooling capacity from the Harrison unit (when new) that you replaced, AND it doesn't fit, requiring "bubbaneering" (no offense meant to you or your shop). Sounds like a foolish path when I put it like that, but it's one many of us have walked.

Were you to bite the bullet and pay for the Harrison unit from Tom D. (I agree seems pretty steep when compared to a brass replacement) you could eliminate all manner of aux fans, and it would have fit perfectly, and cooled properly. Given the replacement unit's decreased cooling performance, I'd fear you are going to be chasing a "runs hot" problem - and driving one's pride and joy while nervously darting one's eyes over to the temp gauge can absolutely ruin the experience, at least it did for me - for you see all of what you have done, and the results that I fear will follow, are personally familiar to me.

At the end of the day, the cost of your cheaper brass rad, plus the work to "custmoize" the mounts, plus the cost of aux fans, plus the other things you will soon chase (in no particular order: the t-stat, the fan shroud, sealing of the fan shroud, the fan clutch, the timing, the cooling passages in the motor, the coolant mix, the lower rad house) will easily exceed the cost of the proper Harrison aluminum rad, I'd suspect. I am not nearly as knowledgeable about these cars as the folks on here nor as accomplished a mechanic; I can only share my own personal experience. Hope it works out for you.

oh, and of course I have to agree that, AFAIK there simply is no way to recore an aluminum stacked plate rad like the original Harrison unit.

[Chuck R.]

Re: Well Jack, just call me "foolish" then

This was the type of response I feared would spawn from my original post.

I'm VERY AWARE if the risk and the $$$ that could be down the overflow due to the differences you so amply pointed out.

As my electric fans were bought, paid for and removed from another rig I used to own, my cost exposure for this facit is a mute point in my instance.

It would be a wonderful world if all of the compomises we deal with in our lives didn't exist and all radiators were created equal Jack but in my case, I'm willing to weight the risk and see how it plays out.

My car, my money, my busted knucles

Have a nice day,

Chuck

[Jack W.]

did not mean to offend; same things done on my car *NM*

[Chuck R.]

Re: None taken my friend

Just attempting (in my limited capacity) to help others better understand the pit falls, trials and tribulations that go along with decision making on our projects and ramafications.

I'm always up to a challenge and if I get singed a little in the process, then shame on me because I'm going into it with my eyes wide open and I'm not afraid to admit my "boo boos".

So if others can benefit or at the least get a chuckle from ole Chuck's escapades so be it.

It's all about the journey and hopefully having some fun along the way right Jack?

Chuck