Installed a Cheap Aluminum Radiator---Not Easy!!! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**PICKMUP** · 09-14-2008, 01:34 AM

You have seen them on Ebay...I installed one. There is a lot of cutting & grinding of the rad spt at the bottom. The tanks do not fit in the stock mounts. I tried 3-row & 4-row and finally just used 1" rubber pads on the bottom. The top mounts had to be moved to the 6cyl position because the cap won't go on. Additional rubber had to be cut & installed in the top mounts.
But, it is in! I added an aluminum WP, and you can see my matching blue & silver light weight flex fan. The flex fan is much easier on the WP than stock & it looks cool, too! I also cut down & fitted a stainless top center guard to hide the ugly channel on top of the radiator.

**PICKMUP** · 09-14-2008, 01:38 AM

Of course with the moved top mounts, the fan shroud wouldn't attach to the top brackets. So, I had to make a small extension piece to reach.
Make one change and it will always effect about six more.

QKENUF4U · 09-14-2008, 02:10 AM

looks great !!! not that hard for what ya get in the end.

**special-K** · 09-14-2008, 06:38 AM

Installing a radiator is supposed to br easy!!Not that one.This is where jobs get cobbled.Not yours,the frustration doesn`t even show.Looks good.

ratrod67 · 09-14-2008, 07:21 AM

Any pics of how you modified the radiator support at the bottom?

LONGHAIR · 09-14-2008, 07:38 AM

The radiator install looks good, but I think I would change that fan out. Not only are they noisy and known to rob power, they can come apart! I don't have and pics of this on my computer, but I think someone here does? Andy maybe? I believe that the pic is of one of the blades sticking through the hood!

**truckdude239** · 09-14-2008, 08:21 AM

my buddy had one come thought he hood of his truck wasn't pretty

bagged69c10 · 09-14-2008, 09:57 AM

Looks good. Mine is still intact.

**PICKMUP** · 09-14-2008, 04:32 PM

No problem with the flex fans with the small stainless blades & no noise. These are rated to 8,000 rpm. It is the old flex fans with those big 4"-6" extreme curved blades that flexed so much you could see them flatten at speed and that made them stress crack at the attachment points in the center.
I took out the oem bottom mounts and replaced them with 1" thick rubber pads that sit inside the rad spt lip on each end...about 4"x6" on each end.
I have never heard about power robbing from these little fans, but there is not much blade there to drag...looks smaller than stock fan. I just can't give up that clean cool "blue" look! LOL

*Shane* · 09-14-2008, 04:56 PM

First the Coy's wheels and now the radiator ... you don't seem have very good luck with this sort of stuff.

R.L. · 09-15-2008, 12:57 AM

Thats a good looking install,I like the look. Any cooling issues?

**PICKMUP** · 09-17-2008, 11:25 AM

We don't have cooling issues in western washington...unless the moss builds up on them-LOL.
Alum cools much better than stock. 3row cools as well as stock 4row.
I need to stop trying this new stuff and just do some of the old stuff again...like finish some trucks so I can drive them.

72BlckButy · 09-17-2008, 01:59 PM

Looks good!

09-14-2008, 01:34 AM	#1
PICKMUP "Trucks with Class" Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: OLYMPIA, WA, USA Posts: 8,158	Installed a Cheap Aluminum Radiator---Not Easy!!! You have seen them on Ebay...I installed one. There is a lot of cutting & grinding of the rad spt at the bottom. The tanks do not fit in the stock mounts. I tried 3-row & 4-row and finally just used 1" rubber pads on the bottom. The top mounts had to be moved to the 6cyl position because the cap won't go on. Additional rubber had to be cut & installed in the top mounts. But, it is in! I added an aluminum WP, and you can see my matching blue & silver light weight flex fan. The flex fan is much easier on the WP than stock & it looks cool, too! I also cut down & fitted a stainless top center guard to hide the ugly channel on top of the radiator. Attached Images

09-14-2008, 01:38 AM	#2
PICKMUP "Trucks with Class" Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: OLYMPIA, WA, USA Posts: 8,158	Re: Installed a Cheap Aluminum Radiator---Not Easy!!! Of course with the moved top mounts, the fan shroud wouldn't attach to the top brackets. So, I had to make a small extension piece to reach. Make one change and it will always effect about six more. Attached Images

09-14-2008, 02:10 AM	#3
QKENUF4U Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: SUNNY WARM BIKE RIDING COTTONWOOD ARIZONA Posts: 2,097	Re: Installed a Cheap Aluminum Radiator---Not Easy!!! looks great !!! not that hard for what ya get in the end.

