Factory Radiator Upgrade

[G_Body_Enthusiast]

Yea I saw those but the parts store only has 1 core aluminum. I dont want a 1 core aluminum.

Those and the G-body rads are the only 2 that will fit without mods to the rad support.

They will cool just about any SBC with the proper fan setup.



Even the "high performance" rads are only 2 core aluminum.

not true, i bought one for a caprice and it fit right in perfectly AND unlike the fbody radiator the caprice has the transmission cooler fittings where the ones are for gbody radiators so it's a direct fit. late 80's application but i'm not sure which one since the place i bought it from didnt tell me what app they used. i went in and told them what i wanted, originally an fbody radiator but they pulled one for a caprice and saved me the hassle of making the transmission lines work with the fbody radiator. i used a cutlass top plate and the whole set up looked factory.

 

[speedkills80]

I have a big block radiator in my car. its a 3 row i believe. and i think its out of a big block monte. i think any big block car radiator will fit, i could be wrong tho

do you know what year monte radiator you have? 75 454? Did you have to make any modifications if you put it in yourself or does it look like any were made if it was already in?

I did the same thing...I have a BBC in my malibu and bought a factory 3 core radiator for a 74 Monte Carlo...Fit just fine and keeps my BBC nice and cool. Just uses a stock clutch fan and a 160 degree thermostat. I used the factory G body shroud too.

 

[TURNA]

not true, i bought one for a caprice and it fit right in perfectly AND unlike the fbody radiator the caprice has the transmission cooler fittings where the ones are for gbody radiators so it's a direct fit. late 80's application but i'm not sure which one since the place i bought it from didnt tell me what app they used. i went in and told them what i wanted, originally an fbody radiator but they pulled one for a caprice and saved me the hassle of making the transmission lines work with the fbody radiator. i used a cutlass top plate and the whole set up looked factory.

How many core rad is it?

The only Caprice rad that I am aware of fitting is from a 6 cylinder.

 

[tc1959]

I have a big block radiator in my car. its a 3 row i believe. and i think its out of a big block monte. i think any big block car radiator will fit, i could be wrong tho

I think so too, mine is a 4 row for a 74 Camaro with a 402 big block. Fits in my 78 core support .I had to get some wider cushions from Summit. I bought it from Auto Zone .com $142. with a life time warranty.I got a $15 gift card also.
Spectra premium CU101 item # 022364 free shipping also.

 

[TURNA]

I have a big block radiator in my car. its a 3 row i believe. and i think its out of a big block monte. i think any big block car radiator will fit, i could be wrong tho

I think so too, mine is a 4 row for a 74 Camaro with a 402 big block. Fits in my 78 core support .I had to get some wider cushions from Summit. I bought it from Auto Zone .com $142. with a life time warranty.I got a $15 gift card also.
Spectra premium CU101 item # 022364 free shipping also.

Rads from Autozone, Pep Boys, Advanced, etc are not "factory" replacements. They are generic rads that fit multiple cars to keep manufacturing costs down.

So when you ask them for a 4 core rad for a 74 camaro it might be different from the original 74 Camaro rad.

It may be smaller to fit more applications but yet still "fit" a Camaro.

 

[kingcolbert83]

I got the direct fit radiator for our cars. It is the same dimensions as factory and is two core aluminum.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... MEWAX%3AIT

Compared to this one it should get the job done. This one is rated to 500 plus hp. It is has more length but less height. The one I bought has a little less width but a little more height so it is very comparable. I paid around 120 something at autozone.

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/ ... 87757_0_0_

http://ecat.spectrapremium.com/apps/eca ... lash=false

 

[88hurstolds]

The Thremal Conductivity of Aluminum is over double to that of Brass, about 2.3 X more.
I used a single core Aluminum F-body radiator with a built in trans cooler to cool an Oldsmobile 455 with NO problems. I used Water Wetter with 15% Coolent and 85% Distilled water, YOU MUST USED DISTILLED since it holds no minerals to hamper with the Water Wetter.
455's are notorious for running hot and this cheap $95 radiator with plastic tanks cools better than the 3 row brass in my 88 Cutlass with a 455.
Don't underestimate a 1 row Aluminum radiator...

 

[kingcolbert83]

The Thremal Conductivity of Aluminum is over double to that of Brass, about 2.3 X more.
I used a single core Aluminum F-body radiator with a built in trans cooler to cool an Oldsmobile 455 with NO problems. I used Water Wetter with 15% Coolent and 85% Distilled water, YOU MUST USED DISTILLED since it holds no minerals to hamper with the Water Wetter.
455's are notorious for running hot and this cheap $95 radiator with plastic tanks cools better than the 3 row brass in my 88 Cutlass with a 455.
Don't underestimate a 1 row Aluminum radiator...

I should be good to go with 2 row aluminum and the mark 8 electric fan 😀

 

[speedkills80]

I have a big block radiator in my car. its a 3 row i believe. and i think its out of a big block monte. i think any big block car radiator will fit, i could be wrong tho

I think so too, mine is a 4 row for a 74 Camaro with a 402 big block. Fits in my 78 core support .I had to get some wider cushions from Summit. I bought it from Auto Zone .com $142. with a life time warranty.I got a $15 gift card also.
Spectra premium CU101 item # 022364 free shipping also.

Rads from Autozone, Pep Boys, Advanced, etc are not "factory" replacements. They are generic rads that fit multiple cars to keep manufacturing costs down.

So when you ask them for a 4 core rad for a 74 camaro it might be different from the original 74 Camaro rad.

It may be smaller to fit more applications but yet still "fit" a Camaro.

I agree...make sure its a factory replacement radiator. I bought mine from a local radiator shop, not the local parts dealer. I have had absolutely no problems with mine. Never skimp on parts. If you can't afford the good stuff now, wait and save up to buy the good stuff. It always seems you have enough money to buy the cheap part a second time but never enough to pop for the good part the first time!!

 

[tc1959]

I have a big block radiator in my car. its a 3 row i believe. and i think its out of a big block monte. i think any big block car radiator will fit, i could be wrong tho

I think so too, mine is a 4 row for a 74 Camaro with a 402 big block. Fits in my 78 core support .I had to get some wider cushions from Summit. I bought it from Auto Zone .com $142. with a life time warranty.I got a $15 gift card also.
Spectra premium CU101 item # 022364 free shipping also.

Rads from Autozone, Pep Boys, Advanced, etc are not "factory" replacements. They are generic rads that fit multiple cars to keep manufacturing costs down.

So when you ask them for a 4 core rad for a 74 camaro it might be different from the original 74 Camaro rad.

It may be smaller to fit more applications but yet still "fit" a Camaro.

It is exactly the same measurement as the original Harrison radiator I personally pulled out of my 74 Camaro. all connections are identical.