Olds ticket to 9s... LS swap adventure.

[TURNA]

Got pretty much everything out of the regal tonight. Just need to unbolt my ecm/fuse block, unbolt the fuel regulator and hood before the powertrain can come out. Only 4 bolts hold the motor and trans in now. Tomorrow is hopefully hanging the second fuel pump in the tank and getting the hood off so the swap can happen this weekend.

Sad little pile of wiring on my garage floor.

View attachment 143586

I can say again I hate the dust side of bodywork. It is so thick in the regal I was covered in dust by the time the wiring was out. Poor car is just full of dust.


So opinion poll time.

Going to put a new rad and fans in. Thinking of the Griffin LS swap rad and fan combo. Same one mike has in his wagon. Comes with SPAL fans and is a cross flow. Plus i can get it from Summit which is about the best for shipping to Canuckistan.

This bad boy here.

Griffin Thermal Products CU-70010-LS Griffin Performance Fit Radiator Combos | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - Griffin Performance Fit Radiator Combos with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Radiators at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

I know it's not cheap but it's the last really big item I need to complete the build. My rad is pretty crusty inside and the hoopty junkyard mustang fan looks like crap. I kinda want an engine bay that doesn't look like crap, its gonna be the nice part of this car.

Any thoughts or insight from the more knowledgeable here? Perhaps Mike can give a brother a review of his setup?

JUNK!!!!!!!

 

[motorheadmike]

Got pretty much everything out of the regal tonight. Just need to unbolt my ecm/fuse block, unbolt the fuel regulator and hood before the powertrain can come out. Only 4 bolts hold the motor and trans in now. Tomorrow is hopefully hanging the second fuel pump in the tank and getting the hood off so the swap can happen this weekend.

Sad little pile of wiring on my garage floor.

View attachment 143586

I can say again I hate the dust side of bodywork. It is so thick in the regal I was covered in dust by the time the wiring was out. Poor car is just full of dust.


So opinion poll time.

Going to put a new rad and fans in. Thinking of the Griffin LS swap rad and fan combo. Same one mike has in his wagon. Comes with SPAL fans and is a cross flow. Plus i can get it from Summit which is about the best for shipping to Canuckistan.

This bad boy here.

Griffin Thermal Products CU-70010-LS Griffin Performance Fit Radiator Combos | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - Griffin Performance Fit Radiator Combos with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Radiators at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

I know it's not cheap but it's the last really big item I need to complete the build. My rad is pretty crusty inside and the hoopty junkyard mustang fan looks like crap. I kinda want an engine bay that doesn't look like crap, its gonna be the nice part of this car.

Any thoughts or insight from the more knowledgeable here? Perhaps Mike can give a brother a review of his setup?

The Griffin rad in my wagon works great with a 160* stat. Keep in mind that I have a set of stock LS1 fans on it and had to extensively modify the upper mount/cover to suit - it is huge. I wouldn't spend the money on the SPAL fans, that is needlessly spendy. A set of Intrepid or LS1 fans from Dorman (or junkyard) will do the job just fine.

Just make sure you get the right radiator. Summit (Griffin ?) mislabeled the LS-swap rad for the G-body and it was too wide to fit into the core support and I had to substitute it for one meant for a Camaro(?).

 

[Northernregal]

JUNK!!!!!!!

Gonna have to use your words bud. The wiring harness? Rad choice? Timmy fell down the well? What is it?

The Griffin rad in my wagon works great with a 160* stat. Keep in mind that I have a set of stock LS1 fans on it and had to extensively modify the upper mount/cover to suit - it is huge. I wouldn't spend the money on the SPAL fans, that is needlessly spendy. A set of Intrepid or LS1 fans from Dorman (or junkyard) will do the job just fine.

Just make sure you get the right radiator. Summit (Griffin ?) mislabeled the LS-swap rad for the G-body and it was too wide to fit into the core support and I had to substitute it for one meant for a Camaro(?).

I read your part number suggestion from a thread to 81cutlass, the part number was the one you specifically said to use.

I'm kinda lucky that the only upper mount I have is the plastic 305 spec one so no matter what there is going to be extensive mods. I have another idea that is NOT spendy, I just dont want to f#$% with this rad situation forever down the road. Just hit it with my purse and move on.

 

[81cutlass]

I am a fan of the griffin 19x31 dual pass. In don't have the part number off hand but iv think they only have one in that size.

I did the intrepid fan too. Keeps it cool.

Used a 300 I6 Econoline van lower rad hose and a 3.8 Buick upper hose trimmed on both sides.

BUILD THREAD - 86 GP 2+2~Blown 6.0

How did the custom front wheels hold up? Good. They have been sitting since I filled them with 40psi in 9/15 so they have sat for 3 months and have not leaked. They tracked down the road at 75 with no issues and were stable and didnt shake up to 120. I'd do it again. If I could clone myself...

gbodyforum.com

 

[TURNA]

beyond overpriced, poor fitment. the only good thing on it are the Spal fans

 

[81cutlass]

Find me a better priced dual pass rad with the correct size hose ends.

 

[TURNA]

call Frank!!!

773-599-3067

 

[Northernregal]

I am a fan of the griffin 19x31 dual pass. In don't have the part number off hand but iv think they only have one in that size.

I did the intrepid fan too. Keeps it cool.

Used a 300 I6 Econoline van lower rad hose and a 3.8 Buick upper hose trimmed on both sides.

BUILD THREAD - 86 GP 2+2~Blown 6.0

How did the custom front wheels hold up? Good. They have been sitting since I filled them with 40psi in 9/15 so they have sat for 3 months and have not leaked. They tracked down the road at 75 with no issues and were stable and didnt shake up to 120. I'd do it again. If I could clone myself...

gbodyforum.com

You install looks pretty simple to me. Seems to fit well. I have looked for a set of intrepid fans for a couple years and short of getting a set off of Rockauto it's a no go, they are hens teeth even at the local wreckers.

I have the 300 I6 lower hose already so that would be quick drop in.

beyond overpriced, poor fitment. the only good thing on it are the Spal fans

Problem is by the time any performance part gets here we get a complete and thorough fisting in the keister, so they are ALL expensive, in asking price or shipping and duty. That or I have to talk to a local moron at a parts desk that will pull a number on a computer and tell me it'll fit. Even the speed shop guys are like an autozone employee.

Fitment looks acceptable on 81cutlass and Mike's cars. I accept that some fab may be necessary, it's a turbofied LS swap after all.

 

[TURNA]

You install looks pretty simple to me. Seems to fit well. I have looked for a set of intrepid fans for a couple years and short of getting a set off of Rockauto it's a no go, they are hens teeth even at the local wreckers.

I have the 300 I6 lower hose already so that would be quick drop in.




Problem is by the time any performance part gets here we get a complete and thorough fisting in the keister, so they are ALL expensive, in asking price or shipping and duty. That or I have to talk to a local moron at a parts desk that will pull a number on a computer and tell me it'll fit. Even the speed shop guys are like an autozone employee.

Fitment looks acceptable on 81cutlass and Mike's cars. I accept that some fab may be necessary, it's a turbofied LS swap after all.

No one up there makes a Radiator????

I guess being winter 11 months out of the year you guys really dont need them!!!!!

😛

 

[Northernregal]

No one up there makes a Radiator????

I guess being winter 11 months out of the year you guys really dont need them!!!!!

😛

I should get a quote so you can see why I would think a griffin would be a deal. Lol 😝