ls radiator in 79 truck

[4x4k30]

I am trying to save a few bucs I have a radiator out of a 2005 Yukon thinking about using it in my 79 k30 has anybody used one in there ls swaped vechile 73-87 truck ? I know I will have to do some rigging but like to get a few ideals if any one else has done this

[mongocanfly]

is there something wrong with the k30 radiator?.....its plenty good for a LS....

[4x4k30]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

is there something wrong with the k30 radiator?.....its plenty good for a LS....

well no my 79 sat for a couple years with the engine out of it. the cheap fine china aluminum $200 radiator I bought when I did the ls swap in the 77 started leaking so I took the radiator out of the 79 and put it in my 77 I had to buy to a cheap radiator because my son sold the orginal 77 one for scrap I have a 6.0 ready to drop in the 79 now but with no radiator I have 3 ls radiators sitting around from other junk so I am gona try to put one of them in I think its gona work been out today foolin with it I think i may be able to make it work .

[cdub2010]

I used just about everything from the donor 2004 2500hd. Radiator fit great with a few cup style mounts welded into the bottom core support along with 2 nuts welded into the top. Trans lines, and stock cooler fit great as well as stock radiator pipes. No issues with the stock fan, just need to fab up a shroud. I had no original parts worth reusing from my '77 hence using the newer stuff.

[4x4k30]

Originally Posted by cdub2010

I used just about everything from the donor 2004 2500hd. Radiator fit great with a few cup style mounts welded into the bottom core support along with 2 nuts welded into the top. Trans lines, and stock cooler fit great as well as stock radiator pipes. No issues with the stock fan, just need to fab up a shroud. I had no original parts worth reusing from my '77 hence using the newer stuff.

well that's good to know it will work I always find out later that my rigging does not work like rigging in the radiator before the engine goes in and nothing lines up rite.. I used all the mounts from the 02 Tahoe a/c condenser to make some radiator mounts and used some spring bushings instead of the bottom round mounts they fit good in the old rad. channel and I tapped out the bottom mount to drill a hole thru the rad. chanel and by luck when I set the rad. down one of the inner fender bolts lined rite up and the spring bushings will hold it in without having to use bolts to bolt it in.

[4x4k30]

most of the parts used to put the in radiator came from junk sitting around that's why I don't throw nuting away

[dec010974]

hello all. if I remember correctly, how will you fill the ls radiator? it doesn't have a vent cap/neck. are you gonna fab up a way to use the ls overflow canister? also another thing to remember is to burp or extract all the air out of the cooling system. some of the forum users have had complaints about air pockets and cooling problems. 4x4k30 & cdub2010 you guys are smart for using the ls stuff. GM has a lot of R&D behind the LS. Good luck.

[4x4k30]

Originally Posted by dec010974

hello all. if I remember correctly, how will you fill the ls radiator? it doesn't have a vent cap/neck. are you gonna fab up a way to use the ls overflow canister? also another thing to remember is to burp or extract all the air out of the cooling system. some of the forum users have had complaints about air pockets and cooling problems. 4x4k30 & cdub2010 you guys are smart for using the ls stuff. GM has a lot of R&D behind the LS. Good luck.

I am glad you brought that up because I didn't think about all that my self so now I am gona have to figure a way to mount the coolant tank up and its big and takes up a lot room .I know it would be easyer to just buy a new radiator and just put it in. but I am on a fixed income now and I just don't have the funds to do it like I want to.i am lucky though I have more time than money to do this . I was out working on the truck today and was seeing how I was gona mount the pedal and in-line fuel pump and regulator and seen its gona be another problem to over come.

[cdub2010]

Originally Posted by dec010974

hello all. if I remember correctly, how will you fill the ls radiator?

Using the stock 2005 coolant tank just like gm did. Lots of smart people working there, so no need to reinvent things. Just need to mount it up to the pass side inner fender. Ill post some pictures if I can get some time in the shop soon.

[dec010974]

it can be done 4x4k30. a friend of mine used the stock LS overflow canister with no problems. ill try to post pics. his truck is a 1971 C10 but you'll get the idea.

[dec010974]

here they are.