stock radiator question

[Midgets50]

Hi all,
so im trying to get everything sorted out before i do my swap but will the stock radiator work for a 350 motor. as far as i know my radiator is good so if possible and if it would save me from making something fit i would like to keep my original radiator

[dwcsr]

It will work fine. Don't waste your money on a Aluminum

[mr48chev]

If it is in good shape it won't have a problem cooling the 350. You may want to have the inlet in the top tank changed to take one that matches the hose for the 350 though as you have to find a flex hose with the small end if you don't do that.

I ran a stock 48 radiator with a 283 and then a 350 with no problems until the radiator died of old age. You have to run a low pressure cap though and leave room for expansion in the top tank.

[yossarian19]

Piggyback Q: the stock radiator will cool a 350, but how about a 4.8 liter LS style engine? ~280 horse.

[OrrieG]

Do the AD radiators have smaller hose sizes? I have a stock rad in mine and the counter guy found two for me that fit the rad and filler neck and water pump. I just bent up a wire to get the shape and he was able to pull a bunch off the wall for me to try. I had to trim them a little but they are US made Gates reinforced hose, smooth wall, my girl doesn't like ribs.

[hammerdog57]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

If it is in good shape it won't have a problem cooling the 350. You may want to have the inlet in the top tank changed to take one that matches the hose for the 350 though as you have to find a flex hose with the small end if you don't do that.

I ran a stock 48 radiator with a 283 and then a 350 with no problems until the radiator died of old age. You have to run a low pressure cap though and leave room for expansion in the top tank.

What psi cap? How much room for coolant expansion?

[Daze57]

OrrieG
do you have thepart # s of the hoses ?

[54 jimmy]

you need a 7psi cap. that is the low pressure cap you will need. used a 79 chevy caprice cap on my gmc rad and it works great.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

...I ran a stock 48 radiator with a 283 and then a 350 with no problems until the radiator died of old age. You have to run a low pressure cap though and leave room for expansion in the top tank.

I'm running a warmed over 283 with my stock but boiled and rodded out stock radiator. No idea if its the original one from 1955 but if its not it is identical.

You don't have to "leave room" if you install and overflow tank, do you? I have one but just haven't installed it yet. And when I do, don't I fill the tank up full and even put a little coolant in the overflow tank?

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by Daze57

OrrieG
do you have thepart # s of the hoses ?

I will get them tomorrow, I thought I could find the previous thread but it will be just as easy to go out and look at the hose labels.

[Daze57]

OrrieG

OK .......thanks
hammerdog57

i am runnin a 7 lb cap also on my 57 - no probs and am runnin a sidewinder puller fan ! now that fan will suck the chrome off a tail pipe. lol

[OrrieG]

Upper is Gates 20416 Lower is Gates 20584. Both had to have one end cut off because they are for other applications. My engine has a manifold neck that points forward angled up and standard long water pump. The radiator is a stock big truck radiator with upper center and lower passenger side connections. Big truck radiator is 1" thicker and about 3" deeper than 1/2-1 ton ones.

[JumboAMONGus]

i ran same lower hose on my 56 as the 6 cylinder when i had my 283 bored .125 over and top was just a L shaped hose stock radiator worked fine ,