Author Topic: 1978 Chevy C20 Truck - Radiator Search  (Read 3329 times)

Offline El Capitan

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1978 Chevy C20 Truck - Radiator Search
« on: May 14, 2015, 12:39:09 AM »
Hello everyone. I'm looking to purchase a radiator for my C20 but with so many options online I'm hesitant to pull the trigger. Any recommendations ?
They range from $98 to $350...


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Offline fxrsrider

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Re: 1978 Chevy C20 Truck - Radiator Search
« Reply #1 on: May 16, 2015, 05:07:38 PM »
My '75 C10 had an OE Camper Special radiator in it when I bought the truck (less than a year ago).  The Camper Special is big...and provides excellent cooling.  The rad fit my C10 perfectly.  With all the work I've been doing under the hood...I kept springing leaks.  Rather than send it in for another repair or recore, I opted to replace the OE with an all aluminum equivalent.....(some people will insist that the OE brass rads are better than the aluminum construction rads....others will argue that the aluminum rads are better.....my radiator guy says its a 50/50 split, depending on how clean you tend to keep your system..........One point that has never been disputed is that the Camper Special radiator is a great rad for the SBC and that the size and fitment is great for our Rounded-Line trucks.)

I just bought a 100% American Made, all Aluminum 4-core, Camper Special equivalent for $280 from my radiator shop here in L.A......it fit like a glove and cools like a champ.

Offline CA Big Red

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Re: 1978 Chevy C20 Truck - Radiator Search
« Reply #2 on: February 24, 2018, 08:07:36 PM »
I wanted to jump in here to see if I could get some ideas on why NAPA sold me a radiator that was two inches too tall after I spec’d out the truck, 350 motor, K10, etc. and this thing doesn’t fit.
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383 w/ 4" lift & 35" BFG

Offline 1967KaiserM715

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Re: 1978 Chevy C20 Truck - Radiator Search
« Reply #3 on: February 24, 2018, 08:52:40 PM »
To the OP, anything would work, just make sure to match core size to current radiator. I would opt to a brass/copper or all aluminum over plastic tanks-last two plastic tank radiators I had leaked at the seams....

To CA big red, it is possible your radiator or engine was replaced....plus there are two core sizes avalable. 17" tall, and 19" tall. Sometimes certain options would call for the bigger radiator.

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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 CA Big Red

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Re: 1978 Chevy C20 Truck - Radiator Search
« Reply #4 on: February 24, 2018, 10:12:15 PM »
To the OP, anything would work, just make sure to match core size to current radiator. I would opt to a brass/copper or all aluminum over plastic tanks-last two plastic tank radiators I had leaked at the seams....

To CA big red, it is possible your radiator or engine was replaced....plus there are two core sizes avalable. 17" tall, and 19" tall. Sometimes certain options would call for the bigger radiator.

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Thanks. I’ve got the 19” I should have measured when I picked it up. I was too excited to get it home after they said they had one.
"You don't know what you don't know."

1978 Scottsdale Stepside
383 w/ 4" lift & 35" BFG

Offline Irish_Alley

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Re: 1978 Chevy C20 Truck - Radiator Search
« Reply #5 on: February 25, 2018, 11:22:50 PM »
i know pepboys had three and it took me three different times to get it right. first time was my mistake, second one again my mistake measured wrong part
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