I need a new radiator for the 55 Chevy I'm working on and found this company on the net Radiator.com. They have the best prices I've found so far but I've learned to check with folks here first before buying. I would like to stay with a radiator that is as close to original as possible, you know, the brass and copper stuff and the lowest price is not that attractive if you know what I mean. Does anyone know anything about the company and their radiators? I would appreciate any feedback you all can throw my way. Thanks, Aman.
I used one on my 68 Impala Wagon. It seems that the radiators are "generic" to some degree - yes it fit the opening but the mounting tabs were close but not exact and required some grinding/modification to fit.
Aman, where are you at in Texas ? I know of a great shop just outside Dallas that has great prices and lifetime warranties.
I think they're the ones I used to get a Mustang radiator to replace the radiator in my Econoline. Might have been radiatorusa.com, or they're the same place. IIRC you place the order with them and the direct a local shop to make it for you. Either way, I had mine on my doorstep in a couple of days. It worked great and was less than $100 shipped, I think. That was about 4 years ago though
I bought a radiator from them about 5 years ago for a '92 Chevy pickup I had. Nice piece, well made and fit perfectly. They also shipped quickly. My experience was very good.
I was checking the site out one day and starting talking to their on line tech, just an automated program. Once it got enough information it asked for my phone number. About five minutes later my phone rang and there was a woman on the other end of the line reacting like I just called her. It must be a clearing house for local radiator shops. The woman who answered the phone worked with her husband at a local shop. I told her want I needed, she said she'd talk to her husband and later that day she gave me a price. A pretty good price but I've never had them build one for me yet.
LSM, I'm in Corpus Christi, just a tad bit south of Dallas but, if that shop does good work and the price is right, shipping is all that we need to conquer. I thought about going to a local shop but the shop I used for years is not there anymore and the other shop I used on my last radiator episode did a terrible installation and send me down the road blowing ATF all over the engine compartment because they failed to tighten the lines, I don't trust them anymore. It's part of life in south Texas, I do a lot of business from other cities and states. Well let's send this back through for the evening group for their input. Thanks guys.
I bought from them maybe 10 years ago, they might be a different business now. But at that time I had problems with Modine radiators from the local parts store, they were just falling apart from vibration and leaking bad. went thru 2 or 3. Finally had the parts store just give me money back. Bought a radiator from Radiator .com and it was a really nice piece and is still in there, just like new.
I called theses guys about a radiator for the Fairlane and all I got was the response of "How did you get this number sir? And why would we stock something this old?" It showed them on the internet so I could only assume they would actually carry them.
I bought a 65/66 Mustang radiator from them through Ebay for my project for $125 (YIPES!). Everything was first rate. A person called me that day to ask if it was for a stock application. Apparently, the stock ones were 2 row & there's is a 3 row, which might cause some clearance issues with a stock application. But, the point I'm making is that SOMEONE ACTUALLY PICKED UP THE PHONE & CALLED!! To top it off, the next day some guys pulls up in front of my house in a little car & hands me my radiator. It turns out that there was some sort of branch of Radiator.com very near my house. By the way, my sbc has not gotten over 180 in the real bad heat we had.
Yeah, Econolines are notorious for being hot boxes and even in 95* weather stuck in traffic, that radiator kept it cool. Like I said, I think they take the order and contract with a local shop to build it for you
Wow Hellfish it just dawned on me what you said about them contracting with the local folks to build one for ya. I'm going to make some phone calls this PM. We'll see what happens. Thanks everyone for taking time to pass on your experiences. Aman.
They are probably a Spectra Premium dealer. My brother sells them also. Look at the bottom right corner of the web page. He can set you up with what you need. http://www.metropolitan-restoration-...tion-services/
Well I thought I would follow up on the radiator I bought for the 55 Chevy I'm working on. I bought one from Eckler's Classic Chevy P/N 18-508, 4 core, heavy duty radiator. It looks great except they shipped it with a cap chained to the drain tube that has some type of Chinese writing on it. First thought is "oh shit" chinese stuff. I don't know if this radiator is made in china or not but I did know one thing for sure, that cap was coming off. Luckily I ordered a AC Delco cap because I didn't know if it would come with one or not. So, I drilled a small hole in the outside rim of the cap and put it on. Can't you imagine how impressed everyone would be if you popped the hood at a drive-in or show and the first thing people see is that chinese radiator cap sitting on there? Second thing, the mounting holes are not the same as original. They're set back about an inch so it makes for a really tight fit up to the fan. I'm going to take the mounts off my old radiator and use them to set the radiator back from the fan a bit. It's so close I'm worried that if I hit a bump too fast it may knock the radiator into the fan. Needless to say I'd be pissed. Anyway, this radiator was cheaper than the ones in their catalog and you won't find it in the cat. It came as a seperate flyer. But overall I guess it will be OK once I finish building it for them. I'll keep ya'll posted. Aman.
I wish I would have read this sooner. There is a guy on leopard st. that could rebuild yours at a decent price and he stands behind his work. The place is gulf radiator and they have been doin business for decades.P.M. me if you need details, I am in corpus also.
Hey 50 styleline, what's up? Yeah, I called Gulf radiator and he wanted me to bring it in so he could look at it however I had just placed the order with Eckler's. I think it would have been very difficult to rebuild this one as the bottom was blown out and in really bad shape. It was one of those that you look at and know you better go new. I will keep them in mind though for the next project. What are you cruzin and do you ever go to Snapka? If so, I'll look you up on Friday. Thanks again, Rick...Aman.
The Jalopy Journal
