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Hello Packard folks.

With Hershey right around the corner would it be advantageous to lug my 1940 120 radiator to Hershey and get it directly to a restoration vendor, it needs to be done anyhow. Or should I research vendors and have it delivered to a recommended shop.

It is presently in NE PA. Does the Packard community have any suggested sources for this radiator restoration. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Fred D

I'm curious why you feel it needs a professional radiator specialist as opposed to just a local (to you) radiator shop. Most local radiator shops are quite capable of repairs, new cores, etc.

Good morning O.D.

I trust you had a great time at Hershey.

I have contacted a few local radiator repair shops and found that some were not capable of working my radiator. Some of the answers I got were Packard, NOPE can't do it, PACKARD, a what?. Yeah sure bring it in and let me take a look at it.

One fella who was the second generation shop owner who I have known for many years told me if it was a repair, he would do it but not a recore.

I did find one shop about 45 miles away that would do a recore for $ 800.00. Using a "V" fin or $725.00 for a serpentine fin although the size of the serpentine is 1/4 inch narrower that the original. This was from a big time radiator shop in PA.

My next place to try is about 45 minutes in the opposite direction.

I will keep trying and any other suggestions/sources would be appreciated.

Thanks again
Fred D

1940-120,
Did u go to Hershey and what did any of the radiator restoration vendors tell u there???

Thank you for the reply. Yes I did go to Hershey, and spoke to a few vendors there.

One vendor told me he doesn't do Packard and to try Universal.

The fellow at Universal told me it would be $1.26 SQ. Inch. for the core that comes to about $500.00. Plus fabrication and installation.

I spoke to three semi local radiator shops this morning, #1 only buys replacement new fab radiators, #2, the fellow was 90? yrs old and he said that the type of work I discusses would cost thousands. # 3 said sure bring it down and I will look at it.

So that is the latest and greatest with local sources.

Thanks again for the response. In your opinion is $800 even in the ball park??

Thanks again
Fred D

New "4 row" fin and tube core replacing a 3-row for a 1950 Packard eight was about $650 five or eight years ago. Northern NJ prices.

Try this but U'll have to do your own research.

Any local autoparts store should have a radiator cataloug. Look thru the catalouge for the rad of best fit. Probably some truck including lite truck applications that are still available say 1965 thru early 1980's.
Pick the rad that is closest to best fit. will probably require some modification to the mounting brackets on the side.'

Again. just something u'll have to research and will have to know dimensions etc. Bottom line. Buy a NEW radiator. Make it fit.

There are a few of us running Ford truck rads in our 55-56 Packards.

Interesting topic. Keep us posted.

We paid $1,600 for a 1930 Auburn radiator re-do about 10 years ago and were happy to do so, it was a honeycomb design core.
$800 seems about right if it is a quality job.

I had the radiator on my 47 Custom Clipper recored a few years ago. I went with the 4-row staggered tube type. Cost was about $1,000.

(o{}o)