Radiator Cross Referencing

[LuckyRabbit4]

I have a 66 c10 straight 6 stepside. Old farm truck turned parts runner for a body shop now it's my new toy.

The truck has been over heating. I don't know much about these older vehicles but I KNEW the radiator was an issue right away. It's too small. I looked up the model year and all that good stuff for the dimensions. The current radiator is about 7" too skinny, 1 1/4" too tall, and a whole inch too thin. It's a mess.

I was wondering if there is a more modern car I can look for in a junk yard that might have a similar radiator that may fit? Even if it's only long enough to get the funds up to replace the whole cooling system. Why replace one thing at a time when I need to do it all eventually anyway?

Any help would be great.

[Captainfab]

It sounds like you have the typical I6 radiator that sits down between the frame rails. There is NO other factory radiator that will work correctly in your truck. All you need is the V8/HD cooling radiator that is sold by many. many retailers. Note that the HD cooling/V8 radiator sits on top of the frame and will need the lower saddles changed, and you will need a different top hold down.

This is the one that I like best.

https://www.autocityclassic.com/1948...iator-r6366pu/

There are other brands that are sold on ebay, namely Champion radiators that many members here use.

If you go to your local auto parts supply, they will sell you an aluminum radiator with plastic tanks for your truck.

[The Rocknrod]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

...
This is the one that I like best.
https://www.autocityclassic.com/1948...iator-r6366pu/
...

That looks exactly like my US Radiator aluminum 2 row unit with a heat excahnger. Wish I'd have seen that before I bought mine.

[cwcarpenter98]

Or you could do what the previous owner did to my truck. He trimmed the frame rails to make the v8 radiator fit in the l6 spot

Seriously though, I got a Champion radiator for 200 bucks, and it has worked great for over a year and a half now. No issues with cooling even in the middle of Georgia summers.

[LuckyRabbit4]

Sorry I haven't been in the thread I started -___- this truck has been throwing more and more at me to fix before winter HOPEFULLY.

I'm buying a Champion full aluminum radiator this week. New water pump and thermostat plus heater hoses.

Next in line..... wiring. I have wires everywhere not connected to anything with no clue what it's suppose to look like. Almost worth it to buy a totally new wiring harness and do it myself from scratch. but no. no.

Any help on things to look for, just in general would be great. Parts that are notorious for going bad, cables/wires/hoses/tubes that seem to have issues or absolutely need to keep an eye on. New to working on old vehicles so any advice is VERY appreciated.