Best place to buy a radiator

Any thoughts on the best place to get a replacement radiator. The one in our '71 is starting to leak in a couple of places.

I'm looking for OEM look (rather than aluminum). All the ones I've seen were $450-$800. Am I just too old in thinking that is way too much for a radiator?

Thanks,
Nick

It is way to much for a radiator, but those are the current prices. Have you tried to see if there is a radiator shop in your area that can just recore your radiator? Should be quite a bit cheaper than to buy a new one, and if yours is original all the OEM numbers will be present and correct.

Summit racing has a good repro that is brass and apparently well made. You’ll have to buy a new drain cock as the summit radiator has just a plastic screw plug with a wing head. Amazon and Home Depot carry the drain cocks.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-382041

knn said:

Any thoughts on the best place to get a replacement radiator. The one in our '71 is starting to leak in a couple of places.

I'm looking for OEM look (rather than aluminum). All the ones I've seen were $450-$800. Am I just too old in thinking that is way too much for a radiator?

Thanks,
Nick

Click to expand...

Hi Nick,
A good shop can rod the radiator and repair/solder the leaks, straighten the fins and pressure test it for about half of the price of new. Then you end up with the original radiator. Unless the shops in Cali are gouging folks for the work.

Any possibility these can be found in junk yards?

knn said:

Any thoughts on the best place to get a replacement radiator. The one in our '71 is starting to leak in a couple of places.

I'm looking for OEM look (rather than aluminum). All the ones I've seen were $450-$800. Am I just too old in thinking that is way too much for a radiator?

Thanks,
Nick

Click to expand...

Scott Drake makes one but cashy best fitting with little fabrication, best to find a original one and get a new core installed

I don't know how good this thing is but you can't beat the price!

(excuse the link wording)

https://www.walmart.com/ip/DNA-Moto...l-Aluminum-3-Row-Racing-Radiator-72/413446044

jdomke1 said:

Any possibility these can be found in junk yards?

Click to expand...

Slim to none.....mostly none. I found several on eBay but you're still buying a 50+ year old radiator that will most likely need to be rebuilt. Rodding out an old radiator is a dying art and there are few shops out there that perform those services. Re-coring a radiator is an option but again few places that offer services and is very expensive. I purchased the repro from Summit Racing and it is 97% match to my original.

The California bay area is charging 550 to 750 just to recore and solder holes in the radiator. I went with aluminum but kept my original one so when prices go down I can get it recored. I am with @Bobby I just cannot see paying that much.