How to convet to 4 core radiator - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Scrub · 03-17-2004, 02:30 AM

My radiator setup is for a weenie little radiator and I want to put a four core (or is full core?) in. I need to get bigger mounting saddles and larger rubber gromets (or what ever y'all call them).
Can I buy them, or do I just scrounge some up. They aren't easy to find.

BLACK AND BLUE 67-72 · 03-17-2004, 02:56 AM

Yes you can buy them, I got my set from LMC, but I think that most vendors on the board have them also.

Scrub · 03-17-2004, 03:00 AM

Great, Thanks.

BLACK AND BLUE 67-72 · 03-17-2004, 03:03 AM

Any time!!!!

Stepsides 4Ever · 03-17-2004, 04:32 AM

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but just looking at my weenie little 2-row radiator, it looks like the radiator supports are on the tank, not the core itself. The extra two rows look like it will fill out the dead space between the tank and the existing 2-rows...IF the tanks are the same size from the 2-row to the 4-row.

Blue Beard · 03-17-2004, 08:31 AM

You'll need both upper and lower brackets...

And the channel where the bottom ones mount has to be either cut and bent or just bent.

**JIMs70GMC** · 03-17-2004, 08:38 AM

2 and 3 core use the same brackets. The four core has bigger (longer) brackets.

71swb4x4 · 03-17-2004, 11:00 AM

Didn't AC trucks come with 4 core? So you could try to scrounge the brackets from an AC truck.

danho · 03-17-2004, 11:24 AM

I just went from a 3 core to a 4 core and didn't have to change anything, it was a direct bolt in.
Dan.

BLACK AND BLUE 67-72 · 03-17-2004, 01:35 PM

danho, you must be lucky because all of them I have seen with 3 core the brackets are too small for the 4 core and there is no way it would fit unless a person did some serious modification to the brackets. The new ones from LMC weren't that expensive and they fit just fine, also if I bought a new 4 core I would want to have new rubber bushings instead of old wore out ones.

bouncytruck · 03-17-2004, 01:41 PM

I went from 3 core to 4 core and had to change all 4 brackets and rubber pads. I bought mine from pickupsnw (only a few miles from me) but just about every vendor sells them. There are a few sets on e-bay right now.

Stepsides 4Ever · 03-19-2004, 06:02 PM

Just picked up a new 4-row radiator from Radiator Express and...yup...gotta have larger upper and lower brackets. The 4-row is about an inch or so wider in the mounting area than the 2-row. It is a physically larger radiator in the tank area.

Also, I can see the lip across the bottom that will probably need to be removed that Blue Beard mentioned...looks like the radiator core will be sitting on top of it if you don't.

bpmcgee · 03-19-2004, 06:15 PM

When I converted to a four core, I just used a pair of channel locks to bend the bottom support flat in the areas of the core support. Worked great.

Brian

Stepsides 4Ever · 03-19-2004, 06:27 PM

Good to know...we're pulling the front end off this weekend to begin the changeover...

Chris_T · 03-19-2004, 07:30 PM

When I did mine (maybe two years ago?) both the brackets and the rubber bumpers were still available and cheaper from GM.

bouncytruck · 03-19-2004, 08:16 PM

Quote:

When I converted to a four core, I just used a pair of channel locks to bend the bottom support flat in the areas of the core support. Worked great.

Yup, that's what I did.

Quote:

When I did mine (maybe two years ago?) both the brackets and the rubber bumpers were still available and cheaper from GM.

I think the truck shop where I bought them just picked them up at the local chevy dealer and then added some $.

03-17-2004, 02:30 AM	#1
Scrub Collector of rusty Items Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Sisters,Oregon USA Posts: 731	How to convet to 4 core radiator My radiator setup is for a weenie little radiator and I want to put a four core (or is full core?) in. I need to get bigger mounting saddles and larger rubber gromets (or what ever y'all call them). Can I buy them, or do I just scrounge some up. They aren't easy to find. __________________ Scrub Sisters, Oregon - Home of the Sisters Rodeo. 70 GMC 1,000,000 + miles 72 K-20 project, 456 Dana60 front, Corp14 rear w/locker, 265R19.5 tires 20-ply. Warn 12k winches both ends, Cross-over steering with raised tie-rod, Powerbox steering, 4500 watt 120-AC power, Air, Hydraulic aux power, 4 inch lift, 5000 lb air-bags both ends.

03-17-2004, 02:56 AM	#2
BLACK AND BLUE 67-72 Firefighter Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Yellville, Ar, USA Posts: 1,943	Yes you can buy them, I got my set from LMC, but I think that most vendors on the board have them also. __________________ '72 Chevy SWB 350 Auto '67 GMC LWB 350 4 speed '70 Chevy 4x4 Stepside 350 Auto Yellville, Ar. USA

03-17-2004, 03:00 AM	#3
Scrub Collector of rusty Items Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Sisters,Oregon USA Posts: 731	Great, Thanks. __________________ Scrub Sisters, Oregon - Home of the Sisters Rodeo. 70 GMC 1,000,000 + miles 72 K-20 project, 456 Dana60 front, Corp14 rear w/locker, 265R19.5 tires 20-ply. Warn 12k winches both ends, Cross-over steering with raised tie-rod, Powerbox steering, 4500 watt 120-AC power, Air, Hydraulic aux power, 4 inch lift, 5000 lb air-bags both ends.

