Radiator question

[vtdeucedriver]

It's ALL gone up in the past three years, with the economy being what it is. I'm thankful to be able to continue work on mine and procuring the parts.
Gary

3 yrs............try 10 for M-37 parts!!! Ditto on the rest of it!!

[Master Yota]

believe it or not but a radiator from a toyota landcruiser will nearly bolt right to the factory mount...I had to drill out two holes.(on the rad)

I have also heard of guys using aluminum circle track radiators and having mounting channels welded on

The 4 core cruiser unit is the only way to go, and they are found in the FJ series trucks with the gas engine. I used a 3 core from a diesel and it wouldn't cool the 305 I had swapped into the M37. That may not be a problem with the rad though, I had issues at the time with the electric cooling fans. I sold the truck before I figured out the problem.

The last dodge rad that I had recored cost me less than 300 dollars, but I supplied the tanks. That was with a HD 3 core copper and brass unit. This was about 3 years ago.

Charles, your prices are very scary indeed. Sounds to me that while your getting good quality, your overpaying by quite abit for materials and labor.

Well fellows, 3 years ago and today is a HUGE cost difference, I wish I could get this stuff done for the prices I could 3 years ago.

Now as far as Canadian prices, maybe you can get it done cheaper there, I'm quoting what it cost me here. I have only 1 radiator shop left anywhere around, its an hours drive 1 way, and yes whether we think it's reasonable or not, if we get the goods, we pay the price. That's the bottom line from where I stand. I don't have any other shops to choose from in my area.

I just sold Mark@Sea a new recored unit for $450, he seemed tickled to get it at that price since he was quoted $850 for a recore at a local shop where he is. He was willing to drive from Charleston, SC to pick it up. You fellows may want to get some current pricing from your local shop, you too may find prices have increased dramatically. 2 years ago, I was buying the heavy aluminum custom radiators for around $700 for our Cummins projects. Yes the cost now has doubled. Things have changed.

Looks like I might have to eat my hat... I was down at the rad shop just yesterday with my original rad looking to have the lower outlet moved to acomodate my engine swap. The discussion turned to recoring the unit and I was quoted off the top of his head near a grand. My how times have changed. I'm currently exploring other cooling options at the moment...

As for Canadian pricing - we order out of the US for a reason. Retailers up here seem to think that a 200% price increase is "fair". I beg to differ. My philosophy is if its local, and the price difference is within $50 - I'll buy it here, as it'll usually cost me that much in shipping and what not to get it from the US. If its anymore than that, I'll order from the US. We don't get good deals up here at all on retail type products. On custom labor work, its probably about the same as down there.

I've got two rad shops in town to choose from, and I think they are in Cahoots with each other...

[ron hardin]

The prices on everything seem crazy to me; I was quoted $2.00 a MINUTE to sand blast some pieces on my cargo box.
Ron

[MSeriesRebuild]

The prices on everything seem crazy to me; I was quoted $2.00 a MINUTE to sand blast some pieces on my cargo box.
Ron

You said a mouth full, crazy ain't the word for it.

I've literally had a hard time bringing myself to pricing some jobs lately because things have gone up so drastically. In turn I quoted some things lower than I should have in the name of trying to do what I thought was fair. What I really did was cut my throat in the end, had to hang my pants on the wall of shame, cause I lost my BUTT!

[cuz]

Speaking of NOS radiators: http://www.g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=160180

[MSeriesRebuild]

Speaking of NOS radiators: http://www.g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=160180

The radiator pictured in this link is not NOS. As a matter of fact it isn't even close to NOS. I've seen many just like it, it is a replacement built by McChord as the photos show. It is likely the worst reproduction of an M37 radiator ever produced. They are many years old now and have deteriorated to the point of not being worth much if anything. It is a much lighter duty unit than was the original. This can be readily seen by looking at the inlet outlet tubes and the mounting brackets. I wouldn't give $50 for that, you would get burned badly. The top and bottom tanks are super thin brass that will crack if you look at it wrong, don't be fooled here. It would likely be a recore job at a minimum.

[cuz]

Very good information Charles. I agree with your earlier comments on NOS having aged core issues as well. If I needed one on my own M I would go recore or modern.