Author Topic: Help Choosing a Radiator  (Read 4302 times)

Offline teamcurtis

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Help Choosing a Radiator
« on: April 03, 2019, 12:09:24 PM »
The bungs on my radiator have rusted off and the whole thing needs to be replaced.
There seems to be A LOT of choices out there....

Is LiLand a decent brand? Its being sold by rock auto and the price is right.....
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=10331472&cc=1030329&jsn=448&jsn=448

Is there another brand i should be looking at?

I want the truck to stay cool, but dont wanna spend more than i need to.
Currently it just has a performance intake manifold and nothing else, so basically stock. I doubt it will ever get much more than headers, EFI, and a cam...
1978 C10 Short Bed
350 smogged for CA

Offline Stewart G Griffin

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Re: Help Choosing a Radiator
« Reply #1 on: April 05, 2019, 09:02:09 AM »
i was going to go with Champion:
https://championcooling.com/

There are about $250 for a 3-row, and $180 for a 2-row.  i think 2-row is stock?

But i think i might just go with a parts store radiator for now if the price is right.   i've had good results with a parts store rad (Advance Auto here in the northeast) with another car.

Offline Burkhalter

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Re: Help Choosing a Radiator
« Reply #2 on: April 05, 2019, 09:30:41 AM »
2 row is stock. If you're running stock parts and It's just a back and forth to work rig you don't really need the 3 core. Now it won't hurt to go bigger, it just may be overkill. If you're going to build it up and you're going to be hauling especially up steep grades, the 3 core would make sure you don't get to hot. One thing to consider is that most 3 cores will need some slight modifications. Since they have an extra core they tend to be a little thicker. You may need to modify the rubber on the brackets that hold the radiator in place or get new rubber that was molded for a 3 core unit.
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Offline VileZambonie

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Re: Help Choosing a Radiator
« Reply #3 on: April 05, 2019, 11:55:50 AM »
2 row is stock. If you're running stock parts and It's just a back and forth to work rig you don't really need the 3 core. Now it won't hurt to go bigger, it just may be overkill. If you're going to build it up and you're going to be hauling especially up steep grades, the 3 core would make sure you don't get to hot. One thing to consider is that most 3 cores will need some slight modifications. Since they have an extra core they tend to be a little thicker. You may need to modify the rubber on the brackets that hold the radiator in place or get new rubber that was molded for a 3 core unit.

3 row is standard cooling 4 row is heavy duty cooling. There is one core

Aftermarket all aluminum radiators are not rated at the same cooling capacity as the factory setup
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Offline Stewart G Griffin

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Re: Help Choosing a Radiator
« Reply #4 on: April 07, 2019, 11:23:21 PM »
So,3 row is stock?   Or 2?

Offline Irish_Alley

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Re: Help Choosing a Radiator
« Reply #5 on: April 08, 2019, 01:50:26 PM »
its going to depend on the setup. dont think its just on engine size but GVWR like the rad in a inline 6 on a ½ton wont be the same as the inline 6 on a 1 ton.
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Offline 1967KaiserM715

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Re: Help Choosing a Radiator
« Reply #6 on: April 08, 2019, 04:23:42 PM »
I just put a liland in my 91 diesel, works great. I was limited in my choices, and Spectra Premiums are on my "no-buy" list,

Most aluminum 2-rows are wide cored, meaning surface area to cooling capacity is equal to a 3 core, sometimes even a 4 core. Unless you plan on a lot of heavy towing, or lots of really slow trail riding, a typical 2-core aluminum will work fine.

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Current Vehicles:1985 GMC K10(Daily) 1991 GMC K2500(Daily) 1975 Beetle(not running) 1985 Mercedes 300D(not running) 1952 M35    1967 M715(not running)
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Offline Stewart G Griffin

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Re: Help Choosing a Radiator
« Reply #7 on: April 10, 2019, 01:53:09 PM »
P.S.:

1) i don't see a part number listed for a 81-87 c-10 for AC Delco?

2) Griffin has recently had not good reviews.

3) Mishimotos appear to have a good product and virtually all great reviews and the price is reasonable at $320-ish.

4) Be Cool # 60013 and 62013  seem to be high-quality, but i don't think i need to spend $600-700.

5) Carquest (Advance auto parts) #433840 at $133
Not exact fit according to several reviews.

6) Spectra (Pepboys/Autzone) $90-$100
No confidence per the reviews

Offline Stewart G Griffin

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Re: Help Choosing a Radiator
« Reply #8 on: April 10, 2019, 05:59:34 PM »
So do i have a 2 row or 3 row radiator?


Offline 1967KaiserM715

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Re: Help Choosing a Radiator
« Reply #9 on: April 10, 2019, 08:02:55 PM »
So do i have a 2 row or 3 row radiator?


I'm guessing from the width it's likely a 2 core, the best way would be to take the cap off and look.

Cores refer to the number of tubes front to back, so you could also try to look through the fins, typically they are close together and makes it hard to determine if it has more then two rows.

I've seen a lot of 2 core radiators on the small v8's. Not sure if completely original, but they were all brass/copper construction.

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Offline teamcurtis

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Re: Help Choosing a Radiator
« Reply #10 on: April 13, 2019, 09:41:48 AM »
I ended up buying the Liland. The width and thickness of the radiator is perfects, however the high is about 2 inches shorter. It is 19" and the one that came out (im guessing stock?) is 21" tall

So how do i get this thing mounted?
1978 C10 Short Bed
350 smogged for CA

Offline 1967KaiserM715

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Re: Help Choosing a Radiator
« Reply #11 on: April 13, 2019, 12:53:38 PM »
I ended up buying the Liland. The width and thickness of the radiator is perfects, however the high is about 2 inches shorter. It is 19" and the one that came out (im guessing stock?) is 21" tall

So how do i get this thing mounted?
Can you get a picture of your old radiator and mounts? Sounds like you have a big block/or HD radiator stock. They are a 19" core, which make them about 21" tall. Small block/light duty radiator have a 17" core, and sit about 19.5" tall.

A lot of radiators are measured by core size, not actual size. The core is just the array of tubes and fins between the tanks.

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Current Vehicles:1985 GMC K10(Daily) 1991 GMC K2500(Daily) 1975 Beetle(not running) 1985 Mercedes 300D(not running) 1952 M35    1967 M715(not running)
 1986 Chevy K30(under repair)

Offline teamcurtis

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Re: Help Choosing a Radiator
« Reply #12 on: April 14, 2019, 11:54:44 AM »
you might be onto something...

new core is = 17", top to bottom is = 19
old - core = 17,  top to bottom = 19

Original radiator
core     28x19x2
overall  34x21x2 3/4

the top and bottom of the radiators seem to be the opposites
« Last Edit: April 14, 2019, 12:11:24 PM by teamcurtis »
1978 C10 Short Bed
350 smogged for CA

Offline teamcurtis

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Re: Help Choosing a Radiator
« Reply #13 on: April 14, 2019, 01:07:15 PM »
if it helps the truck seems to have a stock oil radiator as well. (separate from main radiator
though it is not plumbed
« Last Edit: April 14, 2019, 09:11:58 PM by teamcurtis »
1978 C10 Short Bed
350 smogged for CA

Offline blazer74

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Re: Help Choosing a Radiator
« Reply #14 on: April 15, 2019, 04:14:20 AM »
Do yourself a favor and get the correct size to fit.
Worst case is to modify the rubber mounts like I did.