The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Need New Radiator

To all my Chevy 3600 3/4 ton truck owners with stock 235 inline 6 engines in their trucks. I need a new radiator. Where is everyone getting their radiators from. I have a manual transmission. I don't need the built in automatic transmission cooler.

Thanks in advance!
Elmo

The year of my truck is a 1953.

Are there other places besides LMC And or Classic Chevy trucks.com?

JIm Carter, The Filling Station, Chevs of the 40"s . I've dealt with them all as well as LMC and Classic Chevy. I've had good experiences with each of them. You didn't ask, but if you are looking for "rubber parts, seals, etc..." , go with Steele Rubber Products.

http://www.oldchevytrucks.com/
https://www.fillingstation.com/
https://www.chevsofthe40s.com/

,

I bought my radiator online on eBay. New aluminum radiator shipped from an outfit in Texas. It had the transmission cooler; I didn't need it, so I plugged the holes with plastic plugs.

I get aluminum ones from Ebay for $200 delivered. The top tank is shaped very much like the original brass ones. That is how I know that it is the right one. (I can never remember who sells them.) I prime the tank and sides with self-etching primer and paint with Rustoleum Gloss black. You have to know what to look for to pick it off as not original.

Yup i have the $200 ebay special in mine to. Keeps my LS temps in check no problem at all. I had to use a chevy one because they dont make the gmc version. All i did was trim where the top tank hits the lip on the top core support and i think i had to cut out a spot for the cap to sit in. All but 2 of the holes lined right up too. Im very happy with mine.

I’m looking into getting mine re-cored but if the price is to high I’ll probably go with aluminum. Can either of you provide a link to the ones you’ve bought? I have a 52 one ton but beleive the rad was the same for the 1/2 & 3/4 ton.

Basically same one i have in mine. Yup its a chineeseum rad but it worked great for my budget build. Aluminum rad

Walmart has them too.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Aluminum...-Pickup-6Cyl-48-49-50-51-52-53/959882876

I'm probably not qualified to offer advice on what radiator you need. I'm running 2 radiators on my blown 292. My primary radiator that's in the grill is polished with 2 / 1 1/4" wide cores and a 3300 CFM chrome fan. It was a little over $800. My secondary radiator is a Ron Davis drag radiator that mounts under the truck with a Spal fan and a Mazire electric pump on it. Pump and radiator about $1000. This radiator is primarily to cool the engine after it is shut off. It will turn on after the engine is shut down for heat sink. Will have manual for traffic jambs in Death Valley. So now that we know I'm not normal I think it's as important Where we buy as what we buy. I try to buy American even if it cost a little more. I also buy from places that cater to classics. I would rather keep these guys in business. One of my favorite things about the entire classics community is the diversity and comradery. It may be the same product but my money is going to an established supplier not some guy transferring my order that may not even know what a classic is. Sorry so long just my $.02 worth. Thank you for your time.

I hear ya. I do love my cheapo radiator in my budget built truck though! Now on the other hand i think the $1300 ron davis radiator in my racecar clears me of any type of foreign support for at least a year 😂. Definitely nicest rad i have ever owned hands down. My 370ci Turbo LS stuffed in a mitsubishi is like a constant heat trap under the hood so i had to man up and buy the good stuff.

That may fit, but the tank doesn't look "right". Price is lower than the ebay ones.

Part # MT1-374TYVEHCAR is the same as the eBay ones. I bought one and made it fit.

In this thread, I show a picture comparing the new one to the original:
https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthread...fferences-from-original.html#Post1312967

Do you have a part # for the one that looks better?

I bought a AFCO aluminum radiator in 2009 for my '37. Don't remember the price off hand, but it was way less then they sell for now. It has worked great up until last year when it started seeping at the lower right corner. This radiator and I am sure the cheaper ones you are looking at are glued together. This means there is very little you can do to repair them if needed, truly a one and done. I bought some super sticky epoxy and managed to stop the leak for now, if a get another year out of it I will be happy, but at some point I will have to replace it. I cannot see spending $800 or more for a truck that may only go a 1000 miles a year. If the new one last another 10 years, I am good with that.

Joe

Do your research and you will find reasonably priced fully welded aluminum radiators on both EBay and Amazon. 🛠

...last radiator I purchased was a coupe years ago. Bought a Champion delivered to my door for $200 even. They also included a nice radiator cap. I've had zero problems. May want to add it to you "check'em off list".

You may want to check out these folks, aluminum fully welded, factory style tanks. https://www.coldcaseradiators.com/products/fitment/1953-Chevrolet-Truck-any

I bought a new one from Jegs today. It is a Champion made for an in-line 6 engine. Cost 195.00 shipping was free! Gonna get it in 3 days!
Gonna do the happy dance!!!
Thanks guys
Elmo!!

They are not glued together. They are all fully tig welded. Actually really nicely done to.

I purchased mine from ...US Radiator... years ago. US built , I believe a paid just over 300. But looking at their web site looks like the price has doubled.


Glad I got it when I did