03-17-2004, 03:03 AM	#4
BLACK AND BLUE 67-72 Firefighter Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Yellville, Ar, USA Posts: 1,943	Any time!!!! __________________ '72 Chevy SWB 350 Auto '67 GMC LWB 350 4 speed '70 Chevy 4x4 Stepside 350 Auto Yellville, Ar. USA

03-17-2004, 08:31 AM	#6
Blue Beard Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Washington State Posts: 8,834	You'll need both upper and lower brackets... And the channel where the bottom ones mount has to be either cut and bent or just bent. __________________ 1970 Chev CST 2003 Harley Fatboy 1975 Chevrolet Step Van 1956 Chev Bel Air 1977 Blazer 2WD For Sale $3000.00 1978 Blazer 2WD For Sale $7000.00 1978 Silverado 2005 Monte Carlo

03-17-2004, 04:32 AM	#5
Stepsides 4Ever Stepsides Are Bedder Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Norco, CA Posts: 238	Correct me if I'm wrong here, but just looking at my weenie little 2-row radiator, it looks like the radiator supports are on the tank, not the core itself. The extra two rows look like it will fill out the dead space between the tank and the existing 2-rows...IF the tanks are the same size from the 2-row to the 4-row.

03-17-2004, 08:38 AM	#7
JIMs70GMC user # 2756 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Chesapeake, Virginia Posts: 4,612	2 and 3 core use the same brackets. The four core has bigger (longer) brackets. __________________ 1970 K25, 8' stepside bed 350/465/205 44 up front, 60 in the rear 4.10s rolling on 33" Dunlop MTs 1986 K5, 350/465/208 Dana 60/14 bolt from a cucv 36" Super Swampers TSL/SX 1983 K20 w/ CUCV axles, 350/700R4/208 sitting on 37" Goodyears 1986 M1031 6.2 diesel, TH400/NP205 locker in the rear and a LS in the front, all stock for now..... 1986 K30, 350/400/205 dana 60 and 14 bolt. I kept the drivetrain. Body/bad and chassis are gone. 1981 K30, 350/465/205 dana 60 and dually 14 bolt. Has a G80, and a flat bed. Going to replace the flat bed. 1985 K20, 350/400/208 10 bolt and SF 14 bolt. I wonder where I can find some 1 tons. Hmmmmm

03-17-2004, 11:00 AM	#8
71swb4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brookings, SD Posts: 10,497	Didn't AC trucks come with 4 core? So you could try to scrounge the brackets from an AC truck. __________________ Some people are like slinkies, they aren't good for anything, but you can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs.

03-17-2004, 11:24 AM	#9
danho Pesemistic Optimist Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Prineville, Oregon Posts: 227	I just went from a 3 core to a 4 core and didn't have to change anything, it was a direct bolt in. Dan. __________________ 1972 K20 Cheyenne Super Custom Camper- 4" lift & 35's, built TH350 and 355. Daily driver resto in progress. 1999 Yukon Denali- Wife's ride, hands off.

03-17-2004, 01:35 PM	#10
BLACK AND BLUE 67-72 Firefighter Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Yellville, Ar, USA Posts: 1,943	danho, you must be lucky because all of them I have seen with 3 core the brackets are too small for the 4 core and there is no way it would fit unless a person did some serious modification to the brackets. The new ones from LMC weren't that expensive and they fit just fine, also if I bought a new 4 core I would want to have new rubber bushings instead of old wore out ones. __________________ '72 Chevy SWB 350 Auto '67 GMC LWB 350 4 speed '70 Chevy 4x4 Stepside 350 Auto Yellville, Ar. USA

03-17-2004, 01:41 PM	#11
bouncytruck SKINNY TIRES RULE! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Bothell, WA Posts: 11,049	I went from 3 core to 4 core and had to change all 4 brackets and rubber pads. I bought mine from pickupsnw (only a few miles from me) but just about every vendor sells them. There are a few sets on e-bay right now. __________________ bouncytruck 1972 K5 The Hauler 1994 K1500 Suburban The Daily2010 Kia Soul Wife's Ride2014 Fiat 500L

03-19-2004, 06:02 PM	#12
Stepsides 4Ever Stepsides Are Bedder Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Norco, CA Posts: 238	Just picked up a new 4-row radiator from Radiator Express and...yup...gotta have larger upper and lower brackets. The 4-row is about an inch or so wider in the mounting area than the 2-row. It is a physically larger radiator in the tank area. Also, I can see the lip across the bottom that will probably need to be removed that Blue Beard mentioned...looks like the radiator core will be sitting on top of it if you don't.

03-19-2004, 06:15 PM	#13
bpmcgee Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 2,181	When I converted to a four core, I just used a pair of channel locks to bend the bottom support flat in the areas of the core support. Worked great. Brian

03-19-2004, 06:27 PM	#14
Stepsides 4Ever Stepsides Are Bedder Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Norco, CA Posts: 238	Good to know...we're pulling the front end off this weekend to begin the changeover...

03-19-2004, 07:30 PM	#15
Chris_T Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Saskatoon, SK Posts: 44	When I did mine (maybe two years ago?) both the brackets and the rubber bumpers were still available and cheaper from GM.



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