516-293-2175 · Mon to Fri 8am to 5pm · Sat 8am to 11am · Eastern Time
This is probably our most frequently asked question and the answer is "no." However, all is not lost! Our complete radiators are "period correct," which is to say that they look perfect to the naked eye, but they won't win Pebble Beach.
In order to have all the original stampings and logos on your original radiator, but have the advantages of a brand new one, you will have to send us your old one to be recored. Whether your radiator is a 100-year-old brass-era honeycomb, a vintage cellular, or tubular core from a 1960s muscle car, or anything in between, we can install a core that will look exactly like the original and keep all of your original stampings on the radiator, but give you the performance of a brand new part by recoring your radiator.
The process of recoring a radiator goes all the way back to the very beginning of the 20th century, when, faced with irreparable radiators, craftsmen installed new cores. The craftsmen here in our shop still repair radiators the same way. A new core works as well as, or better than, a new radiator, (usually) costs less money and maintains originality!!!
Send it to Classic Radiator, 49 Carleton Ave, Islip Terrace NY 11752.
Be sure to include your name, phone number, type of vehicle and what you want done to the part. We'll call you with a price and time estimate. As every job is custom, we won't know how long it will take until we have your old part here in our shop so that we can see what needs to be done, but figure on it taking anywhere from a week to a month. Again, we will let you know as soon as we do!
This (opens in a new tab) is our site for information about our work. We have a large inventory of new radiators and NOS heaters. Some of the radiators that we have are for sale on our monthly specials page, but mostly everything is custom-made, so if you don't see what you're looking for, email [email protected] or call us at 516.293.2175. If we can't get you a complete new radiator or heater, we usually have many other ways to help you.
A lot! First, you can have us upgrade your radiator. In most, but not all, cases we can recore yours with a new high efficiency tubular copper and brass core with a higher fin-per-inch count or we may be able to get you a new radiator with the HE core or even an all-aluminum radiator.
Next, you'll probably want to upgrade your fan, as well. If you have an original four-blade fan, you should upgrade to a better fan; seven-blade fans are available for many models. It takes no more energy to run a seven blade fan than it does to run the four-blade. Also, installing a fan shroud around it will make a huge difference. How huge? About 50% better!
Speaking of fans, you may also want to add an electric "pusher" fan to the front of the radiator. While this is unnecessary when travelling on the open highway, it will improve cooling greatly in stop-and-go driving and while idling.
You've just opened up a can of very juicy worms. There are many differing opinions on this subject. Please go to our blog on this topic to see the full answer.
We won't know for sure if any radiator is repairable until after a boil, flush, flow test and pressure test. Older radiators (and heaters) are subject to dry rot, so the chances of it being repairable are slim, but not impossible. Please look through the FAQs below for more detail.
It can. Whenever possible, we will save the original brass tanks. This will keep the original numbers on the tank and preserve the look of the radiator. This sometimes involves silver soldering the tank because they often get stress fractures after decades of use.
We can also give you several options on recoring your classic radiator.
- If your OEM core is a honeycomb or cellular design, we can replace it with a tube-and-fin design. This is not an option if you plan to enter your car into any points shows. However, it's both the best product for cooling your classic and also the least expensive.
- We can install a 100% original-style core. This core will be an exact duplicate of the original. We have access to over 40 original honeycomb-style cores as well as cellular cores! No matter what your radiator looked like originally, we can duplicate it in most cases.
- As a compromise between the first two options, we can often make a veneer of the original style core and internally, we would use a high-efficiency tubular core. This will look completely original, but be less expensive and provide better cooling. Unfortunately, this isn't available on all honeycomb products.
Sort of. We can usually make a hybrid core for you. It would be a veneer of your original on the outside with a high efficiency core in the center. It will look original, but cool better!
We won't repair gas or kerosene heaters because they're inherently unsafe and we don't want anyone to drive around with them. Other than that, we can repair or recore any heater that comes our way, no matter how odd.
We carry several lines of high performance radiators, including several "universal fit" models that cover multiple applications. When you're ready to order the radiator, you'll need to take some precise measurements, including:
- Overall height
- Core thickness
- Neck sizes and locations
- Filler neck location
- Locations and types of mounts
- Is there a fan shroud? If so, mounting locations will be needed.
Call us at 516.293.2175 for assistance. We've been doing this for a very long time and can surely help! Be prepared to send us pictures via email or text.
We work on all cars, vans, light trucks and SUVs. It doesn't matter where they came from or when. We also work on semis, ATVs, motorcycles, skid steers, loaders...
Yes. Six models, all made by hand right here in the USA! Call us at 516-293-2175 for more details, or see our brass expansion tanks page.
Absolutely! We repair radiators and heaters on semi-trucks, buses, motorhomes, industrial equipment, airplanes, tanks, firetrucks, ambulances, police cars, and most stationary equipment. We also stock HUNDREDS of complete new radiators for heavy duty vehicles.
Almost certainly. We've had many gas tanks that we had to cut open to clean out. Once we clean them, we weld them back together and then we coat the inside and the outside for rust protection. Please check out our fuel tank repair page.
In a few cases, we've had to build our customer a brand new gas tank. This can be done in extreme cases. See the pictures of the 1925 REO gas tank on our fuel tanks page!
No. We do carry some NOS heater control valves, but if yours needs to be rebuilt, we can give you a recommendation. We've been referring our customers to him for years and we've never heard a complaint:
Joe Hudacek
6606 Banks Avenue
Superior, WI 54880
218.213.8906
www.HeaterValves.net (opens in a new tab)
That depends. There are several scenarios: First, if we repaired your original radiator (or heater), you will still have a unit that's 70 years old and aging. The warranty on repairs is 90 days. However, if we replaced your heater or radiator or recored it, the warranty is a year. While the warranty is not 70 years, any radiator (or heater) that we sell or recore will be at least as good as the original, and generally much better. If you want your cooling system to last for decades, you need to be responsible for making sure that the coolant always stays fresh. Water is a terrible thing for cooling systems; it contains oxygen and oxygen is not a friend of metals.
Don't forget, you also need to maintain ALL of your systems:
- Engine filtration and lubrication
- Transmission
- Brakes
- Steering
- Rear end
- Tires & wheels
- Interior/upholstery
- Suspension...
And please, take your classic car out for a cruise at least a few times every year. This will prevent so many problems (especially rust and dry rot) and help to maintain the value of your classic vehicle. Oh, and it's LOTS of fun!
Yes! We're located on Long Island, so it's kinda mandatory. More information is available on our coolers and marine heat exchangers page.