Two or four row radiator
 

I'm tired of fixing holes in my rad, fixed the upper hose neck a few days ago and today another pair of holes showed up. Should I get a two or four row rad? I have a 72 GMC 4X4, 350/350. I tow a small teardrop camper in the summer, going up hills it would warm up but I can't remember it ever overheating but if I'm going to get a new one I'm thinking I should just get a four row. Any suggestions on what and where to buy? Thanks!
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Re: Two or four row radiator
 

What does it have now? If it is a two row and you go with a 4 row then you will need the upper brackets. They are wider for a 4 row. Also it is going to place your fan shroud a little closer to your fan but that should not be an issue.

The 4 row is going to be a bit more pricey but I think it is good piece of mind, especially if you are towing anything.

Re: Two or four row radiator
 

Check out Champion Radiators,they are owned by Led Foot Racing.I just bought a two row for 209.00 shipped to my door.Very happy with it.

Re: Two or four row radiator
 

It's got a two row in it now but the brackets in it are wider than the two row, I can move it back and forth about 1 1/2". I think it had a wider rad originally? Did any come with a four row? Do you think it will take longer to warm up?
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Re: Two or four row radiator
 

I don't want to buy a two row and regret it later, I don't mind spending a little extra now if its going to be a big improvement in the summer, I drive a lot of steep mountain roads. Now that I think about it my truck has got pretty hot climbing long hills in the summer, not to overheating but I find myself watching the gauge a lot and it would be nice having more cooling. It's got to better for the engine and trans.
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Re: Two or four row radiator
 

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/se...yword=radiator

I had one shipped last year and it was around 200 and change. If you go with 4 like mentioned above the brackets and fan shrould will be an issue. They are copper and not plastic btw.

Re: Two or four row radiator
 

I put a 4 row in mine and I'm running a 250/6.I figure it's good insurance and I've never heard anyone say"My truck runs too cool".It seems like it heats as quick as the 2 row that came out and had some bad tubes so I guess it's not running too cool.Actually the thermostat should control the temp.It took maybe 30 min to swap in 4 row mounts and the rad was all copper/brass construction.I gave right at $200 for it at O'Rielly's.

Re: Two or four row radiator
 

What do you guys think of this? Or should I spend another hundred and go for an aluminum radiator? Does an alumunum radiator cool bettery/last longer?

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de....oap?year=1972

Re: Two or four row radiator
 

4x4 towing a trailer + steep hill's = 4 row hands down, no questions asked!;):chevy: :lol::lol:

Re: Two or four row radiator
 

I posted one from Orielys above, what do you think?

Re: Two or four row radiator
 

I would go for it. Sounds fine to me. The all aluminum ones aren't that much of a bargin for a street truck. Unless your talking a BB motor with mods then it maybe worth it.;):chevy:

Re: Two or four row radiator
 

That looks like a good deal. I would definitely get a 4-row (in fact, I did) but would not spend extra for aluminum.

Re: Two or four row radiator
 

Thanks, I went ahead and bought it, I got lucky, I live in a tiny little town and my wife is visiting my kids this weekend in the city and is going to pick it up on her way home. I've been fighting this damn radiator all winter, I can't wait to get the old one out and beat the crap out of it! Thanks again!
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Re: Two or four row radiator
 

Thanks guys! I appreciate the advice!
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Re: Two or four row radiator
 

Your welcome anytime. Don't beat the heck out of it before you have the new one in and running though!;):chevy: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Re: Two or four row radiator
 

My 4 row came out of a junk yard 25 years ago. Dad had bbc and sbc in it with it, and never tried over heating. Now, with the built 355 Noo matter how mean I am to it it'll stay at 160-170 then once I stop say in a parking lot and leave it on for a few, it may reach to right at 180
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Re: Two or four row radiator
 

I recently bought one from Autozone and appears to be a 4. I know I had to get 4 core radiator brackets to mount the bugger. I don't know if it is the same for a 4x4.

My Autozone by me had it in stock for $184.

Re: Two or four row radiator
 

I looked back in my notes and the 433369 is what I have and it is a nice unit. That model number will cross to other manufactures so you could shop it more if you want. I found Orielly here in VA to have the best price when I got mine last year. I have the serpintine system so I hade to do a few mods for the fan and that's about it.

