Whats it worth? 1965 CJ6 radiator..

I have a '55 CJ5 and my understanding is '55 to '69 cj5 and cj6 radiators will fit my f-head.

I stumbled across a 1965 cj6 radiator at a local 4x4 shop. It's clearly an original and he said it was taken out of his personal 1965 CJ6. It is in pretty good shape. A little old, a little dusty, a few dings/dents. You can tell its old/used. However, if it was painted/cleaned up I bet from 20 feet away it would pass off as new.

I don't need a radiator at this exact moment but mine is "tired" without a doubt. (Fan shroud imprint from PO engine rebuild)

He is asking 250 and I see new ones going for 650 or so on eBay. Think I should pick it up and "plan" for my future? Even turn around and resell it?

 

People are paying $650 for a radiator?? I couldn't even lay down the $250 he's asking for a 47 year old radiator. After seeing the one Patrick got on EBAY, I got the same one...I think it was less than $150! Aluminum...good quality and cools great! Look at Reliable Radiator and Kool Radiators, unless you're going for a faithful restoration...just my $.02

 

See that was my thought process as well! As I have never paid that even for a new radiator. However, I checked out both places you mentioned and I didn't see a radiator for a '55. In fact only one of them had "early" radiators in stock and that was for 70s and up if I remember correctly. Maybe I'll have to give them a call. Anyways, please excuse me if I am missing something but I just haven't been able to locate one that I know will fit or have an oem fit.

 

I have a surplus radiator that needs a new core. I priced the replacement copper core and IIRC the radiator shop quoted $230. So if spanky great rebuilt nice with a new core I could see a $250 or so price. But if old you never know what you are going to run into. You might get yours evaluated at a radiator shop to see what they might charge to rehab yours.

 

Ryan,
You just have to find a radiator on one of those sites that will work. Mine was for a '64 Mustang or Comet or something like that. You can get to those sites through EBAY motors too. They give good, detailed measurements of each radiator they offer. You should be able to find something that will work well and, if not, call them. I was talking to a guy at a local car gathering a few months ago who said that Reliable Radiator(I think) made him a prototype for his Datsun Fairlady and gave it to him for free...he couldn't find an aluminum one available anywhere and they got the dimensions from him and built it, so that he could test it and they could then offer that model for sale. If I can find my reciept(slim chance), I will give you the model #...I have the V6, but that radiator should work for you too. Or search for Patrick's aluminum radiator post...he had the part # posted. I got one very similar to his. The inlet or outlet was sized differently than the stock unit, but I used a hose reducer at the water pump. Good luck!

 

I guess I lucked out. I found a guy selling one local on Craigslist for $20. I couldnt believe it. It had quite a few bent fins and I spent a couple hours straightening them out, painted it and walla. Good as new. Looks great and does not leak. It was not the exact year as the mounting holes were slightly different but besides that, it fit like a glove. I found another one I almost bought for 80 till I ran into this one. If your not in a hurry, 250 is way way too much. Keep the expenses as low as possible because they ad up fast.

 

I guess I understand about being patient. And I don't need one right now. But what intrigued me was it was original and the original remakes I have been looking at are 500 to 650. I am trying to stay as original as I can and I did do plenty of modifications on my YJ. Even though every one worked perfectly, I knew it wasn't original or true to form. I do appreciate the thoughts and the more I think about it, I'll probably go after market or try to talk this guy down. (unlikely) But on the other hand... it has such a simple beauty.

 

I've pretty much been getting my radiators for years from a place called Rick's Radiator down in Azusa, CA (Don't have his number with me right now), and while he can be a *little* spendy, it's been well worth it to me. He actually builds radiators, and has radiator cards on everything I've ever run past him, and he's more than happy to build you an OEM Dimension/material/construction radiator, or one to the OEM dimensions, but in Aluminium, or 4 core, or adding a trans cooler, or whatever you may want.

He built me a replacement OEM dimension radiator for my '41 Ford in aluminium, and I seem to recall it was only like $450 plus freight. So a little pricey, but excellent quality, and it fit right in there and bolted up exactly like the original did...

Course, the Radiator placement and mounting on an ECJ5 isn't exactly the most difficult thing in the world =]