How many rows is best?

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Ugly1

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Oct 26, 2021
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Factory set-up was probably 3-row copper/brass. A fresh set-up would prob work fine or you could upgrade to a 4-row copper/brass which was more common on HD set-ups @ that time. 18-19" mechanical fan w/a clutch would have been the HD items as well.
Only if special ordered with extra HD cooling for the 3 row. The small V8 they went with what would do the job and nothing more. Stock rear end was probably a 2.41gear.
 

Ugly1

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Oct 26, 2021
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your input is amazing.spent 15 years recoring radiators.feel like the last of the dinosaurs.anyway when recoring a rad,race car,motorhome,hoped up trucks what ever.big tubes and close tube centers would do the job.small tubes on paper where suspose to work but didnt in the real world.but above all else i have never seen a raditor box say how many btus it was rated at.how does one get this info?
I know what you mean. Did radiator recores and repair for 10 years as well. Still do now and then for my brother. They had just changed over to higher fin count with smaller tubes when I stopped.
 
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64nailhead

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Thanks for all the responses and suggestions. I don't know exactly how many rows the original radiator has but my car is an original Olds 260 with factory air conditioning if that means anything. To be honest I don't want to spend over $300 on a radiator and fans because the building of the Olds 350 alone is definitely not on the cheap side of things.

My hope and plan is something I can take to Norwalk, OH and do some passes down the track and be able to cruise it in the summer while attending car shows.
Less than $150 with freight from Rock Auto for a stock setup. It will be plenty.
 
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scoti

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Only if special ordered with extra HD cooling for the 3 row. The small V8 they went with what would do the job and nothing more. Stock rear end was probably a 2.41gear.
I was basing the Olds were likely the same as the Chevys. My previous Malibu's/Camino's (I've owned several over the years) were all factory GM 3-row w/the v6 & 267/305 V8's. The current '78 was a 46k mile car w/the original 3-row radiator in it. I swapped it out for the freshly cleaned 3-row that was pulled from my last El Camino. None of those cars I would have imagined came w/HD optioned equipment. The El Camino didn't even have A/C from GM.
 
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Ugly1

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I was basing the Olds were likely the same as the Chevys. My previous Malibu's/Camino's (I've owned several over the years) were all factory GM 3-row w/the v6 & 267/305 V8's. The current '78 was a 46k mile car w/the original 3-row radiator in it. I swapped it out for the freshly cleaned 3-row that was pulled from my last El Camino. None of those cars I would have imagined came w/HD optioned equipment. The El Camino didn't even have A/C from GM.
May very from area too. Though the ElCo may have “towing” possibles. Up here in the northeast they probably tried to save money. 🤣
 
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Oct 14, 2008
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I think mine were 2000 Plymouth Breeze fans. I believe they 1998 to 2005 Dodge Stratus/Plymouth Breeze. You need a dual 30 or 40 amp relay on start up.
 
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Metzger82

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I never realized how good of a source of information you all are especially for ideas in different setups and budget ideas. When I looked at the radiator it appears to be a 1 row, and I'm assuming it's the original one because almost the entire car has it's original parts which I'm realizing is a double edged sword but I mean when it's snowing here that just means more time to make money to replace everything!
 
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CopperNick

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Feb 20, 2018
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Two Row, copper or brass. Three row if running an A/C or doing lots of commuter, stop and go traffic or idling a lot.

Be sure to match your coolant to what the manufacturer of the rad suggests. I personally run Prestone 50/50 pre-Mix in all my vehicles but aluminum block motors have different needs and requirements.

FYI, Flush the coolant system out! Thoroughly!!!. Don't forget the heater core and hoses if you are still running them. You can flush or back-flush, which latter is only running the flushing solution through the system backwards. Pop the thermostat housing off and check the T-stat. This is a good time to replace it while the system is being serviced. There is even a T-state variant available that, if it fails, it fails in the opne position so coolant will keep moving and not overheat and blow out into the overflow container. Same-same goes for the hoses and their clamps. The radiator is just one part of the cooling system and it being new just means that all that old stuff you kept now becomes the weakest link.



Nick
 
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Ugly1

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Oct 26, 2021
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Two Row, copper or brass. Three row if running an A/C or doing lots of commuter, stop and go traffic or idling a lot.

Be sure to match your coolant to what the manufacturer of the rad suggests. I personally run Prestone 50/50 pre-Mix in all my vehicles but aluminum block motors have different needs and requirements.

FYI, Flush the coolant system out! Thoroughly!!!. Don't forget the heater core and hoses if you are still running them. You can flush or back-flush, which latter is only running the flushing solution through the system backwards. Pop the thermostat housing off and check the T-stat. This is a good time to replace it while the system is being serviced. There is even a T-state variant available that, if it fails, it fails in the opne position so coolant will keep moving and not overheat and blow out into the overflow container. Same-same goes for the hoses and their clamps. The radiator is just one part of the cooling system and it being new just means that all that old stuff you kept now becomes the weakest link.



Nick
On the other end of the spectrum if flushed and only water is in the block , fill with straight antifreeze and the water in the block will delute it for a -40* mix 😏 Used to used air/ water surge to back flush the system .
 
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