LS Swap Radiator help for my '67 C10

[Worldofhurts]

Ok, I know it's another question but first let me say thank you in advance for the help.
I have 6.0 and 4l80e out of a 2005 Silverado and not planning on any Horsepower mods. I want to hook up the tranny lines, steam line and electric fans to a stock radiator that will work on my LS Swap. Does anyone know what year/vehicle radiator/fan assembly I should be looking for that will drop in or if not a complete drop in what modifications are needed to get it going. Part numbers if you have used them would be great.

Thanks

[mongocanfly]

a stock v8/auto radiator will be just fine...use the biggest fans you can fit that will cover the radiator...no mods needed...the steam can be plumbed into the water pump or top radiator hose

[Worldofhurts]

When you say stock are you talking 67-72 or 2005 like the engine it came from and it will fit. Sorry for this is my first swap and talking with people has got me even more confused and is why I came to the forum. I've had some say make sure it's a dual pass some say it doesn't matter some say single pass will work. Some say 3 core others say 4 core cause we live in Vegas and it's hot. The problem is all the great wizards here don't own a classic truck or have done a LS swap.

[mongocanfly]

yeah, but yall have dry heat don't ya?...haha...
im saying the stock 67 radiator in good shape should be good enough..be sure to shroud the fans..on my 81 6.0 swap I used the stock radiator ...but I did buy a new one from oreillys...its a single wide core aluminum .....my fans are programmed for #1 at 175* ..#2 at 185*....my truck never runs over 185-190...and that's pulling well over 9000lbs loaded trailer in 95+temps
more radiator wont hurt though if your worried about it

[MDPotter]

If you go with a stock replacement 67 radiator, how do you go about attaching a fan and shrouds? I'm still trying to figure out what I'm going to do for a radiator. Right now I'm leaning towards a Cold Case stock replacement with fans, but I could save a little money by going with a 67 replacement.

If money were no issue, I would buy an Entropy.

[Pillow]

'71 here but yes, the stock radiator works just fine.

I run mechanical fan w/o shroud. Worked fine even in TX heat for a year.

[dayj1]

Originally Posted by MDPotter

If you go with a stock replacement 67 radiator, how do you go about attaching a fan and shrouds?

Here's a couple of pics of one of my swaps. It's pretty easy to make a shroud for one of these old trucks. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...69&postcount=6

[MDPotter]

I've got a PM out to a member (HSRacer) who installed a late model radiator with aftermarket shroud/fans in his. I'll let you know when I hear back.

I like the idea of installing a late model radiator, but there are fitment challenges as it seems most of the late model trucks (99-06) have radiators that are too wide to fit in the core support, but they have the steam port and trans coolers. The other difficulty with the late model radiators is that they don't have caps - you have to use the late model style overflow and fill it through there.

[Worldofhurts]

Keep me in the loop. I would really love to see what is all involved in installing a late model with a reservoir. If anyone has pics please post them.

[Pillow]

Look at JagsThatRun for upper radiator hose couplers that have integrated steam ports and vents. Easy.

Note: With the stock vented style system you can run green death coolant. When you go full sealed with expansion tank then you can use Dex-Cool. IDK if this is a concern to anyone, but just let you know if you have a preference.

IMO if you aren't building a show car then keep it simple. KISS. The ~$500 conversion radiators are laughable for most streeters.

[MDPotter]

Originally Posted by Pillow

Look at JagsThatRun for upper radiator hose couplers that have integrated steam ports and vents. Easy.

Note: With the stock vented style system you can run green death coolant. When you go full sealed with expansion tank then you can use Dex-Cool. IDK if this is a concern to anyone, but just let you know if you have a preference.

IMO if you aren't building a show car then keep it simple. KISS. The ~$500 conversion radiators are laughable for most streeters.

What do you mean, "laughable"? And are you talking about LS radiators?

I have a spreadsheet to compare several radiator manuf's and there are basically three price points. These are all radiator/fan/shroud combos:
-$300-$350 (Champion/American eagle, Auto City Classic)
-$600 (Cold Case)
-$850-$1,100 (Entropy, Dewitts, Griffin)

I have trouble believing that a $1,000 setup is that much better than a $350 setup because the late model pickups and SUV's have setups that cost about $350 and they work just fine. The dismantler I bought my engine from threw in a set of late model fans for free, but they're meant for a late model radiator that measures 41" from tank ends which is too wide to fit in the core support.

I posted a separate thread asking for reviews of the American Eagle setups. It doesn't have a steam port, but does have a trans cooler, fans, and shroud.

[my kids toy]

If thinking a cold case ls swap rad I would think twice, myself and someone else has had issues with them, they do not have tranny cooler in them anymore as well.
Both issues were with the steam port connections, then they changed design and got rid of the tranny cooler.

[Pillow]

Originally Posted by MDPotter

What do you mean, "laughable"? And are you talking about LS radiators?

