65 valiant getting hot

[frige]

Hey guys.
!965 valiant with the 225 slant. I have it running pretty decent low miles. Im down in Texas and it gets warm. She is running up in the higher end of the gauge when I run the a/c. 89k miles and original radiator. Im sure its a little plugged up. I called the local shop and he told me he would probably kill it cleaning it out, he said they get brittle and will be full of holes when he is done. So Should I buy one of those aluminum radiators?

 

[bcschief]

Plymouth Valiant, 1965-66 L6 170/225 Radiator - US Radiator

Not cheap but correct.

 

[RustyRatRod]

I had an aftermarket aluminum radiator in my 64 Valiant and it just fit awful. It was absolutely dreadful. I replaced it with a stock style radiator that a member here was gracious enough to give me.

 

[ProjectBazza]

Hey guys.
!965 valiant with the 225 slant. I have it running pretty decent low miles. Im down in Texas and it gets warm. She is running up in the higher end of the gauge when I run the a/c. 89k miles and original radiator. Im sure it’s a little plugged up. I called the local shop and he told me he would probably kill it cleaning it out, he said they get brittle and will be full of holes when he is done. So Should I buy one of those aluminum radiators?

What have you got to lose? It’s either going to work, or it’s not.

Just be thankful you have a “local shop”, as radiator repairs shops are becoming (have become?) a thing of the past. And if you want a second opinion, since you have one shop, maybe there’s another one out there…..

Anyway, I had two, OEM 3-row F250 radiators “saved” by a (not so local) shop, and I sure am glad I did, as I think aluminum radiators look awful/out of place in an older vehicle.

Just my $.02.

 

[65 Dartman]

I have a 3 core AC radiator that my one and only local shop declined to open it up for the same reasons the OP stated. They did offer to recore it with a new 3 core to the tune of $900. I passed

 

[frige]

I have a 3 core AC radiator that my one and only local shop declined to open it up for the same reasons the OP stated. They did offer to recore it with a new 3 core to the tune of $900. I passed

Ugh 900 I could get a good start on a paint job for that. Lol. I will let him open it up. Worst case is I would have to buy a cheap one anyway and paint it black.

 

[dogbreath]

If you do replace the radiator make sure you remove the block drain and flush out the block before installing the new radiator

 

[Charrlie_S]

2 questions.
How many blades on the fan?
Do you have a shroud?
Is your radiator 19 or 21 inches wide?
Is it Mopar factory or dealer AC or aftermarket AC?
OK that's 4 questions.

 

[Charrlie_S]

I had an aftermarket aluminum radiator in my 64 Valiant and it just fit awful. It was absolutely dreadful. I replaced it with a stock style radiator that a member here was gracious enough to give me.

I have a couple of aluminum radiators in 64 Valiants and they fit just fine. Now on 65 or 66 Valiant there might be a problem as the opening in the radiator support is larger than on the 64. The radiators I see listed for the 1965-66 slant six are the same as listed for the 1964. This will not fit the 65-66 properly. the overall width is too small.

 

[Jim Kueneman]

Ugh 900 I could get a good start on a paint job for that. Lol. I will let him open it up. Worst case is I would have to buy a cheap one anyway and paint it black.

Have not priced a good paint job lately I see

 

[AJ/FormS]

Are you sure it's a bad rad?
I mean there are like a dozen reasons for overheat.
I mean the rad that is cooling my HotRod 367 was new in 1973. Even the patches on it have patches.

 

[abodyjoe]

She is running up in the higher end of the gauge when I run the a/c.

did you verify that its actually running hot? or are you just going by an ancient gauge?

 

[toolmanmike]

did you verify that its actually running hot? or are you just going by an ancient gauge?

Yep. If it's not puking coolant, it's not overheating.