Radiator Core Specifications

[stevieb49829]

Does anyone know if there are standards for tube dimensions and placement in a radiator core, or is it to each their own? When a radiator shop re-cores a radiator, do they special order the replacement, or just pull one off the shelf with the right size, and solder it into the tanks? steve

 

[used red MN]

The tube sizes vary per design and manufacture. Sometimes but not always a row of tubes can be added if more cooling is desired. Sometimes the top and bottom tank will allow for adding a row of tubes but the brackets that mount the radiator which are usually reused during a recore will not accommodate the additional thickness. The cores are ordered to fit the radiators per application. There is NOT standard size cores labeled A, B, C, & D that fit the majority of radiators and can just be installed covering a broad variety of machines. The only case that I know of where this may have been close to true is for GM cross flow radiators in the 70s and 80s. Many of them used identically sized cores with slightly different tank configurations per the vehicle. Most are one by one precisely made for the individual application. Not saying they aren’t mass produced, but they are definitely order per size and application.

 

[stevieb49829]

Thanks, red. That's exactly the answer I was looking for. steve