To recore or not to recore.....

That is my question. I'm looking to ditch the cheapo, no pet****, aluminum, roundy round style radiator in my '54 Chevy. I took the original radiator in for a check was told that it has a leak in an area that could only be fixed by recoring. Actually the guy who runs this little rad. business out of his home shop said it wasn't fixable and I suggested the recore. He said that would fix it, but at a cost of $425. A new original style radiator from National Chevy is $340ish. Is his price for recoring out of line, or should I just spring for the "new"one?

 

Seems high to me. He should be cheaper with the lower overhead running the biz out of his home. I paid $300 to get an f1 truck radiator recored a couple years ago.

 

Find another shop, that seems high. Rocky sent one to a place in Denver I think for $150ish?

 

It all has to do with the size of the core. Non standard sizes cost more. If it's not a size the local supplier keeps in stock it'll be about double.

 

Good luck finding another radiator shop. I paid 580 to have my 34 radiator recored. That was after calling every radiator shop in the Balt/Wash area. Most said they did not recore any more. I bought a new 4" core Custom auto radiator for 450 only to find out that it wouldn't fit in my unusual situation. I still have it if anyone needs a new 34 hotrod radiator. (car or truck)

I had to go over to the eastern shore to get it recored. He had to make some calls before giving me a price and he was surprised at his cost. The people that make replacements get a lot better price than a radiator shop.

I see no advantage to recoring yours if a quality replacement is available cheaper and I doubt that you will find some one to do it cheaper. JMO

 

I had my 49 radiator recored around 1997 and it cost me $350.00. that was a 4 row core as I recall. either way it was bigger than the stocker.

be sure you are comparing the same thing.

 

If it cools OK, a leak can simply be fixed with a butane lighter and solder.
It might require pinching or cutting a tube.

 

price depends on type of core
standart = wide fins
j core = tighter fins
flat industrial 50 style

and number of rows
in the last 2 years
i spent over 200 on core alone cost (j core 3 row custom )
for a falcon 6cyl rad
from a friend that owns a rad shop not counting labor or lead
and over 300 cost for a j core 4 row for 65 gto not counting labor or lead

i have compaired the replacement rads to a recored one
in my opinion the recored ones are better qwality
and the core and the tanks and mounts are better thicker materal

 

Thanks for all the input on this. I've got a friend who said he has dealt with Obsolete Chevrolet several times and has been happy with their price and service. Based on what you guys have said here, I feel I'm probably better off with a repop.

 

I agree with cruizengratiot. Repro' radiators are nowhere near the quality of the original. Also, reusing your OEM tanks will keep the car looking original, if that is a concern for you.

 

yep, and they're not epoxied...

 

Most repop radiators are Chinese knockoffs. It may cost more but you'll be happier with a fresh recore of an original... just be sure your rad shop uses a high quality core. they aren't cheap... but, as usual, you get what you pay for.

I have my F100 at a radiator shop right now. The old timer (kids run it now) sez it will take $300.00 to fix it... it's very clean inside and he says this radiator is much a higher quality than even his best new core. It will need a lot of fin straightening and just a little solder... but, honestly, I thought it was junk.

A quality 4 core recore from this shop, for this radiator, would be $700.00+.

I told him to fix my old one...

Side note...The guy tells me he has 500 vintage cores in storage... if anybody needs a core call Glen-Ray Radiator in Wausau, WI.