Sorry I should have added clarity there.

What I mean is why pay for a conversion or even AL radiator when the stock 67-72 units provide enough cooling capacity for an LS swap.

I worried about this issue needlessly while doing my swap years ago. When the fact is the stock radiator is 100% for daily use in hot or cold weather. Mine spends half its life loaded up, so this isn't a light duty trailer queen by any means that doesn't see work.

I point here is just to save the next guy some $ that could be spent elsewhere on the build.

[MDPotter]

Originally Posted by Pillow

Sorry I should have added clarity there.

What I mean is why pay for a conversion or even AL radiator when the stock 67-72 units provide enough cooling capacity for an LS swap.

I worried about this issue needlessly while doing my swap years ago. When the fact is the stock radiator is 100% for daily use in hot or cold weather. Mine spends half its life loaded up, so this isn't a light duty trailer queen by any means that doesn't see work.

I point here is just to save the next guy some $ that could be spent elsewhere on the build.

I appreciate the feedback for sure and I agree that the stock radiator is up to the task. I just don't have any knowledge of how to install a set of fans on a radiator which is why I've been searching for a package radiator/fans setup. I have no problem buying a stock replacement for $180 and putting fans on it if I know what fans/shroud to buy and how to attach them. Do you have some advice on that? I'm looking at Spectra Premium CU369 from Rock Auto (same part number regardless of the engine) which has a trans cooler.

[1971Stepside]

If thinking a cold case ls swap rad I would think twice, myself and someone else has had issues with them, they do not have tranny cooler in them anymore as well.
Both issues were with the steam port connections, then they changed design and got rid of the tranny cooler.

This ^^

[mongocanfly]

they told me to get the biggest fans i could that would cover the radiator...so i searched summit and picked out just that...then i put the stock shroud over them.....on the IH i used the stock shroud and a single fan ..16in i believe...you can see how i did it in the IH build...https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...750501&page=28 .. in post 690
you could always run the pump mounted fan ..if it lines up with the shroud...mine did not...thats why i went electric....also while searching ..ive been told the curved blade fans are quiter than the straight blade fans....i know on my 81 that when both fans are running ,and its idling ,they are pretty noisy

[MDPotter]

I found these fans/shroud on eBay. They are supposed to fit Champion/American Eagle as well as stock replacements. I cross-referenced the shroud dimensions to the Spectra radiator and it should work. These fans look to be the same fans that come on the $350 American Eagle radiator/fan combo.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/ALUMINUM-RA...4AAOSw7XNc0cUh

So is there any reason to go with the Spectra/eBay combo over the American Eagle package? They come out to the same cost.

[Pillow]

This works.

[mongocanfly]

^^^ it works if itll line up with the shroud^^^^....mine didnt..fan sat lower than shroud by 3-4 inches

[19Loki67]

Champion radiators aren’t very expensive and I believe they have one for a 67 with the correct shroud and fan included.
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[Pillow]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

^^^ it works if itll line up with the shroud^^^^....mine didnt..fan sat lower than shroud by 3-4 inches

As said before. I don't run a shroud either as it does not line up w factory C10 tupperware.

It works even though not "optimal". TX heat tested for a year and ~5 years of going strong as proof. Note: I don't do stop and go traffic though, if you are in the city you may need shrouds.

I'm also waiting for my NWC T5 to explode behind an LS that is impossible to do according to the internet... So take everything you read with a grain of salt.

[truckdude239]

I got a cold case ls swap radiator with internal trans cooler and their fan and shounds so far its awesome

[71C10-KID]

Originally Posted by Pillow

'71 here but yes, the stock radiator works just fine.

I run mechanical fan w/o shroud. Worked fine even in TX heat for a year.

What do you do for the cold air intake then if your running mechanical fan, and also coolant hoses? Thanks
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[Low Elco]

I just had to trash a 1 yr old giant Griffin due to leaks at all 4 corners. Don't ask unless you're prepared for USN level profanity. Got on here and did some searchin', and a Spectra Premium 1998 v6 C1500 radiator fits right in the factory small radiator biscuits. Even has the right hoses for an LS. Runs right on 190/200 so far. 2 big Derale fans in a derale shroud, just fab tabs to tag it over to the factory shroud mounts. 169 bucks, cheaper yet on Rockauto. Very happy so far.

[verdell]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

I just had to trash a 1 yr old giant Griffin due to leaks at all 4 corners. Don't ask unless you're prepared for USN level profanity. Got on here and did some searchin', and a Spectra Premium 1998 v6 C1500 radiator fits right in the factory small radiator biscuits. Even has the right hoses for an LS. Runs right on 190/200 so far. 2 big Derale fans in a derale shroud, just fab tabs to tag it over to the factory shroud mounts. 169 bucks, cheaper yet on Rockauto. Very happy so far.

Same thing happened with my big Griffin radiator. Their stuff is straight garbage.