I ordered a Desert Cooler radiator from them. Finally got it after 3-weeks back-ordered. Only thing is, it's not what I (thought) I ordered!
Ames' catalog description (part# FP171) says they sell radiators that "have 1/8" x 1/2" tubes on 3/8" centers." Which coresponds to the Desert Cooler option-2 High Efficiency version that U.S. Radiator manufactures. Only what I received was the OEM replacement style with the 1/2" tubes on 9/16" centers.

After several phone calls I finally got to talk to Don Emery who is supposed to be the Customer Service Manager. He tells me that what they actually sell is the OEM style (9/16" centers) and that the catalog description is wrong. BUT get this, he tells me "that it's been like that for years" and I'm "the first one to catch that!" He also says that if I want the High-Efficiency version it will cost me another $90.00. (Even though direct from U.S. Radiator it's only a $70.00 upgrade.)

So when I thought I was ordering a high-efficience radiator, what they were planning on selling me was an OEM version. Nice of them to mention that when I ordered the radiator, since the description has been wrong for years!

So how many of you guys bought a radiator from them and didn't get what you thought you were getting?

Robert, don't feel too bad. Most vendors and aftermarket supply houses today use the "no one has ever complained before" excuse in order to cover their mistakes. I have a laundry list of items that Ames has screwed up on, but I tell ya, they're still pretty good compared to other vendors. Ames Performance used to be the best supplier of Pontiac parts in the country, but within the last 10 years, competition from other parts suppliers, especially those that specialize in bringing cheap Taiwanese made parts to our hobby, have forced Ames to struggle to become noticed, and unfortunately they've become "just another choice" when looking for a specific Pontiac part.

It's a crap shoot with parts suppliers today. Quality is so poor, and yet people continue to settle for mediocraty. That's America. With the Musclecar market now in decline, we're going to see a lot more "catalog mistakes" and cheap Taiwanese knock-off parts flooding the market.

Ames was sold about 2, maybe more?? yrs ago, so Steve Ames is no longer the owner...could have something to do with it....he used to run a tight ship.

Actually Steve and his wife Joan sold it many years ago....And the business has fallen a great deal, I was buying parts from Steve prior to him opening his business...Now I use PY and have had NO problems and nobody beats their shipping costs.

I really didn't have any problems with anything I bought from them untill the last few months. It just really irks me that they are advertising something (for years) which is not what they are sending you.

Stealth: Yea, I've heard the "you're the frist..." excuse many times. Not really buying it!

I think I will just let them have this radiator back and get one somewhere else.

Lee, what did you end up buying? I was going to buy the FP171 from Ames. Did you end up buying from US Radiator?

I didn't realize it had been that long. I did get the High Efficiency Copper/Brass Desert Cooler made by U.S. Radiator. As I recall, it came thru Ames, but it had to be special ordered, and cost more!
BTW, I just had it out this spring to to have repaired as one of the seams split open.

That's not good...

Buy a Rodney Red. Look it up online.

Pardon my Noobiness, but who is "PY"?

Performance Years..

Performance Years
here`s their forum

http://forums.performanceyears.com/forums/

After reading these posts I got the brass 4 core from classics industries. No problems with thickness or the attaching the shroud.

Results: On a 95 degree day in 45 minutes of stop and go traffic it lowered my temp from the usual 211 to 191.

CAVEAT: It is about a half of an inch wider and crowded the battery tray. But it did use the factory radiator support walls holes.

Also got Classic Industries spiffo temp gauge radiator cap, which proved to be completely bogus and inaccurate. Suspended in boiling water it read 225 degrees at sea level

I also use to use Ames, but the quality has gone down on a lot of there parts, I sent back half my last order, I also like PY have for many years, PY and Ames were my choices for repo parts both shipped fast, Ames I placed an ordered on a Monday and got it a week later, I live 200 miles from them and would almost get the next day if I ordered it by 10am, everything has changed there.

performance years , its another place to buy parts, i tried them twice. both times 1/4 of my order was back ordered. i live an hour from AMES so i can call them today and usually pick it up the same day. The good part i get to actually hold the part and say um no thanks, i can buy better.

cant beat the shipping ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I bought center dash panel plate retainer part# FA563TS it came in a ONE POUND BOX 12''x 11' x 6'' HELLO this could have came in a fu@$@#$ ENVELOPE. shipping rip off artists and PY is NO better. BUY FROM SWAP MEETS WHEN EVER POSSIBLE.

What was the shipping amount?