Hi all,
So, I have a fairly nice but slightly elderly 1988 23'-24' class C with 100,000 miles, the 460 / 7.5 L engine / C6 and which has been in the family .....forever. I'm doing some minor winter/covid-time restorative work on the drive train, suspension and steering/brakes, filters, fluids, hoses, etc. This in anticipation of travel this upcoming summer and possibly long distance over winter, so it needs to be pretty reliable.
The original 4 core brass/copper rad is slightly rotten and searching all over is not producing results I can easily live with. Best price so far on the Spectra Premium CU847 is $1,064 Cdn, out the door and this stretches my budget and wallet rather badly.
AmazonCanada has 6 on hand, for close to 200 less but no-way no-how will they ship one to me in British Columbia.
Local rad rebuilders say they need around 1,300+taxes, so that route doesn't appeal either.
Surely there are options? Help would be much appreciated before I bite the bullet and drop funds on this Spectra.
I didn't post this before doing a great deal of searching throughout the site, just can't find the answers I'm looking for so far.
Thanks all!

 

How close mileage-wise are you to a US border town? Is anyone in this sub-forum of the 460 CID engine sub-forum close to you?

Without sounding too snarky any vehicle out of production approaching 34+ years is bound to have problems sourcing repair or replacement parts. Owning and operating one has its downfalls so you'll have to pay the going price or do without. Anything that enters the "sellers market" will have a high price---your radiator is in that market sorry to say.

 

Ebay has item number 294678050674 all aluminum radiator 3 row for 246 and free shipping to the lower 48
Just contact them and pay the extra shipping to BC
You could use JWA's advice and find someone you know in Seattle and have it delivered to them
Then you can take a small vacation and go get it from Seattle

 

Thanks for the replies. I have a US-based shipping address but Amazoncanada won't ship there either. I suspect there is a vendor agreement issue preventing sales to some areas. Oddly enough they will ship to my 6YO granddaughter in Alberta but she is balking at carrying it out here for me. It's only 43#, the lazy little bugger. Shipping adds more damage risk and significant costs.

As for the eblay item, a search on both the Canada and US sites reveals no matching items?

 

I have a USA eBay account and also did not find anything using that item number. If that item does exist for sale on the USA site it would be good posting a link to the auction/sale page.

 

About 3 years ago I had to change the rad on my 1989 E350 for same reason, Got one off Rock Auto, but looking up the 1988 listing everything out of stock. When I was looking to get a replacement I took the old rad to a rad shop, they said they used to recore that style frequently years ago but the price their supplier quoted was rather pricy compared to what I eventually got the rad for.
It might be an option. I know getting parts for the older vehicles becoming a pain.

 

Well hell, I looked at that radiator again and it shows no 460
Here is another one from Jegs this time

 

 

Check the inlet and outlet sizes to be sure (your 460 will have the biggest upper and lower hoses)
Call them

 

Are there merits to keeping it original? How much work is it to fit a radiator from a ‘92-up E350? F350? GM?

Write in marker on the hood what radiator hoses fit if you have to customize.

Sixto
07 E350 5.4 178K miles

 

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll follow up the Jegs rad, sizing, etc. Oddly enough, Jegs site doesn't have search selection for the E350 in 1988, but the part number displayed in the screen shot got me there, so thanks for that!
I was hoping to avoid custom fitting issues, what with all the other stuff that must fit in/around the rad and fan.

Another question that's still running around in my head is whether or not to change out the water pump at this time. No leaks there, everything looks good but it's original and around 100k miles. My basic theory is leave well enough alone but breakdowns are just not much fun either.

I appreciate all the assistance!

 

Can speak from experience here, had a fan clutch and water pump fail about 1000 KM from home, not fun camping in the garage.s back lot for several days. The job is a lot easier with rad already removed. You can also take your time to source incidentals that may crop up like the blanking plates on my water pump that were severely corroded . Lots of bolts to be undone, so you can take your time with that as well.
Jeff

 

Another place to consider:
Radiator - CU847 by SPECTRA PREMIUM INDUSTRIES on PartsAvatar.ca

 

Great find there Maltondhc
I'm just trying to help shop for lower prices!

its a shame it cant come through Amazon at $455. USD

here is the spectra site and it has a section to click on "where to buy"
https://ecat.spectrapremium.com/products/CU847

https://www.partsource.ca/products/cu847-spectra-automotive-radiator $655.98

 

You can try here at summit racing, it says they ship for free to Canada with orders of $299.00 and higher.

https://www.summitracing.com/search/...-350-econoline