The guys are absolutely right, in the old days we made do with radiators and other parts because money was tight and the availability of these sorts of items was not what we have today. We usually paid the price when our cobbled up part let us down, and usually at the worst time possible.

I will cut corners where possible, but I have learned not to do that in critical areas, like the radiator we are discussing. I have always had a custom built radiator in my cars for the past 20 or so years, and since aluminum radiators have become available, I use them exclusively.

We rodders sometimes don't mind springing for those expensive mag wheels, or high performance engine part, but when it comes to something like a radiator, we hate to spend our money there. However, a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link.

Don