Radiator Photo - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

85/Silverado · 08-17-2018, 08:52 AM

My 1985 Silverado Radiator doesn't seem to fit like the stock one did new, and I was wondering If anyone had a photo of a OEM one. My aluminum one is about 3 inches to short and 2" to narrow. And it's suppose to be the dimensions that fits. I am confused.
I'm trying to get a tighter fit so my a/c condenser get's better air flow. My a/c doesn't cool great at slow speeds.

85/Silverado · 08-17-2018, 09:39 PM

Or if anyone has a factory radiator still in there early 80" Silverado with a/c and auto tranny, maybe you could measure from top to bottom and side to side for me.
Thanks

Dead Parrot · 08-18-2018, 08:54 AM

From my 75 350 w/AC/Auto: 18.75 H, 33.75 W, 2.5 D. Not factory but replaced when brass-copper was the standard replacement. IIRC - was a drop in replacement.

Width is a bit of a guess as I was trying to eyeball measure around the hose hump on the driver side top. Width tries to exclude the hose hump.

I think 81 was when the radiator core support got the major redesign.

Pontiac1976 · 08-19-2018, 11:59 AM

It sound like you have the older style rad 73-80 for a big block, (taller and but less wide) the 81-87 tend to be shorter and wider. I do believe that some of the diel rad in the 81-87 are like the 73-80 and a few 454 depending on option set up. my old 3 core copper rad 2.5 W by 3.5 long tanks, and between tanks 20-7/8H x 28-1/2W I forgot the paper I will post them to night.

**Getter-Done** · 08-19-2018, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 85/Silverado

Or if anyone has a factory radiator still in there early 80" Silverado with a/c and auto tranny, maybe you could measure from top to bottom and side to side for me.
Thanks

My 84 has factory A/C , A/T, and V8 . The Radiator in mine now is 21" high and 28 and 3/4" long where it sits in the rubber grommets. There is another stamped out location on passengers side at the bottom for a shorter length radiator option. That would also require a different top piece also. I could get that measure for you also if you need it. But that would be a smaller Radiator and I don't think that what your looking for.
Hope this helps.

85/Silverado · 08-19-2018, 04:21 PM

I have a Champion with Shroud and 2 .. 14" fans.

overall: 19" tall x 28 1/4" wide

Inlet: 1.5" located on driver side.

Outlet: 1.5" located on passenger side.

Tanks: 2 3/4" thick
Mounting Type: Saddle Mounted

85/Silverado · 08-19-2018, 04:37 PM

You can see the problem, I had to cut the top mount to fit around the cap, I have shims on the bottom and it still needs to be higher,

**MikeB** · 08-19-2018, 11:29 PM

Well, there at least 3 different radiator sizes. I went though 2 before I found one to replace my OEM radiator. That's a good reason to buy from a local parts store. And don't let anyone tell you aluminum core with plastic tanks is a bad thing. It's what all the new vehicles use.

Pontiac1976 · 08-20-2018, 06:57 AM

Well this is the short now since this the third time re set twice .
You need rad support that mount to the motor side of the Rad support for LMC or the 6CYL. mounts 19" high rad's
there is two style 305, 350 shrouds one for the lighter cooling use with 6CYL. style mounting brackets .
heavy cooling 305, 350, 454 like the top rad support mounting brackets you have 20".
There lots of Option

LMC has them .
Oh you will need rubber for the bottom if you do not have them.

85/Silverado · 08-20-2018, 11:01 AM

I guess I'll have to get someone to build me a custom shroud to fit between the mount and the Radiator so I'll have a tighter fit for increased air flow for the condenser.
I have the rubber (9) mounts but they were not big enough to keep the thing up high enough for the brackets to hole the Radiator tight to the front.
I know they make a larger size radiator $355.00 looks the same as mine.

**Palf70Step** · 08-20-2018, 11:35 AM

The radiator is too short for you application. On the stock fan shroud/mount for the smaller radiators there is a cover for the top of the radiator that covers that gap and helps keep the air flowing thru not over that radiator. If you don't want to get the taller/larger size and mounts, then make a cover so the air won't go around the top of the radiator. You can make it out of metal or a heavy rubber matting/stripping.

85/Silverado · 08-20-2018, 09:44 PM

Thanks for the picture so now get a idea or two.

08-17-2018, 08:52 AM	#1
85/Silverado Registered User Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Port St. Joe Fl. Posts: 494	Radiator Photo My 1985 Silverado Radiator doesn't seem to fit like the stock one did new, and I was wondering If anyone had a photo of a OEM one. My aluminum one is about 3 inches to short and 2" to narrow. And it's suppose to be the dimensions that fits. I am confused. I'm trying to get a tighter fit so my a/c condenser get's better air flow. My a/c doesn't cool great at slow speeds.

08-17-2018, 09:39 PM	#2
85/Silverado Registered User Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Port St. Joe Fl. Posts: 494	Re: Radiator Photo Or if anyone has a factory radiator still in there early 80" Silverado with a/c and auto tranny, maybe you could measure from top to bottom and side to side for me. Thanks

08-18-2018, 08:54 AM	#3
Dead Parrot Registered User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 2,611	Re: Radiator Photo From my 75 350 w/AC/Auto: 18.75 H, 33.75 W, 2.5 D. Not factory but replaced when brass-copper was the standard replacement. IIRC - was a drop in replacement. Width is a bit of a guess as I was trying to eyeball measure around the hose hump on the driver side top. Width tries to exclude the hose hump. I think 81 was when the radiator core support got the major redesign.

