Can anyone tell me what the correct code on a Harrison radiator would be for a 70 SS Chevelle? I have a 396/350hp, 4 speed car built in June of 70. I have been restoring this car for 4 years and everything on it is 100% correct except the radiator. I have seen the repops on ebay, but as far as I have gone on this car I would really like to find the correct radiator to finish it off. I would need a radiator with a date before June of 70. Anybody have one? Thanks, Lonny

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj109/crazychevelleman/bk.jpg
BK radiator tag for L-34 396/402 350HP TH400

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj109/crazychevelleman/br.jpg
BR radiator tag for LS5-LS6 standard cooling auto

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj109/crazychevelleman/bq.jpg
BQ radiator tag for LS5-LS6 standard cooling manual

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj109/crazychevelleman/bj.jpg
BJ L-78 396 375HP AUTO RADIATOR TAG Code

I have combined a few posts for you to better aid you in this area. The stamped codes are near the top of the tank . These are stamped from the inside of the tank out so they will be raised. The tag will be attached on the same tank roughly halfway down again facing the engine. Only 2 places on the radiator will exhibit any date code. Both are located on the big tank with the radiator cap. There is a pair of production codes stamped on the tank facing the engine near the top of the radiator. 4 speeds use an XJ code and automatics carry XP . These letters are approximately 1" tall. In between these 2 large letters will be 1 smaller letter that denotes the month that the tank was stamped ( IN TH E PIC below). These tanks are dated like most Chevrolet parts A-M for Jan through Dec skipping the letter I .
The other date is located on the radiator tag beside the part # stamp. An example would be 3017248 9 which is the part # and date example for a PD 4-row HD cooling radiator with automatic trans. 3017248 is the complete assembly part # and 9 would be for 1969. If the small letter between the X and the P was an M than the radiator would be dated Dec of 1969 based on the tank and tag info.
date of B = February. This tells you that that tank was stamped in Feb. not neccessarily that the rad was actually built in Feb, but if it wasn't I'm sure it was close. XP is the code assigned to that tank for identification purposes and was used on automatic trans equipped cars.
Your tag is like the buildsheet for the radiator.
I F is the code for the driver's side tank used on 4-row HD cooling applications. It will display these letters I F on the tank about halfway down on the side facing the engine.
X P is the code stamped as you found near the top passenger side tank, again facing the engine. The smaller letter B located in the middle of the Xand the P is as you guessed, the month code of that specific tank.
The 74 has always been regarded as the core part of the radiators I.D. code.
There will be a part # stamped into the tag on the flat portion of the tag that attaches to the radiator tank. There is a space of about 1/4" then another single digit will follow. This is regarded as the year of manufacture.
Your tag should be stamped 3017248 with either an 8 , 9 , or a 0 for 70 andpossibly a 1 for 71 as this radiator was used in both Pontiacs and Chevrolet A-bodies during this time frame (you can bearly make it out on the Tag in the pic, on the flat portion YOU CAN REPLICATE THIS ON THE REPRO TAGS WITH A NUMBER STAMP).
PD is the broadcast code that GM assigned for the complete radiator as a unit.
:beers:
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x34/raupleminze/IMG_8261.jpg

Which radiator do you have a 2,3 or 4 row?

I would think for a 70 big block with a 4-speeed, and the standard 3-row radiator, it would have a BE radiator that has the XJ and IA tanks.
The BQ would be for an L78 or LS6 engine with 4-speed.
BK and BR are for auto trans.
PA is the 4-row radiator with 4-speed.
PD is the 4 row with automatic.

BE radiator tag for L-34 396/402 350HP manual
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj109/crazychevelleman/be.jpg
1970 CHEVELLE 396/350HP AUTO WITH A/C RADIATOR TAG Code BE (IF XP 52).
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj109/crazychevelleman/tag.jpg
PA radiator tag for LS5-LS6 heavy cooling manual
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj109/crazychevelleman/pa.jpg
PD radiator tag for LS5-LS6 heavy cooling auto
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj109/crazychevelleman/pd.jpg

70 CHEVELLE L-78 396 375HP MANUAL RADIATOR TAG Code BO
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj109/crazychevelleman/tag1-1.jpg

The build sheet for my 69 L35 396 with man trans states BE for the radiator which is a 3 core Harrison rad with XJ & IA on the tanks,that i know is 100% correct .

I also believe the above mentioned Harriosn rad is also correct for a 70 chevelle L34 396/350hp & 454/365hp LS5 motor & man trans too but i am not 100% sure of that .

Scott

Fellas -

Follow up question here - are these radiators the same for all A bodies? I have a 69 BO code 3 core manual trans radiator with XJ and IA tanks and a 71 BS with XI and IA tanks. Both are from GTO's, but would they also be correct for a Chevelle, Skylark, and Cutlass?

Thanks,

Scott

Damm, you guys are making me dig the radiator out to check it.

In my experience there are some GTO radiators that cross over to Chevelle, but I've never seen a Buick or Olds radiator that had the same fill side tank code as a Chevelle. The drivers side tanks were all the same (IF 4-core or IA 3-core). The assembly code BE BR BQ etc is the tag for the build sheet...as pictured above you can buy the tag for just about any code, as long as you have the corresponding tanks. The hard part is finding not only the correct code tank, but finding the correct date code as well.

I'll take a stab at the original question of this thread...I think with a build date that late you should have a BO or BE code radiator (3-core) or a PA code radiator (4-core). If you don't have a buildsheet to check, review the options on the car. Does it have A/C, does it have a 4.10 rear, does the original radiator support or top plate have the extension spot welded to it? If it had any of these, it would probably be a 4-core radiator (PA). No matter what your code turns out to be, you'll need an XJ fill side tank with a date code of "D" "E" or "F" (E being the best) and an IA or IF tank (they are undated).

BE coded radiators should be a 2-row core, BO & BQ are 3-row and PA is the 4-row version for manual transmission applications. BE is the standard radiator for 396 standard hydraulic lifter motors, BO is the 3-row used with 396-375 engines , BQ is the 3-row 454 except A/C (LS5) and LS6 with 3.31 axle, PA is 396-454 with A/C and LS6 with 4.10 rear axle. I have seen examples of cars with PA radiators that were ordered with HD cooling, 396-454 that were not A/C cars. Pontiac did indeed use most of these radiators in their A-body line-up as well.
Chris

My ( Ordered in Feb. Built 2nd. Wk. of March) -70 / Balt. LS-5 / M-22 with A/C has the XJ-IF-PA. Rad.
Bob