73 radiator?

[kev2809]

Why are these so much cheaper than a replacement for my 67? i can get a 73 radiator from rock auto shipped to my door for 150. local oreillys is about 180 with tax. when i pull up a 67 oreillys is about 300...and rock auto is over 400 for the only one they carry. can i just go with the 73 for my ls swap? the aluminum one i was going to use has 2 pinholes in the bottom of it so thats going in the trash.

heres the specs on the $150 radiator...

[Joyridin]

Maybe it is me, but I personally think that radiator is going to be a bit small. It says it has a single core row and the core is 1.25" wide. I have a feeling you are going to have a bit of trouble keeping the LS engine cool even in stock form. Add a cam or anything and you really are out of the ballpark.

[kev2809]

all the ones listed for oreilly are listed as "1 row"

here's the radiator "without air conditioning"

[Joyridin]

When I look on Rockauto, they show a 2 or 3 row equivalent, which is what the radiator you are showing above is apparently. They have a 4 row equivalent which has a 1.575" core and it is a 4 row equivalent for a 350 cid engine. They do not mention A/C or not.

[kev2809]

Originally Posted by Joyridin

When I look on Rockauto, they show a 2 or 3 row equivalent, which is what the radiator you are showing above is apparently. They have a 4 row equivalent which has a 1.575" core and it is a 4 row equivalent for a 350 cid engine. They do not mention A/C or not.

do you know what the ac option is for?

im hoping to find something i can get at a local auto part store just in case i have issues than it can easily be replaced. doesnt necessarily have to be from a 73, i just noticed they seem way cheaper than my 67 for some odd reason

[Joyridin]

Originally Posted by kev2809

do you know what the ac option is for?

im hoping to find something i can get at a local auto part store just in case i have issues than it can easily be replaced. doesnt necessarily have to be from a 73, i just noticed they seem way cheaper than my 67 for some odd reason

I would assume anything with the A/C option would mean the radiator is larger to help keep the vehicle cool when the A/C is running, but that isn't always true.

They show one on Rockauto for a BB engine and it is a 4 row equivalent also. I am going to run a dual pass in my truck. Most of the LS/LT engines run hotter and bigger radiators seem to be the trick. I was looking at a set of dual fans off a mid 2000 truck. The guy has a good deal on them. Unfortunately, they measure 34.5" wide by 20" tall. The width of that fan set-up is wider than my whole radiator with the tanks. That is some pretty hefty cooling capacity.

[Rich84]

Not a bad idea at all to get one locally. Most will have a lifetime warranty and will probably need it at some point. I have a stock one for my '86 with a 6.0 ls in it. I have a clutch fan and half a shroud and it never goes over 193.

[kev2809]

when you say stock one...which option do you pick? even with the local parts store ones they list like 3 or 4 different options when you put the truck info in.

even the ones I posted are for a 350 engine. it gets confusing. I was assuming if it listed it for that size motor than it would work for an ls

[Rich84]

I bought stock one for a V8 automatic with A/C. It was about 2 years ago so I don't remember exactly which one. I will look on my bench I should have the receipt.

[Warrens69GMC]

Check fitment of B730

https://www.autozone.com/cooling-hea...730/181065_0_0

[kev2809]

Originally Posted by Warrens69GMC

Check fitment of B730

https://www.autozone.com/cooling-hea...730/181065_0_0

200 shipped from amazon for spectra equivalent (CU730).

i went under 85 c2500 with 454 engine on rockauto. says its a 4 row. think i will go with this one.

is that the one you used from autozone?

[Warrens69GMC]

Yes. My 1978 is a Big 10, and that was the one that matched the one that came out (Harrison).

[Joyridin]

Originally Posted by Warrens69GMC

Yes. My 1978 is a Big 10, and that was the one that matched the one that came out (Harrison).

That sounds like a hefty radiator.

[kev2809]

I ordered the spectra equivalent. should be here next week and it's going in but I won't actually use it til closer to summer when I plan on cranking the truck.

[kev2809]

man this thing is huge. width is ok but it's tall and doesn't fid the radiator supports at the bottom of the core support. hmmm...clears my clutch fan though. wonder how the hell I can get this strapped down

[kev2809]

some pics. the bottom sits ok but I can get it lower and I cut off the curved edge the radiator sits on top. the top sits taller by about 2 1/4" but can be a little less if I chop the bottom mount. I can also section the top mounts and raise them to fit. radiator does lean but I don't think it's excessive.

[kev2809]

got it down to about 1 1/2" taller than the support after trimming the lower mounts and removing the rubber. think it can work, just need to modify the top mounts to hold it the radiator down.

does anyone have an idea of how close the hood comes to the rad. support when closed?

[Joyridin]

So this radiator you ordered was for the Big 10 and it is that much taller? I find it hard to believe GM used different radiator supports unless they changed the design from your 73 to the 78 model year.

[kev2809]

ya its tall. but i did find some info. apparently a few guys stuffed tall radiators in their 67-72 c10 and just chopped the upper mounts to make them work...which is what im doing. the radiator above is for a 454 big block 73-87 i think. i dont really mind the rad mount work..it will hold fine. i just have to figure a fan shroud that works now. im thinking a 73-87 bb factory one should bolt up, but havent dug into it yet

[kev2809]

heres what i came up with. still have to finish the other but i ran out of wire

[kev2809]

well, this will not work with the 67s because the hood. apparently it will fit the 69 up since the hood is shaped differently in the front.

so, imo, it would totally be worth the extra effort to do this if you have the earlier model hood. other than it being too tall, most of lined up just fined.

in the end i went with the cu369 from spectra radiator from amazon. came in at about 280 shipped and fits perfect with 4 row hold downs.