LS swap radiator, other than entropy and R&D

[Ryan Duke]

SO after alot of forum searching, it seems like people argue over entropy and r&d. Does any one have experience ordering an ls radiator from summit,jegs, speedway and mocking it up them selves? Other than a plastic radiator from the boneyard? I feel like we could save a few bucks doing it this way. I found a few radiators that seem like they fit, but I never had a stock radiator to get measurements from.

[72MARIO]

I got my rad from Sparkey R&D the quality looks to be good and I have had no problems with cooling "the engine"

. I didn't do my home work and missed that on his ls swap rads the outlets are moved to the passengers side. That made for a nightmare finding hoses that fit. He was no help making suggestions on what could work. In the end 1996 jeep grand Cherokee 4.0 hoses fit great.

He did tell me the transmission cooler was moved to the drivers side. That's fine. That makes running the transmission lines a little more difficult. I got over it and the problems mounting the fan shroud.

I was very specific when I ordered it that I wanted to use the factory fan shroud and did not want to modify mounts to make it fit. Well it turns out if you have 3 core mounts the fan shroud will not fit. You need 4 Core mounts

Here is a picture of my transmission temperature without a external cooler also look at the intake air temperature to have a Idea how hot it was out side. I ended up bypassing the rad trans cooler and went with a B&M super cooler and fan kit. I have a ton of money into my 4l80E and cant risk 220+ temperatures empty cursing the hwy.

[Dustytrix]

I used a stock radiator from 02 camaro, it fits good. I had to drill new holes to use top mounts. But the hose locations, trans fittings, and air bleed hole for heads is where you need them.

[crakarjax]

Originally Posted by Dustytrix

I used a stock radiator from 02 camaro, it fits good. I had to drill new holes to use top mounts. But the hose locations, trans fittings, and air bleed hole for heads is where you need them.

Is this the rad, and were the hose sizes matched to the LS water pump?

http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo....379976&jsn=454

Thinking about this aluminum version... http://www.ebay.com/itm/3ROW-CORE-AL...BY3xa4&vxp=mtr

[t300]

I'm using an aluminum unit from "speed daddy" on eBay. Comes with trans cooler hookups, bolted up to rad support using stock mounts. Even came with 2 electric fans although I'm still using the lq4 clutch fan. Seems to work fine. For $160 and free shipping it was worth a try and so far so good

[Willie Makeit]

stock 4 core.

cools fine with an AC condenser and a water-to-air intercooler heat exchanger in front of it.

[LS short box]

I used a Summit dual pass radiator with a 16" Spal fan on a couple of applications and they cool very nicely. External trans cooler.

The dual pass has the inlet and outlet on the passenger side for easy hose hook up.

[1970 CST Short Wide]

Originally Posted by Willie Makeit

stock 4 core.

cools fine with an AC condenser and a water-to-air intercooler heat exchanger in front of it.

Exactly what I used. Had Rad shop change upper hose diameter and add steam port. Works perfect. No need to get exotic

[Andy4639]

I haven't had any issues with the radiator at all. All aluminum and no plastic very nice unit.



http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=681842

[Willie Makeit]

Originally Posted by 1970 CST Short Wide

Exactly what I used. Had Rad shop change upper hose diameter and add steam port. Works perfect. No need to get exotic

agreed. everyone is in a rush to buy an aluminum radiator and i'm not sure i understand why. copper is much better at heat transfer / thermal conductivity (by almost twice) versus aluminum and OEM style radiators are normally less expensive and require zero modifications to the truck. <shrug>

[BR3W CITY]

Originally Posted by Willie Makeit

agreed. everyone is in a rush to buy an aluminum radiator and i'm not sure i understand why.

Depending on the year of the truck being swapped, many of us never had a radiator to start, and some of our recipients never had a rad capable of supporting 2 fans or trans coolers etc.

[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by Willie Makeit

agreed. everyone is in a rush to buy an aluminum radiator and i'm not sure i understand why. copper is much better at heat transfer / thermal conductivity (by almost twice) versus aluminum and OEM style radiators are normally less expensive and require zero modifications to the truck. <shrug>

Your not looking at the right stuff then.

My truck ran a factory radiator for years. It ran at 190*-200* all the time.

