Walck's vs KW Radiator: Same? |
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Dahdo
Member Joined: 13 Mar. 2018 Location: Oregon Status: Offline Points: 63 |
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Posted: 25 July 2022 at 7:23pm |
Took my original radiator to the shop today and they said i needed a re-core, price: $1,000. This is a legit old time shop in Vancouver and guess it just is what it is. So now I'm shopping reproductions and I am wondering if the "Best quality" 4-core copper/steel at Walcks (PN 640146) for $575 (out of stock) is the same radiator as Kaiser-Willys PN 640146 for $599 that is in stock. Anyone know? They look the same in photos.
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dasvis
Member Sponsor Member Joined: 07 Sep. 2019 Location: Salem, Oregon Status: Offline Points: 1518 |
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I would guess so. I am pretty sure Walcks fuel tanks are Omix.
They can only source from so many vendors.
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1947 CJ2A #88659 "Rat Patrol"
1953 CJ3A #453-GB1 11266 "Black Beauty" 1964 Thunderbird convertible ..... & one of them moves under it's own power!! |
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Downs
Member Joined: 08 Sep. 2021 Location: Hunt County Tex Status: Offline Points: 179 |
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Good god, 1000 dollars for a re-core. Insane.
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Ron D
Member Joined: 27 Oct. 2019 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 1403 |
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To me, crazy stupid money quotes like $1000 for a radiator re-core is the same as if they'd said "we don't really want the job, but if you're crazy stupid enough we'll do it". Naturally, they won't say that to your face. And any questioning about the "take it or leave it" deal will usually get a "hit the road" response. I've been running into more and more of this lately. Not just jeep stuff, lots of things. Can't help but think a lot of these folks will be out of business before long. But I might be surprised. I'd flush and store the old radiator for a while. Sanity might come back in style some day.
Edited by Ron D - 25 July 2022 at 11:02pm |
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1951 M38
1951 M100 |
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Oldpappy
Member Joined: 09 Apr. 2018 Location: Tennessee Status: Offline Points: 4815 |
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I had a Jeep radiator re-cored last Fall and it was $350. I agree a quote for $1,000 is just them telling you to buzz off.
I would not assume the radiator KW sells is the same as what Walcks sells. I could call Walcks and ask about the one they sell, you will get an honest answer.
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If you can't get there in a Jeep you don't need to be there!
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Dahdo
Member Joined: 13 Mar. 2018 Location: Oregon Status: Offline Points: 63 |
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That price does sound like a "buzz off, we've got all the business we need", but it didn't feel that way. It's a small mom and pop shop, been there forever, very well reviewed, and the old fella who I assume was the owner came out, looked it over after the leak test and gave the estimate. Then we went back in the office, and he spent 20 minutes searching for a new replacement that he could get me. We finally concluded that he couldn't save me anything over a replacement from Walcks or KW.
I found this thread over at HAMB from ten years ago, makes me think prices have been high, at least in some areas, for a long time |
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SE Kansas 46 CJ-2A
Member Sponsor Member x 3 Joined: 22 Jan. 2016 Location: S.E. Kansas Status: Offline Points: 3183 |
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Not very many radiator repair shops exist anymore as most are small shops with owners that are probably approaching retirement age. Radiator repair is probably close to becoming a lost art; similar to re-babbitting old rods. The exception might be industrial engine radiator repair for large equipment and oil field applications.
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46 CJ-2A #64462 "Ol' Red" (bought April 1969)(second owner)(12 V, 11" brakes, M-38 frame, MD Juan tub)
U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer(ret.) U.S. Army Vietnam veteran and damned proud of it. |
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CJ2A60
Member Joined: 11 July 2022 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 81 |
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reThey're probably the same, from the same supplier.
When Walcks has them in stock again, their prices will be probably be higher also. For those of you that missed the late '70s/early '80s, this is a common occurrence during times of inflation; it's out of stock while the retailer desperately tries and fails to find supplies at old price points, then when it is in stock again, it is more expensive. The phrase "a thousand dollars" still has a certain psychological shock value to it, but it really isn't nearly as much money as it used to be, especially in booming areas, and Vancouver is booming these days. Here in the Austin area I have gotten used to paying a thousand dollars for all sorts of things that I used to be able to buy or have done for three or four hundred. For example, I was recently quoted the price of "four or five thousand, depending" to get the old fuel out of the system, change all the fluids, and rebuild the carb on my '77 Bronco, so I can get it rolling again. If I look around, I can get it done cheaper, but I'm probably not going to get it done in the Austin area for less than two grand. It would have been about a grand in 2012 when I stopped driving it. Edited by CJ2A60 - 26 July 2022 at 12:32pm |
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Dahdo
Member Joined: 13 Mar. 2018 Location: Oregon Status: Offline Points: 63 |
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"When Walcks has them in stock again, their prices will be probably be higher also."
