Aluminum radiator fits

[Big69C20 Toy]

Okay boys and girls i know it's been kicked around before but i've had my truck torn apart so long i'm unsure how tough fittament would be if i bought a universal race-style radiator.

I know lots of folks have used other apps and such and with electric fans there is usually quite a bit of room in these trucks between front of motor and radiator.

I know cost on the universals is about 1/2 of the custom fit ones and for my app i need a lot of cooling on this BBC/trans so a 4 core won't cut it at all.

I'm thinking either of shelling out for the griffin 2x1.5"core rad for our trucks or just biting the bullet on a universal and fabbing up some fit... please share your thoughts/experiences please.

['70_402]

why wont' your 4 core cut it? i have a bbc and th400 and it never gets hot..

[Big69C20 Toy]

572CID BBC pushing ~650hp n/a add to that 25psi boost....

['70_402]

Umm... Boost.. That Is A Big Key Word That I Didn't Know About.. Yea.. Aluminum Might Be Best For You..

[Big69C20 Toy]

no problem man, sorry i forgot to define all the fun variables. this thing is already a money pit like no other, customs are fun like that

[Purs]

Here's what I used to cool my HOT 468 in my '68 chevelle. It worked so well that I checked the dimensions of my truck and guess what? they are virtually identical! So I ordered another one to cool my 496. I test fit it and it fit like a glove, no mods whatsoever. However, I haven't installed the motor yet so I don't know if the hoses are going to work or not. Here's the part numbers:

Radiator ('91-'95 P30 Step Van)
GM # 52470841
Delco # 20907 or 20778 (same part)

Hoses (84-86 Malibu/El Camino)
Gates # 21204 upper and 21324 lower
Dayco #71029 upper and 71139 lower

Cushions ('93 P30 Step Van)


Part #52470841 has been replaced by #52479539 ????

Delco
20907
RADIATOR,
With RPO 4-SPD A/TRANS(MT1) ^ HVY DUTY RAD(V01) CORE SIZE 28 5/16 X 16 7/8 X 1 1/4


Good luck.

PS. I used the Delco number because there was some confusion on the GM number. They are making a copper/brass radiator with that number or similar number.....

[Big69C20 Toy]

Purs... i'm going to guess that's an aluminum unit that's single row? since the core thickness is 1.25" i'm assuming so.

Also for this app this will be a mostly street truck (i know i'm slightly deranged) so it's gotta be able to hold it's own during idle... hence why i'm considering the 2x1.5" tube core from griffin

[Purs]

corect-o-mundo

Here's a pic from the Delco site.

Just to clarify, I used this as a budget alternative to the more expensive aluminum radiators out there. It is lightweight and cooled my 500HP N/A 468 no problem. I'm hoping for the same with my 600HP N/A 496. BUT, if I had dropped enough coin putting in a blown 572 (makes my 496 look small ) I'd personally probably shell out the extra 200-300 bucks for a really heavy duty setup. But then again, I'm sort of a nut about keeping my engines cool....

[Big69C20 Toy]

yeah, single row won't cut my app i'm pretty sure but a good reference for fittament. thanks Purs

[Purs]

some good info over here....

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/sear...searchid=38833

[Bowtiefreak]

Just curious, why don't you give BeCool a call. Thats what I have for mine. Very nice radiator BTW. I am sure they can set you up.

[72MARIO]

Do the Van rads bolt in using the 2 or 4 core existing mounts ?

[Big69C20 Toy]

Bowtie: i called BeCool and they're even more expensive than Griffin last time i checked... very nice stuff though i do agree.

I'm somewhat suprised more guys havent used universal radiators for our trucks...

[Big69C20 Toy]

Purs... forgot to mention my bbc won't be blown, it'll be twin turbo so at least it'll be somewhat streetable and entertaining.. yeah i know the truck has no real purpose in this world other than to eat my $

[Purs]

Originally Posted by Big69C20 Toy

...it'll be a twin turbo....

I love turbos! I've spent some time behind the wheel of my uncles worked '87 Grand National. That thing flies and it's only a V6! Can't even imagine a Twin Turbo 572

Originally Posted by Big69C20

...yeah i know the truck has no real purpose in this world other than to eat my $

Don't we all know it? I keep telling my wife I NEED this 600HP 496 to haul my lawnmower around....

Keep us updated on your progress. I'd love to see some engine pics and some tire burning video....

[Big69C20 Toy]

spoke with a local rad shop that builds/buys custom aftermarket and does a lot of good fab work on stuff (mopar friend reccommended me to em) he stated that Griffin has trouble with their brazing process for fittament and getting good braze so that's why they're using epoxy on the headers vs. welding or brazing the headers on... i've worked in heat exchangers before so i know a lot of the problems with em

I dont know how much truth there is to the 'problem' with the fin/tube contact for brazing on the griffin units, but figured i'd share all the same (just remember what they say about opinions...)

As far as pics/vids i've gotta get the truck together (as soon as i rob the nearest bank) but i've gotta shell some $ soon so i can at least get it running in case i move soon.

Luckily i've no wife/gf to answer to so my $ is my own.. well or the trucks and a 600hp lawnmower mover sounds good to me!

[cableguy0]

i heard the same thing about griffin having issues direct from griffin when i worked in the speed shop here local. played phone tag for a while talking to different and they said there brazing process wasnt holding up

[Big69C20 Toy]

yeah cable i did a bunch of work on metallurgical studies on brace contact when i was with Garrett and brazing with such tight tolerances to assure good contact and capillary flow action for sealing is difficult, especially in large production, one of the biggest things is just the core stack-up and the amazing amount of human input to the materials

Okay so perhaps i'm rambling, and i want more views on this thread for guys who've done aftermarket universal installs....

[Big69C20 Toy]

All #'s here are 'rough' measurements off my 69 3/4 ton with original BBC and 4 core rad and original A/C components.

hmm, well after doing some measuring and such i've basically come up with some rough #'s Overall width 34 1/4" overall height ~19" overall thickness (supports) ~3 1/2"
core size is 28.5" wide x 16 3/8 tall (+1 1/8 for the rails above and below) giving 'total' core height to ~18 5/8" and core thickness came in @ ~2 3/4"
Lower hose is 1 3/4" (pass side), upper hose is 1 1/2" (drivers side)

Now i didnt do a search on any of those #'s and they are all somewhat 'rough' since i did them this morning at 4am out in my garage with a tape measure.

ALSO from what i can tell with setting the core in the rad support (not on truck) it appears that on the drivers side there is 1 1/2" room or better of extra width and on the pass side 1 1/8" room to play with.


The A/C exchanger has dimensions as follows. The core is 28 1/2" wide 12 1/8" tall and 1 1/4" thick. if you include 'overhang' from the tubes extending beyond the mount brackets it's 30 1/4 wide.

The mounting locations are 27 1/2" horizontal on the top 2 holes, and 26 1/2" on the bottom 2. Both sides have 15 3/4" between top and bottom mounting locations. All measurements were from bolt center.


Lost my Digi-cam this weekend in Memphis otherwise i'd put up some pics with real dimensions on the FAQ page

Take nothing as gospel or even good advice yet, as i've not bought a new radiator and checked fit or anything yet..


Purs... i'm even more amazed you got that monster in your truck unless Delco has some 'different' measuring techniques than other places. You have any fit pictures or anything? did you have to modify the lower radiator supports?

Okay long rant... i'm spent for now

[68w/sbc406]

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php3?t=153443