1655 radiator recore or replace

[Josh in Pa]

I had a bad day cleaning up some storm damage and a branch punched a hole through the radiator core of my 1655. Replacement is made in china, but the dealer told me they sell a lot and haven't had a problem. I have a call in to a radiator shop to see about recoring mine. Which will be better quality? Will a new core be american made?
Josh
 

[Brad Metcalf]

I would hope you could find a radiator made in the USA or at least a core. Please buy AMERICAN
 

[K. Peters]

I had my 1850 recored two years ago, was about five hundred bucks if I remember correctly. I used to work at the shop that did the recore. Those guys have to eat too.
 

[mm585]

I have put in several china radiators. They weigh about half as much as the originals and they almost fit. I think a recore job would be best.
 

[e]

I put one of those radiators in a 1650 from agpartsfirst and it fit well and looked good. I also put one in a 2-135 and it fit like a charm. The one for the 1650 is a little lighter than the original, but if the original lasted 40 years and the replacement has 3/4 of the metal and only lasts 30 years, I don"t think I"m going to cry over it.

It"s anybodies guess what is going to be better. It"s like starter parts, finding anything that isn"t made in china is about impossible so who knows if your shop will use an American made core. Plus, you are reusing 40 year old tanks...two months from now they could fatigue and crack. I"ve taken radiators in for a core and once they boil it out, they find the tanks are bad too. It"s a roll of the dice with an old radiator.
 

[mikey h.]

I use a lot of A & I radiators not because of convenience but so far they use clancy radiators an Irish co. they also have a factory in check. republic decent quality. I too miss the days when made in U.S.A. meant something.
 

[D-Day]

Griffin radiators (I believe in Arizona) can custom make aluminum radiators if you give them measurements. I was told $3-400 from a guy that had one done for a puller. I wish I had known that before I ordered one off the shelf from Summit that does the job, also a Griffin, but it needs some more attention to work properly.
 

[hd6gtom]

I had my 1800 recored 4 years ago works fine, about 400.00 then.