Classic/Antique Car Repair: Rad, radiator repair, core material

Question
Hi
I took the rad out of my overheating 230 6 cylinder 64 Pontiac.
A rad shop cleaned it and got a handfull of grain out of it!
The guy then told me to straighten out all the little fins with an ice pick-was this a good idea? At least half of the fins were bent over or squashed together,and all very rusty.
I put it back on and now its leaking from an area on the core!
Do you think the cleaning and straightning opened up a hole?
I know a guy that has another old rad from the same kind of car.
Should I try that one,or get this one recored? I am not sure what recoreing means. Thanks!

Answer
A good rule with radiators is fix it right the first time.

Recoring is using your tanks and fittings and replacing the cooling fins and tubes with new factory fresh core material. It is actually in some areas cheaper than having one 'rodded', which is what the cleaning process is called.

Be aware, in the radiator repair business there is a lot of room for varying grades of service. Ask around and check prices at several shops before committing. If someone can't tell you what it will cost, they haven't done enough of them.

You will be much happier in the long run to just get it recored.