Radiator questions

[dshanks]

Hi,
I started tearing down the vette a while ago. I knew that the radiator needed to be worked on, but I didnt realize that it needed to be re-cored. The guy wants 300$ to do it. This is after I just discovered that the radiator core support is junk. So Im 600$ deep just in the radiator area. Im on a shoestring budget here, and this cant happen anytime soon. I had planned on spending 50$ here to have a little soldering done...

Is it possible to fabricate a core support to fit a radiator from a different car? Couldnt I buy a nice 100$ radiator from some other V8 car and get some stock. spend some free time, and have a functional unit?

Any suggestions for substitutions that would fit nicely, and cool a 350/350?

I was thinking something like this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8011718435&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

Derrick

 

[lone73]

You got a welder?
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[dshanks]

You got a welder?
.
.
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Yeah, welding and access to a killer set of tools is not an issue. I also have the direction of a fabricator that will help me when I need help.

Anybody know to what extent the core support is used for structural rigidity?
How beefy would I want to make a fabricated core support?

 

[lone73]

Time

I can tell you that the inner fender surfaces sag inward when the support is out so there appears to be no question that it does provide some significant support for more than just the radiator. I wouldn't put any less metal in it than exists in a stock support, as a rule of thumb.

It seems just a question of time or money. Are you sure you wouldn't be better off working some O/T or getting a part time or a better paying job than to spend so much time attempting to trial-and-error engineer your own support?

The older I get the more I realize that time isn't just money. Time is Life itself. Spend it wisely... or as Pink Floyd would say...

"And then one day you find,
ten years have got behind you
no one told you when to run
You missed the starting gun..."
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.
.

 

[billyvette]

check www.radiator.com for a radiator, if you can afford it just buy a new core support if one is needed.
ofcourse there is dewhitts for a direct fit replacement, they are around 500 bucks for the entire radiator.
since you are on a shoe string budget, check for some suppliers of used corvette parts.

you should be able to locate some threads about using a generic (universal) radiator on this board and corvettefourm as well.

 

[dshanks]

Lone73 and billyvette. Thanks for your help. Im still trying to decide what to do. My buddy Jerry's dad is a fabricator, and he has offered to look at both of them. hes retired, and wants the challenge. I offered Jerry some cash to give his dad, and Jerry said "ahh, he'd just tell you to shove it up your a**. So we agreed Id buy him a few cigars.

He gave me an address where ill take it and have it dipped. he will then be able to tell me more accurately whether its salvagable or not. If so, he requires that I do it myself under his guidance (which I prefer-I like to learn). Or if its bad enough, then we will fabricate a new support and buy an alum radiator.
Get this, Ive never even met the guy, and he offered to loan me his new Hobart mig welder to practice with-can a dude get any cooler than that???
Well, it seem problem solved for now. Ill re-post with pics of either the repair or the fabrication...

Derrick