people fabricate assemblies out of stainless steel quite commonly.
more welding than drilling for sure ..
but many custom parts are tig welded up in stainless.

my welder fabricator guy ..
making one of those would be child's play for him.

On 1/6/2014 4:38 PM, Neil N wrote:
> Interesting. Looks similar to the stamp on the heat exchange box
> behind dash. Good tips. Thanks.  A manufacture and assembly date.
>
> As for a stainless steel coolant distribution tower, uh no. That metal
> would be a PITA for someone w/o the right tools. Metal's too hard.
> Maybe use mild box steel? Easier to drill and mate the pipes to it.
>
> Neil.
>
>
> On 1/6/14, mark drillock <mdrillock@cox.net> wrote:
>
>> That date looks ok to me. The newest van is 22 years old. That rad is
>> only 10 years and it may have been on the shelf for a while before it
>> was ever installed.
>>
>> In addition to that label with a full date there is a molded in date on
>> the plastic side tank near the bleeder.
>>
>> Mark
>>
>>
>> Neil N wrote:
>>> https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ZOo3U-FfYfs/UssYRGTEYJI/AAAAAAAAIuM/7kc-Jv5RzuQ/s800/rad%2520date.jpg
>
> --
> Neil n
>
> Blog: tubaneil.blogspot.ca
>
> '88 Westy http://tinyurl.com/c8rlw6p
>
> '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"  http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>
> Vanagon VAG *Gas* inline-VR Engine Swap Group:
>
> http://tinyurl.com/d7gd5ej
>