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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Engine/Drivetrain => Topic started by: teamcurtis on April 03, 2019, 12:09:24 PM

Title: Help Choosing a Radiator
Post by: teamcurtis 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...
Title: Re: Help Choosing a Radiator
Post by: Stewart G Griffin 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.
Title: Re: Help Choosing a Radiator
Post by: Burkhalter 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.
Title: Re: Help Choosing a Radiator
Post by: VileZambonie 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
Title: Re: Help Choosing a Radiator
Post by: Stewart G Griffin on April 07, 2019, 11:23:21 PM
So,3 row is stock?   Or 2?
Title: Re: Help Choosing a Radiator
Post by: Irish_Alley 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.
Title: Re: Help Choosing a Radiator
Post by: 1967KaiserM715 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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Title: Re: Help Choosing a Radiator
Post by: Stewart G Griffin 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
Title: Re: Help Choosing a Radiator
Post by: Stewart G Griffin on April 10, 2019, 05:59:34 PM
So do i have a 2 row or 3 row radiator?

(https://i.imgur.com/kpP5DrZ.jpg)
Title: Re: Help Choosing a Radiator
Post by: 1967KaiserM715 on April 10, 2019, 08:02:55 PM
So do i have a 2 row or 3 row radiator?

(https://i.imgur.com/kpP5DrZ.jpg)
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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Title: Re: Help Choosing a Radiator
Post by: teamcurtis 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?
Title: Re: Help Choosing a Radiator
Post by: 1967KaiserM715 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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Title: Re: Help Choosing a Radiator
Post by: teamcurtis 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
Title: Re: Help Choosing a Radiator
Post by: teamcurtis 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
Title: Re: Help Choosing a Radiator
Post by: blazer74 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.
Title: Re: Help Choosing a Radiator
Post by: 75gmck25 on April 15, 2019, 05:20:45 AM
GM made changes over the years, but there are really only a few sizes of radiator (2,3,4 rows; 17" vs. 19" core height, etc.).  The simplest is to match the size of the radiator you have (measure the core, not the entire radiator).  My '75 had factory HD cooling, which meant a 3 row radiator with the 350 in that year.  They may have also offered a 4 row, but it was probably with the 454.  My point is that it is a little different for each year.  For best cooling, just look for the best/biggest radiator offered in your year.

The radiator is "clamped" vertically between the radiator support on the bottom and a long bracket on the top.  Inside the brackets there are small molded rubber pieces at each corner, and they are different sizes based the number of cores (thickness).  If you swap from a two core to a three core, you need to use the right rubber piece that will fit exactly over the corners.  Of course you also need to have the same core height and width if you want to use original mounting.

Bruce
Title: Re: Help Choosing a Radiator
Post by: 1967KaiserM715 on April 15, 2019, 09:51:14 AM
Chances are you have the heavy duty brackets, you could get the standard duty brackets, but that means replacing all the shroud, and some other pieces. I would see if you can exchange the radiator for the correct size. It will be the easiest, but probably not the quickest.

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Title: Re: Help Choosing a Radiator
Post by: teamcurtis on April 15, 2019, 11:35:53 AM
Thanks Bruce

I think this is the info i needed. I have boxed up the radiator I got and will be returning it today. They dont offer a 19" core in the 2.25" thickness, so I will have to go with another brand, but I think I've got a line on one that wont break the bank.

now debating on if i want to pay another 200 bucks to make it an electric fan
Title: Re: Help Choosing a Radiator
Post by: teamcurtis on April 15, 2019, 05:55:36 PM
so the second factory radiator, between the normal radiator and the grill...
is that for oil or an added trans? My truck has one, but its not plumbed
Title: Re: Help Choosing a Radiator
Post by: 1967KaiserM715 on April 15, 2019, 06:16:59 PM
Is it a radiator, or remnants of a condenser for an ac system? If it's is small (less then a foot square) it was likely aftermarket cooling for the transmission or engine. If is thin, but close to the same size as the radiator, it's the AC condenser

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Title: Re: Help Choosing a Radiator
Post by: teamcurtis on April 15, 2019, 10:27:45 PM
yup, thats what it is... Wonder if i should just take it out...
Title: Re: Help Choosing a Radiator
Post by: teamcurtis on April 21, 2019, 10:31:07 PM
so it seems that all 19" core aluminium radiators are 20.5" tall not 21.  I had to make some lift blocks out of 2"x.5" steel bar. Would have done them in aluminum, but the hardware store was out.
Made a 30 min job a 2 hour job