Re: Two or four row radiator
 

Yeah I picked up brackets here off the board... I did have to do some cutting along the bottom of my radiator support so the radiator and the Lower support would clear. The holes and tab on the 2 row where different than the 4.
Was yours the same?

Re: Two or four row radiator
 

Yeah, I had to make two cuts and bend the lip on the support out of the way. I probably could have thought of a prettier way to do it, but it worked.

Re: Two or four row radiator
 

I'm hoping my brackets are for a four row radiator, they are to long for the radiator in my truck now. I can push the top of the radiator back about an inch and a half. I have a shallower shroud if mine is too deep with the new radiator. While looking for that shroud I found two other radiators I had stashed in my basement, they're only two row radiators and somehow a squirrel filled the tanks with acorns, along with my MIG welder. My wife just called me to tell me my son inlaw picked up my new radiator, he even paid for it! He keeps doing stuff like that to keep me in debt to him and earn points, too bad I wasn't having my wife pick up a new aftermarket AC system for my truck, it would save me a thousand bucks!
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Re: Two or four row radiator
 

Watch when you install.I forgot to mention it before but my fan was too close to the 4 row,so I had to change the fan spacer.Cost me an extra $7 whole bucks.

Re: Two or four row radiator
 

Thanks, I have a lot of room between the fan and radiator, I'm really thinking mine had a four row in it at one time, my brackets are definately to long for the two row in there now. Ill watch out for it though!
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Re: Two or four row radiator
 

Got my new radiator in this morning, fit like a glove! I have about six inches of clearance between the front of the fan to the radiator, my shroud actually covers the entire fan now, before it only covered about half of it.
The new four row radiator has an extra bung right below the cap and near the upper trans cooler line, it has a plug in it, any idea what it's for?
Thanks again for all the help guys!
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Re: Two or four row radiator
 

Reckon it's for a temp sensor to regulate an electric fan system?
sam

Re: Two or four row radiator
 

That would be convieniant!
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Re: Two or four row radiator
 

Is it threaded or soldered on. This is where the heater hose would go on a truck with A/C. If it is soldered on and is 5/8 in diameter then that is what it is for. Does it have a rubber cap over it?

If it is threaded, I am not 100% sure but like mentioned, it could be a place for a fan sensor.

Re: Two or four row radiator
 

It's soldered on and has a threaded
brass plug in it.
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Re: Two or four row radiator
 

My 69 with A/C does not have/never had the heater hose connect to the radiator. I have only seen that on later trucks (72 and maybe 71). My 5/8" hose is attached to the right front of the intake. So, I believe it depends on what year your truck is. I see you have a 72. Where does your 5/8" heater hose connect now?

There are actually more differences from 69 to 72 than people realize.

Re: Two or four row radiator
 

My heater hoses connect to the intake and the water pump. I was wondering if it my be for a more modern application with a remote tank kinda system but it wouldn't have tanks on the rad in that case. I'm leaning towards temp sending unit for fans which would be great since I'm looking to put election fans in it this summer.
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Re: Two or four row radiator
 

I did see a 72 Blazer in the junkyard last year that had the heater hose attached to the 4 row radiator where you describe. The radiator looked original (Harrison). I was thinking of grabbing it until I saw the bung for the hose. I'd say it should work for a temp sensor as long as the coolant is above it. However, there is always a air cushion at the tops of these radiators unless you are runnng a coolant recovery system. Since it is the coolant return line it may also be cooler than the rest of the coolant in the radiator. I'm sure there are experts here who can chime in.

Re: Two or four row radiator
 

I do have a recovery tank, my old rad was always full to the top (except when a new leak would pop up!) this bung is about six inches down, it goes into a tube inside the tank, the tube is about 1" in diameter and open at the top. Ive never seen one like it. I was wondering how and where others mount a temp sending unit for fans, is it usually on the rad or the block? Thanks!
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Re: Two or four row radiator
 

The 4 row in my 72 has one of those also, it held the heater hose return line for many years. It's about 3 inches below the top and is above the normal full level for my ride. I have it plugged off as I have the return line going to the water pump now.