08-19-2018, 11:59 AM	#4
Pontiac1976 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 766	Re: Radiator Photo It sound like you have the older style rad 73-80 for a big block, (taller and but less wide) the 81-87 tend to be shorter and wider. I do believe that some of the diel rad in the 81-87 are like the 73-80 and a few 454 depending on option set up. my old 3 core copper rad 2.5 W by 3.5 long tanks, and between tanks 20-7/8H x 28-1/2W I forgot the paper I will post them to night. __________________ 1977 REG cab Long Bed with a 1984 Front Clip, 82 305 .60 over 9.0.1 flat top pistons, 4bbl, TH350, w/84 SS-intake & cam , w/ 1977 big block rad, 1975 gear box, 1984 master w/ metric fittings top & SAE fitting @ portion block, 1975 3.42 gear open diff. Duel 77-87 Factory air cleaner, duel inlet from rad support . Down sized 9' to new 8' Steel flat bed Was a 77 454 w/308 gear. Taken out 550 lbs. up front with motor clip change. Last edited by Pontiac1976; 08-20-2018 at 07:04 AM.

08-19-2018, 04:21 PM	#6
85/Silverado Registered User Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Port St. Joe Fl. Posts: 494	Re: Radiator Photo I have a Champion with Shroud and 2 .. 14" fans. overall: 19" tall x 28 1/4" wide Inlet: 1.5" located on driver side. Outlet: 1.5" located on passenger side. Tanks: 2 3/4" thick Mounting Type: Saddle Mounted Last edited by 85/Silverado; 08-19-2018 at 09:26 PM.

08-19-2018, 04:37 PM	#7
85/Silverado Registered User Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Port St. Joe Fl. Posts: 494	Re: Radiator Photo You can see the problem, I had to cut the top mount to fit around the cap, I have shims on the bottom and it still needs to be higher, Attached Images

08-19-2018, 11:29 PM	#8
MikeB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: North Texas Posts: 3,597	Re: Radiator Photo Well, there at least 3 different radiator sizes. I went though 2 before I found one to replace my OEM radiator. That's a good reason to buy from a local parts store. And don't let anyone tell you aluminum core with plastic tanks is a bad thing. It's what all the new vehicles use. __________________ Mike 1969 C10 LWB -- owned for 35 years. 350/TH350, 3.08 posi, 1st Gen Vintage Air, recent AAW wiring harness, 5-lug conversion, 1985 spindles and brakes. 1982 C10 SWB -- sold 1981 C10 Silverado LWB -- sold, but wish I still had it! 1969 C10 (not the current one) that I bought in the early 1980s. Paid $1200; sold for $1500 a few years later. Just a hint at the appreciation that was coming. Retired as a factory automation products salesman. Worked part-time over the years for an engine builder and a classic car repair shop. Member here for 24 years! This is the very first car/truck Internet forum I joined. I still used a dial-up modem back then!

08-20-2018, 06:57 AM	#9
Pontiac1976 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 766	Re: Radiator Photo Well this is the short now since this the third time re set twice . You need rad support that mount to the motor side of the Rad support for LMC or the 6CYL. mounts 19" high rad's there is two style 305, 350 shrouds one for the lighter cooling use with 6CYL. style mounting brackets . heavy cooling 305, 350, 454 like the top rad support mounting brackets you have 20". There lots of Option LMC has them . Oh you will need rubber for the bottom if you do not have them. __________________ 1977 REG cab Long Bed with a 1984 Front Clip, 82 305 .60 over 9.0.1 flat top pistons, 4bbl, TH350, w/84 SS-intake & cam , w/ 1977 big block rad, 1975 gear box, 1984 master w/ metric fittings top & SAE fitting @ portion block, 1975 3.42 gear open diff. Duel 77-87 Factory air cleaner, duel inlet from rad support . Down sized 9' to new 8' Steel flat bed Was a 77 454 w/308 gear. Taken out 550 lbs. up front with motor clip change.

08-20-2018, 11:01 AM	#10
85/Silverado Registered User Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Port St. Joe Fl. Posts: 494	Re: Radiator Photo I guess I'll have to get someone to build me a custom shroud to fit between the mount and the Radiator so I'll have a tighter fit for increased air flow for the condenser. I have the rubber (9) mounts but they were not big enough to keep the thing up high enough for the brackets to hole the Radiator tight to the front. I know they make a larger size radiator $355.00 looks the same as mine. Attached Images

08-20-2018, 11:35 AM	#11
Palf70Step State of Confusion! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Gulfport, MS USA Posts: 47,216	Re: Radiator Photo The radiator is too short for you application. On the stock fan shroud/mount for the smaller radiators there is a cover for the top of the radiator that covers that gap and helps keep the air flowing thru not over that radiator. If you don't want to get the taller/larger size and mounts, then make a cover so the air won't go around the top of the radiator. You can make it out of metal or a heavy rubber matting/stripping. Attached Images __________________ Bill 1970 Chevy Custom/10 LWB Fleetside 2010 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner SR5 Double Cab - DD Member of Louisiana Classic Truck Club (LCTC) Bill's Gallery Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God! Last edited by Palf70Step; 08-20-2018 at 11:48 AM.

08-20-2018, 09:44 PM	#12
85/Silverado Registered User Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Port St. Joe Fl. Posts: 494	Re: Radiator Photo Thanks for the picture so now get a idea or two.

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