Looking for some radiator advice. My 64 valiant runs hot during the summer and i picked up a used radiator hoping it would be in good shape to replace the existing one. I just got a call from the radiator shop and the guy told me it was shot but he could rebuild it for about $650. I only use the 64 on nice days around my area and now i'm wondering if I should just not even bother replacing it.

_________________
64 barracuda
64 valiant convertable
65 valiant sedan
65 signet
74 vw beetle convertable
79 E-250 4WD van
94 dodge dakota

Well...that depends on whether you want to know the car can be used at will without overheating, or if you'll be okeh with knowing you can't use it for longer than "x" many miles or when the outside temperature is over "y" degrees.

$650 to rebuild the stock radiator is out of line. See this thread.

_________________
一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Thanks for the info Dan. I felt the price was awfully high but it's been about 20 years since i had the radiator for my 65 in the shop so i thought that maybe prices have really jumped, just like everything else. I'm going to check him out and again, thanks

_________________
64 barracuda
64 valiant convertable
65 valiant sedan
65 signet
74 vw beetle convertable
79 E-250 4WD van
94 dodge dakota

OBTW, I just got off the phone with Randy and he said he's still waiting on your pictures Dan.

_________________
64 barracuda
64 valiant convertable
65 valiant sedan
65 signet
74 vw beetle convertable
79 E-250 4WD van
94 dodge dakota

Rad's not installed in the car yet, and my grandpa's dying, so photos will need to wait.

_________________
一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

I understand. Just passing on a message, didn't mean anything by it.

_________________
64 barracuda
64 valiant convertable
65 valiant sedan
65 signet
74 vw beetle convertable
79 E-250 4WD van
94 dodge dakota

I have found the affordable solution to replacing the round top radiator on my 63 Dart was to use the smaller of the two options for a 67 Dart. It is not a round top, but a regular looking radiator. Mine fit right in and lined up with the hole just fine, 3 out of the 4 bolt holes lined up no problem, I think the hoses fit the same too. All in all it was very easy and a year ago I think it cost about $175ish.

That luminum one sure is purdy tho


TopHat

Is the original one or the used replacement one leaking? If not can't it be cleaned without totally overhauling it? I have a spare and I'm not far from you, but it was pulled from an old parts '64 and probably also needs a good cleaning.

_________________
Never seen a Valiant I didn't like!

Mmm...neat trick, given that the brackets for '65-up A-body radiators are all about 26" across (bolt hole to bolt hole) while the brackets for '64-down A-body radiators are all about 21" across (bolt hole to bolt hole). The '65-up small radiators (19" wide core) have an extra-wide left bracket to take up the extra space between the left edge of the core and the left edge of the ~22" wide radiator cutout in the radiator support panel. The '64 and earlier cars have a narrow (~19" wide) cutout in the radiator support panel.

_________________
一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Ok here is how it works. The drivers side bolts up just fine, as normal, using all the stock holes.


Now for the "trick" on the passengers side. The new rad had some holes inboard of the "factory mounting" holes, one of these holes happened to line up with the factory hole in the car. For the last 11 months I have been meaning to drill the other hole for the 4th bolt.







You can see the factory holes are not being used on the passengers side. I am using a hole that was in the rad as purchased. This is the shorter of the 2 options. Yes it fit just like you see even when the 2 factory horns were installed.

Sorry the pics aren't great but they were taken in the dark, just now.


TopHat

Was that a new one from the store?

_________________
64 barracuda
64 valiant convertable
65 valiant sedan
65 signet
74 vw beetle convertable
79 E-250 4WD van
94 dodge dakota

64conv65hard,

My 2 cents:

My radiator guy told me if there was "white stuff" festering up on the out side than most likely the metal is Swiss Cheese, and just buy a new unit much cheaper than a repair. Where my car is not a resto correct queen, I went new.

Try these guys. I purchased a radiator from them for my 67' Dart last month. If you Google "Valiant radiator" you may find that they have an add with a internet $-off coupon. I got 25 bucks off with a coupon had to pay CA sales tax, and $5 shipping to get it to Maine in a week.

The only thing that was different from the old factory radiator and the new one was the angle of the lower hose connection, other than that it bolted right up. I had to purchase a flex hose to make it work, as the old molded hose was too short. The new over flow tank is identical to Year One's $30 unit, it came from Wally World for 8 bucks, go figure. Don't pay full retail for Chinese goods...

_________________
67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC

radiator was cleaned and tested, at 10 psi it was leaking throughout the core.

_________________
64 barracuda
64 valiant convertable
65 valiant sedan
65 signet
74 vw beetle convertable
79 E-250 4WD van
94 dodge dakota

Yup, recore job needed. Those replacement cores must be made of gold. When you get the new unit installed, use a lower pressure cap and a can of water pump lube if none of the other cooling components have been brought back to factory spec. Other wise you will just pop the heater core, or water pump. The weak link syndrome.

_________________
67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC

I've got an extra Rad. from a 64 dart that the PO said worked well for him if you're interested. Shipping is always the rub. My zip is 85705 if you want to do some research on prices for shipping