Hello all,

As I start to work on my early 50's 170SD diesel (four-cylinder OM636) I went to get a radiator.

I got a guy who offered to sell me a 170D radiator carcass (needs total rebuild, useless as is) for the MODEST sum of $ 1,800! Oh, plus shipping.

I said no thanks and decided on another course of action.

The OM 636 engine was used in the 180d cars and some 190d cars also.

I looked at the radiators from those cars, which are similar but slightly different, being made for a car with about 100cc more displacement, and I said to myself "Self, this could work until I find one for a more reasonable price."

The later radiators are slightly smaller, but can still work.

Since a governed version of the OM636 engine was also used on refrigeration trucks and dairy pumps and generators, I am looking to see how those are arranged as well.

All these radiators will fit in the cavernous engine compartment of this car, with only a slight mod for the radiator cap.

I mentioned this to another guy and he laughed and told me he would make me a new one from scratch out of brass for 1100, if I could wait a month.

He'd even stamp the part number on it, lol!

Any ideas from the group?

I am tired of dealing with weasels who try to squeeze every last dime out of you.

One day, I'll control all the air on Earth and sell it at 11 times everyone else's cost to them only.

__________________
Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

I have thought about making my own radiator...
it is not impossible to make one better than what comes in your car...
If making one for a 123 you could figure on selling more than one out of the jigs made for the first one...
but in your case it is probably a one off deal... given the age and type of car...
There was an article in ' Motorcycle Mechanic ' several decades ago which showed the process....
and there is Hemmings Motor News .... a monthly old car magazine which has vendors which sell all sorts of things to restore old cars... including what is called ' honey comb' radiator core.... like came stock on my 34 Plymouth Coupe ... which is really strong... and what I would look for if I was going to purchase the core part...
But the Motorcycle Mechanics article shows how to do the core part also...

__________________
1980 240d ,

chain elongation, cam marks reference:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/10414-help-i-need-check-stretch.html

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html

evap fin cleaning:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/156207-photo-step-step-post-showing-w123-evaporator-removal-1983-240d-1982-300td.html?highlight=evaporator

A/C thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html

There are a zillion aftermarket aluminum ones out there. I have one in my car from "Be Cool" and I can run my car without a fan in sunny S.C. and it won't overheat.

If you're looking for something which "looks" the same, take a peak at Griffen. They're in the upstate of S.C..