TRYING TO FIND CORRECT DUSTER RADIATOR HELP! - Mopar Muscle Forums at Mopar Muscle Magazine

TRYING TO FIND CORRECT DUSTER RADIATOR HELP!

  
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TRYING TO FIND CORRECT DUSTER RADIATOR HELP!

 
e.gunn e.gunn
New User | Posts: 9 | Joined: 10/07
Posted: 10/09/07
03:25 PM

I am new to this site and after briefly looking it over it looks like a very useful site. I am the third owner of a 1971 340 Duster. I have had it for 5 years and I bought it from my cousin who bought it in 1981. It has been in storage since 1992. I finally brought her back to life last Saturday evening and she sounds very good. I am not talking a restoration here. I got the original Thermoquad rebuilt, I had to replace the fuel tank, sender,pump and lines. New thermostat. I put an electronic ignition in, didn't want to deal with the old dual points distributor. New ignition coil,plugs and wires. I lubed the cylinders and turned engine by hand,then cranked it using battery with spark plugs out. Then hooked everything up and about 4 or 5 cranks and she fired up. After the smoke cleared I did some carb. and timing adjustments. I wish I could say everything was peachey but I can't because the more I run it the more I am finding little problems. The latest and so far the greatest challenge is trying to find a new radiator. The old one has several hairline cracks in the top tank. Every parts place that I have checked with carries a radiator that looks like it should fit but the core thickness is only 1 1/4" and my old one has a core that's 1 7/8" thick. Thus, there is a 3/4" gap between the radiator and the core support. I talked to one person that said no radiators for my car are being made so it has to be custom made and it will take 3 weeks and cost a lot of $$. Am I the only person in Mapar World that has dealt with this problem?? If anyone out there knows if the correct radiator is available could you please let me know. I don't know if the old one can be repaired at a radiator shop since the tank has 5 or 6 cracks in it. I would GREATLY appreciate any help on this. Thank you!! e.gunn  

 
RBolig RBolig
Moderator | Posts: 658 | Joined: 12/03
Posted: 10/10/07
06:06 AM

It depends on how "correct" you want the radiator. If you want an actual, properly coded replacement, Glen-Ray Radiator in Wausau, WI, (800/537-3775), builds radiators for Mopars that are factory correct. If you just want a replacement copper-core radiator, any Advance, Autozone, or Napa should be able to help you, but they won't even be close to the factory stock unit.  
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Some people are like Slinkys; they're not very useful, but fun to watch when pushed down the stairs.

 
e.gunn e.gunn
New User | Posts: 9 | Joined: 10/07
Posted: 10/10/07
02:01 PM

Thanks for the information. I must say though that the autoparts stores you mentioned do not carry nor can they order the correct 3 core radiator for my 1971 340 Duster! Trust me, I've been there and done that. All any of them can get is a 2 core radiator which will not fit even though their computers tell them it is the correct one. I used to be a Chevy man and after going through this I might become one again. If this were any vintage Chevy car there would be no problem getting a new radiator for it. I luv my duster though. Is it ok to swing both ways on a Mopar site??  

 
7duster4 7duster4
New User | Posts: 5 | Joined: 11/07
Posted: 11/19/07
02:41 PM

i have a 74 plymouth duster, i was and still a chevy man myself, but love dodge and plymouth muscle cars.to me mopar muscle is the best. mopar or no car!!!  

 
mopar3762 mopar3762
Enthusiast | Posts: 606 | Joined: 04/08
Posted: 04/25/08
01:44 PM

just buy an after market radiator from summit or jegs ,these will far out cool any copper radiator and their only 1 1/2 inch wide cores  

 
mopar3762 mopar3762
Enthusiast | Posts: 606 | Joined: 04/08
Posted: 05/01/08
06:35 AM

hi, theres a 1970 340 duster radiator on ebay. type in mopar A body. part # is 2998978 ,looks like a good core. hope this helps.  

 
kmac441 kmac441
New User | Posts: 1 | Joined: 01/09
Posted: 01/11/09
09:47 AM

Hi

I Have your Radiator its out of a 1970 duster 340

PN 2998978  33086

It leaks abit but looks pretty good for a core Let me know  kevin  

 
maxwedgemaine maxwedgemaine
New User | Posts: 26 | Joined: 01/09
Posted: 01/14/09
11:21 AM

Any radiator shop can fix the tank but with that many years storage make sure you have the core checked as well.
A lot of the newer radiators use a wider tube and consequently the radiator is thinner.Your original might have been 3 rows and the replacement 2 but they have the same total cooling area.
As long as the holes line up the 3/4" gap doesn't matter.
Dom Rinaldi  

 
f4chenfei f4chenfei
New User | Posts: 1 | Joined: 09/09
Posted: 09/13/09
06:23 PM

maybe you only need a new top water tank...  

 

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