I called Walcks and KW and Ron Fitzpatrick this morning and all told me the same thing: the brass/copper core radiators that they normally stock are not available and won't be until at least the end of September, more likely the end of the year. And yes, Carl said that prices will be higher than what's currently posted on their website. This bad new led me to try and find another repair shop that could fix mine for something less than $1,000. I called shops up and down the Willamette Valley from Eugene to Vancouver and found that several shops either closed or no longer offer repairs, only replacement. The only two repair shops I found were the one I visited in Vancouver (Wilsons) and a regional chain, Macs. Mac's is only doing repair work in their Portland shop and they told me over the phone that it's $46 to test the radiator and "repairs can go up to $1,000". So here's what I think is going on, at least in our region. Classic car people are really the only ones left who want to repair their radiators. Re-coring requires skills that not just anybody off the street has, but they can probably bolt in a new aluminum reproduction radiator, and do it much cheaper. The classic car crowd has money to throw at these "passion projects" and Mac's (in our area) knows they pretty much have a monopoly. The last of the small shops, like Wilson's, know what Mac's charges, and adjusts their prices accordingly. And you know what, I don't blame them a bit. Their costs are up, they're just trying to hang in there. So that kind of leaves guys like me (us?) in the lurch--I'm not building a show car, just something to tool around in--the budget is not there for $1,000 radiator repairs. So if you are one of the lucky ones who still has a local repair shop fixing theses things at reasonable prices, maybe you can start a side business receiving Willys radiators from Oregon (or wherever), getting them repaired and shipping them back. I'll be your first customer ;)
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AKoller
Member Sponsor Member Joined: 19 Sep. 2018 Location: Moundridge Kans Status: Offline Points: 647 |
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Since you aren't building a show car just something to tool around in are you completely opposed to a aluminum replacement radiator if you can't get yours fixed for a reasonable price? If you're not opposed to it give Sal over at Vintage Jeeper a look. He is a good guy and his prices are competitive.
https://vintagejeeper.com/products-%26-services/ols/products/1945-1949-willys-aluminum-3-core-radiator |
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1950 CJ3A "Thumper"
1966 M151 A1 1942 GPW #70221 |
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otto
Member Joined: 26 Feb. 2012 Location: Orygun Status: Offline Points: 2241 |
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Mac’s rebuilt a vintage heater core for me and the bill for that was over $300. Not surprised that a radiator would be considerably more. Maybe try the aluminum version until a better option for the original comes along.
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47 CJ2A w/fuel injected boat engine
48 CJ2A 64 Ford Econoline Travelwagon If you can't get there in a Jeep, get a motorcycle! |
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Downs
Member Joined: 08 Sep. 2021 Location: Hunt County Tex Status: Offline Points: 179 |
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You see the samenthing with automotive electrical shops. Try to find a place to repair a starter or alternator for you locally. I don't even have one a reasonable distance from me anymore.
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CJ2A60
Member Joined: 11 July 2022 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 81 |
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Such a person would be well-advised, very early on in work on their business plan, to contact the radiator shop that re-cored a radiator for them for $350 last time and find out what they are charging these days. |
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Dahdo
Member Joined: 13 Mar. 2018 Location: Oregon Status: Offline Points: 63 |
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That looks like a good option. I'll probably go ahead a get one. As you say, it's easy for me or someone else to change out if availability for the more correct ones get better. I seriously doubt it'll ever get cheaper to repair them though.
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Tom in RI
Member Joined: 07 May 2009 Location: RI Status: Offline Points: 1124 |
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Now I’m curious what just the core costs. Maine Auto Radiator Mfg. made the last core that I had made for a GPW with the little angle cut and such - years ago
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oldscot3
Member Joined: 22 Oct. 2019 Location: texas Status: Offline Points: 545 |
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The old school radiator shop in my town quit doing automotive type work years ago. He said he couldn't make any money at the price you can buy a new one for. He has all the work he wants doing big truck and equipment radiators, so there you go. I hope my old radiator last awhile longer.
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James 4:6 God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
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dasvis
Member Sponsor Member Joined: 07 Sep. 2019 Location: Salem, Oregon Status: Offline Points: 1518 |
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I talked to a retired radiator repair shop customer of mine & he said that the cost of disposing waste water was a big part of rising costs. There is a lot of heavy metals & toxic stuff there.
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1947 CJ2A #88659 "Rat Patrol"
1953 CJ3A #453-GB1 11266 "Black Beauty" 1964 Thunderbird convertible ..... & one of them moves under it's own power!! |
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Jeff J
Member Joined: 12 Mar. 2018 Location: USA Status: Offline Points: 430 |
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A lot of sectors have suffered the same fate. What can move overseas has. The government isn’t helping either. I heard a story a while back about a guy who ran a 5 stall garage. Three of the 5 bays were full of 55 gallon drums of waste oils and solvents. His side of the story is that he had been paying a government licensed and bonded company to dispose of the stuff but the company wasn’t doing what they were paid to be doing. The government closed the disposal company and fined him. His answer was to let the garage fill to the point he cannot work anymore then walk away from it rather than let the government fine him again for another company’s wrongdoing. “Let the next owner worry about it”.
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