09-14-2008, 06:38 AM	#4
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: Installed a Cheap Aluminum Radiator---Not Easy!!! Installing a radiator is supposed to br easy!!Not that one.This is where jobs get cobbled.Not yours,the frustration doesn`t even show.Looks good. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

09-14-2008, 07:21 AM	#5
ratrod67 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: DFW Texas Posts: 2,269	Re: Installed a Cheap Aluminum Radiator---Not Easy!!! Any pics of how you modified the radiator support at the bottom?

09-14-2008, 07:38 AM	#6
LONGHAIR just can't cover up my redneck Join Date: May 2004 Location: Columbus OH Posts: 11,414	Re: Installed a Cheap Aluminum Radiator---Not Easy!!! The radiator install looks good, but I think I would change that fan out. Not only are they noisy and known to rob power, they can come apart! I don't have and pics of this on my computer, but I think someone here does? Andy maybe? I believe that the pic is of one of the blades sticking through the hood!

09-14-2008, 08:21 AM	#7
truckdude239 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Lewisville, Nc Posts: 10,237	Re: Installed a Cheap Aluminum Radiator---Not Easy!!! my buddy had one come thought he hood of his truck wasn't pretty __________________ David fuller Ase Certified Mechanic Click here to help support our board!! 1971 Chevy c-10 under going a 4.8l LSx swap Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=421305 2007 Honda Accord my daily 145kmiles 2002 Honda Accord 4 door With 330k(sisters car) 2005 toyota Avalon 228k( brothers car) 2002 Sububran 5.3 245k 2000 Tahoe 5.3l 378 General manager for Marco's Carwash & lube

09-14-2008, 09:57 AM	#8
bagged69c10 soon to be bagged64sub Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: DFW-currently phoenix Posts: 635	Re: Installed a Cheap Aluminum Radiator---Not Easy!!! Looks good. Mine is still intact. __________________ 1969 c-10, bagged, Zd, 20" Boyds SOLD! 1964 Suburban COMING SOON Build threadhttp://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=304726 1965 c-10 long bed 1993 Sierra x-cab 1999 tahoe-4/5 on 22s 2005 Chevy work truck

09-14-2008, 04:32 PM	#9
PICKMUP "Trucks with Class" Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: OLYMPIA, WA, USA Posts: 8,158	Re: Installed a Cheap Aluminum Radiator---Not Easy!!! No problem with the flex fans with the small stainless blades & no noise. These are rated to 8,000 rpm. It is the old flex fans with those big 4"-6" extreme curved blades that flexed so much you could see them flatten at speed and that made them stress crack at the attachment points in the center. I took out the oem bottom mounts and replaced them with 1" thick rubber pads that sit inside the rad spt lip on each end...about 4"x6" on each end. I have never heard about power robbing from these little fans, but there is not much blade there to drag...looks smaller than stock fan. I just can't give up that clean cool "blue" look! LOL

09-14-2008, 04:56 PM	#10
Shane Account Suspended Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: over yonder Posts: 14,270	Re: Installed a Cheap Aluminum Radiator---Not Easy!!! First the Coy's wheels and now the radiator ... you don't seem have very good luck with this sort of stuff.

09-15-2008, 12:57 AM	#11
R.L. Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mobile, Al. Posts: 687	Re: Installed a Cheap Aluminum Radiator---Not Easy!!! Thats a good looking install,I like the look. Any cooling issues?

09-17-2008, 11:25 AM	#12
PICKMUP "Trucks with Class" Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: OLYMPIA, WA, USA Posts: 8,158	Re: Installed a Cheap Aluminum Radiator---Not Easy!!! We don't have cooling issues in western washington...unless the moss builds up on them-LOL. Alum cools much better than stock. 3row cools as well as stock 4row. I need to stop trying this new stuff and just do some of the old stuff again...like finish some trucks so I can drive them.

09-17-2008, 01:59 PM	#13
72BlckButy Tot Roddin' Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Mid-MO Posts: 24,461	Re: Installed a Cheap Aluminum Radiator---Not Easy!!! Looks good! __________________ -Nate 1969 CST SWB - Project Blank Slate (4.5/6" ECE Static Drop, 6-lug disc brake upgrade (manual), Billet Specialties Vintec 20x8.5 255/40 (F) 20x10 295/40 (R), 250 I-6) 1960 AMF Skylark - Tot Roddin' (Lowered with custom frame; soon to include custom push bar and interior) 2008 Silverado CrewCab 1LT (5.3L, 3:73, 4x4, LT1, Z-71, Towing Package)

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