[dataway]

It's an auto ... which adds some heat, AC which adds some heat, 068 cam, 2.93 gears (should help). Back in the day ... cruising around in Memphis on a hot day it never seemed to have much of a problem.

I'll be using the radiator out of a 68 lemans, 350, AC, Auto ... hopefully the same unit as found in the GTO. I think a different code, but same basic radiator.

When they recore these radiators .... do they/can they use copper like the original? Can the original copper cores be tested/restored to original level of function?

[Schurkey]

Originally Posted by dataway

I'll be using the radiator out of a 68 lemans, 350, AC, Auto ... hopefully the same unit as found in the GTO. I think a different code, but same basic radiator.

When they recore these radiators .... do they/can they use copper like the original? Can the original copper cores be tested/restored to original level of function?

How many cores in that radiator? I'd be looking for a 3-core. Four core if the ambient temp is often high. I've made it a point to install the largest radiator that will fit the rad support, including removing a block-off panel on my Toronado to install a radiator several inches wider than OEM.

Another issue is that radiator cores can have a high or low air fin count. The fins per inch are not guaranteed to be the same as the original equipment. It costs less to build fewer fins per inch. OTOH, there are "high efficiency" cores that have more fins per inch than OEM.

Original cores are unlikely to be usable after all these years and miles. Even if the water tubes can be de-scaled, the air fins may still be rotted. We see some of that in vehicles that are subject to salted winter roads--the salt-water mist kicked up by the car in front corrodes the air fins of the radiator of the car behind. If the air fins are not solidly attached to the water tubes, the radiator can be "clean" but not cool worth a crap.

Plenty of folks would suggest a new aluminum radiator. QUALITY aluminum radiators are a blessing. Cheap Communist Chinese aluminum radiators are...less recommended.

Your radiator shop can guide you.