I went to the aluminum radiator and it takes a lot of heat to get it up over 180*. That's running AC full blast.
Try and find a full metal replacement radiator with no plastic in it. I'll just about bet you can't find one NEW!
I'll also say a new aluminum one will cost less than a all copper new one also if you do find it.

[Majourlittle]

I bought the cheap aluminum radiator off of Ebay for the SBC and then bought some coolant hose adapters from a jaguar v8 swap site that fit the hose size I needed. cut off the old and welded on the new.

Cost me like $150 or so when it was done and has worked well enough. There was also a connection I used for steam that was already in the radiator.

[davepl]

Originally Posted by Willie Makeit

agreed. everyone is in a rush to buy an aluminum radiator and i'm not sure i understand why. copper is much better at heat transfer / thermal conductivity (by almost twice) versus aluminum and OEM style radiators are normally less expensive and require zero modifications to the truck. <shrug>

Because two thick aluminum cores will cool much better than 4 copper cores. A 2-fat-core copper would cool even better, though. Basically you'd want a modern design with an old school implementation if you could find it. Copper conducts better but aluminum is stronger so the cores can be thinner and transfer as much/more heat, depending on who you ask.

The factory four core in my truck will NOT sufficiently cool my big block with the AC on if it's a hot day.

The aluminum two-tube with dual SPAL fans in my Camaro WILL sufficiently cool a big block all day long. Fans don't even come on until you're stopped at a light.

That's all I know. Just experience, no theory.

[PEDROSKI]

I used a Spectra cu730 (454 radiator) in my 76. Bought the 454 bushings and a factory 454 top plate. No issues and great fitment.

[jessemthompson]

I'm using a Holley frostbite in my 72. It's working great so far.

[boynton]

Used a Speedway generic radiator on mine and ran external coolers for the trans and oil.

[72blu]

I used an engineered cooling products rad that was built for our trucks and the fitment was perfect. It also came with duel electric fans. So far so good haven't really driven the truck in hot weather yet so I can't really give a total review but for now its been great, no issues.

[suburban99]

In my '62 5.3/4L60E I used a champion off eBay...make sure the spouts are welded and not pressed on..worked fine for me..

[Street Smart]

Originally Posted by Ryan Duke

SO after alot of forum searching, it seems like people argue over entropy and r&d. Does any one have experience ordering an ls radiator from summit,jegs, speedway and mocking it up them selves? Other than a plastic radiator from the boneyard? I feel like we could save a few bucks doing it this way. I found a few radiators that seem like they fit, but I never had a stock radiator to get measurements from.

You can go ROCKAUTO.COM to get specs on any radiator you want. I used a stock radiator for a 96 C1500 v6 pick up perfect fit, proper hose sizes for the LS.
http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo....031487&jsn=577

[Clyde65]

Champion and American Eagle!

[AustinBelair]

I need to order one ASAP. Any other suggestions? I'd love to run a crossflow but I don't think they will fit using the stock battery box location? This is a 400HP LS1 with Vintage Air and a 4l80E

[boynton]

eBay http://www.ebay.com/itm/351599620760

This is the one I bought and it fits well. I haven't run it yet but I don't forsee any issue with it.

[Ryan Duke]

Because I'm running a 2010 vette motor I elected to get a 2010 vette radiator and fans but the radiator doesn't have a fill port on it so I looked at dimensions of the 2011 and 2012 vette and camaro radiators. The stock 2011 camaro radiator uses the same hoses as the vette so I bought all new hoses, cap, radiator, and fan assembly for a 2011 camaro and it will all work. I will have to cut up my core support but that doesn't bother me. But it saved me a lot. Entropy was around 850 shipped and rnd wasn't far off. I paid 440 shipped for all new stuff from rock auto, the other cool thing as previously stated was you can see what sizes they are before you buy them

[scoot_mcgrute]

I picked up a Northern radiator last year when I had the inline 6. It was cheap, not a direct fit for my 66 but it fit well, and is compatible with the LS swap I'm working on right now. Neat thing about their radiators is that they sell an electric fan setup for each one they make. My buddy has run Northern radiators in 3 of his last 4 projects with no issues.







It's P/N 209676 for anyone that is interested.