Two or four row radiator

[AirSpeed]

I'm tired of fixing holes in my rad, fixed the upper hose neck a few days ago and today another pair of holes showed up. Should I get a two or four row rad? I have a 72 GMC 4X4, 350/350. I tow a small teardrop camper in the summer, going up hills it would warm up but I can't remember it ever overheating but if I'm going to get a new one I'm thinking I should just get a four row. Any suggestions on what and where to buy? Thanks!
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[TBONE1964]

What does it have now? If it is a two row and you go with a 4 row then you will need the upper brackets. They are wider for a 4 row. Also it is going to place your fan shroud a little closer to your fan but that should not be an issue.

The 4 row is going to be a bit more pricey but I think it is good piece of mind, especially if you are towing anything.

[AirSpeed]

Originally Posted by TBONE1964

What does it have now? If it is a two row and you go with a 4 row then you will need the upper brackets. They are wider for a 4 row. Also it is going to place your fan shroud a little closer to your fan but that should not be an issue.

The 4 row is going to be a bit more pricey but I think it is good piece of mind, especially if you are towing anything.

It's got a two row in it now but the brackets in it are wider than the two row, I can move it back and forth about 1 1/2". I think it had a wider rad originally? Did any come with a four row? Do you think it will take longer to warm up?
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[AirSpeed]

I don't want to buy a two row and regret it later, I don't mind spending a little extra now if its going to be a big improvement in the summer, I drive a lot of steep mountain roads. Now that I think about it my truck has got pretty hot climbing long hills in the summer, not to overheating but I find myself watching the gauge a lot and it would be nice having more cooling. It's got to better for the engine and trans.
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[LakeAnna]

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/se...yword=radiator

I had one shipped last year and it was around 200 and change. If you go with 4 like mentioned above the brackets and fan shrould will be an issue. They are copper and not plastic btw.

[calvin78612]

Check out Champion Radiators,they are owned by Led Foot Racing.I just bought a two row for 209.00 shipped to my door.Very happy with it.

[PanelDeland]

I put a 4 row in mine and I'm running a 250/6.I figure it's good insurance and I've never heard anyone say"My truck runs too cool".It seems like it heats as quick as the 2 row that came out and had some bad tubes so I guess it's not running too cool.Actually the thermostat should control the temp.It took maybe 30 min to swap in 4 row mounts and the rad was all copper/brass construction.I gave right at $200 for it at O'Rielly's.

[AirSpeed]

What do you guys think of this? Or should I spend another hundred and go for an aluminum radiator? Does an alumunum radiator cool bettery/last longer?

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de....oap?year=1972

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by AirSpeed

What do you guys think of this? Or should I spend another hundred and go for an aluminum radiator? Does an alumunum radiator cool bettery/last longer?

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de....oap?year=1972

That looks like a good deal. I would definitely get a 4-row (in fact, I did) but would not spend extra for aluminum.

[LakeAnna]

Originally Posted by AirSpeed

What do you guys think of this? Or should I spend another hundred and go for an aluminum radiator? Does an alumunum radiator cool bettery/last longer?

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de....oap?year=1972

I looked back in my notes and the 433369 is what I have and it is a nice unit. That model number will cross to other manufactures so you could shop it more if you want. I found Orielly here in VA to have the best price when I got mine last year. I have the serpintine system so I hade to do a few mods for the fan and that's about it.

[Andy4639]

4x4 towing a trailer + steep hill's = 4 row hands down, no questions asked!

[AirSpeed]

Originally Posted by Andy4639

4x4 towing a trailer + steep hill's = 4 row hands down, no questions asked!

I posted one from Orielys above, what do you think?

[Andy4639]

I would go for it. Sounds fine to me. The all aluminum ones aren't that much of a bargin for a street truck. Unless your talking a BB motor with mods then it maybe worth it.

[AirSpeed]

Originally Posted by Andy4639

I would go for it. Sounds fine to me. The all aluminum ones aren't that much of a bargin for a street truck. Unless your talking a BB motor with mods then it maybe worth it.

Thanks, I went ahead and bought it, I got lucky, I live in a tiny little town and my wife is visiting my kids this weekend in the city and is going to pick it up on her way home. I've been fighting this damn radiator all winter, I can't wait to get the old one out and beat the crap out of it! Thanks again!
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[AirSpeed]

Thanks guys! I appreciate the advice!
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[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by AirSpeed

Thanks guys! I appreciate the advice!
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Your welcome anytime. Don't beat the heck out of it before you have the new one in and running though!

[70c10stepside]

My 4 row came out of a junk yard 25 years ago. Dad had bbc and sbc in it with it, and never tried over heating. Now, with the built 355 Noo matter how mean I am to it it'll stay at 160-170 then once I stop say in a parking lot and leave it on for a few, it may reach to right at 180
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[LSUMurse]

I recently bought one from Autozone and appears to be a 4. I know I had to get 4 core radiator brackets to mount the bugger. I don't know if it is the same for a 4x4.

My Autozone by me had it in stock for $184.

[LakeAnna]

Originally Posted by LSUMurse

I recently bought one from Autozone and appears to be a 4. I know I had to get 4 core radiator brackets to mount the bugger. I don't know if it is the same for a 4x4.

My Autozone by me had it in stock for $184.

Yeah I picked up brackets here off the board... I did have to do some cutting along the bottom of my radiator support so the radiator and the Lower support would clear. The holes and tab on the 2 row where different than the 4.
Was yours the same?

[LSUMurse]

Yeah, I had to make two cuts and bend the lip on the support out of the way. I probably could have thought of a prettier way to do it, but it worked.

[AirSpeed]

I'm hoping my brackets are for a four row radiator, they are to long for the radiator in my truck now. I can push the top of the radiator back about an inch and a half. I have a shallower shroud if mine is too deep with the new radiator. While looking for that shroud I found two other radiators I had stashed in my basement, they're only two row radiators and somehow a squirrel filled the tanks with acorns, along with my MIG welder. My wife just called me to tell me my son inlaw picked up my new radiator, he even paid for it! He keeps doing stuff like that to keep me in debt to him and earn points, too bad I wasn't having my wife pick up a new aftermarket AC system for my truck, it would save me a thousand bucks!
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[PanelDeland]

Watch when you install.I forgot to mention it before but my fan was too close to the 4 row,so I had to change the fan spacer.Cost me an extra $7 whole bucks.

[AirSpeed]

Originally Posted by PanelDeland

Watch when you install.I forgot to mention it before but my fan was too close to the 4 row,so I had to change the fan spacer.Cost me an extra $7 whole bucks.

Thanks, I have a lot of room between the fan and radiator, I'm really thinking mine had a four row in it at one time, my brackets are definately to long for the two row in there now. Ill watch out for it though!
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[AirSpeed]

Got my new radiator in this morning, fit like a glove! I have about six inches of clearance between the front of the fan to the radiator, my shroud actually covers the entire fan now, before it only covered about half of it.
The new four row radiator has an extra bung right below the cap and near the upper trans cooler line, it has a plug in it, any idea what it's for?
Thanks again for all the help guys!
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[luvbowties]

Originally Posted by AirSpeed

Got my new radiator in this morning, fit like a glove! I have about six inches of clearance between the front of the fan to the radiator, my shroud actually covers the entire fan now, before it only covered about half of it.
The new four row radiator has an extra bung right below the cap and near the upper trans cooler line, it has a plug in it, any idea what it's for?
Thanks again for all the help guys!
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Reckon it's for a temp sensor to regulate an electric fan system?
sam