Factory 34" core radiator from 2006 Yukon in 1980 C10

[skyphix]

Hey everyone,
I have a perfectly good 34" core radiator out of my donor Yukon. I took some measurements and it looks like as long as I move a few not needed things out of the way, it will physically fit in my 1980 C10 to cool the stock 5.3 thats going in in the next few weeks. The total width of the Yukon radiator is around 43" with the tanks.

Has anyone else used a late model radiator? Really trying to keep this on a tight budget so if I have the parts, I'd like to be able to reuse them to get it running. I do know that the radiator cutout in the core support is significantly smaller than the radiator I want to run. My factory 250 i6 radiator is barely enough to cool the worn out stock 79 350 so I don't want to trust it with my 5.3.

If I can use the large radiator from the Yukon I do plan on utilizing the Yukon's electric fans, if not, an aftermarket or junkyard electric fan will be used.

I'm using dirtydingo adjustable mounts without AC if it matters, and I am hoping to be able to use the built in trans cooler as well.

Thanks for any and all advice,

[mongocanfly]

not sure about the 250 radiator, but I kept the stock radiator from my 350 for my 6.0 swap...works perfectly fine...you can get a new one from oreilleys for about 100 bucks
im running dual fans...fan1 comes on at 175deg ,,fan 2 comes on at 185deg

[Rich84]

The radiator will fit and work great. I used an Escalade radiator and fan. You can use the factory harness for the fans as well. I'm assuming that the Yukon and Caddy are probably the same. I also used the Tranny cooler.

[skyphix]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

not sure about the 250 radiator, but I kept the stock radiator from my 350 for my 6.0 swap...works perfectly fine...you can get a new one from oreilleys for about 100 bucks
im running dual fans...fan1 comes on at 175deg ,,fan 2 comes on at 185deg

Thanks! I had hoped that the radiator my truck came with would work for me but on my 1300 mile drive home, in just 75 degree heat, the temp climbed close to 220 sitting for even a short period of time... cooled right off once I started moving again. That could be the stupidly small flex fan the truck came with, but by measurement this is a pretty small radiator I have right now and I don't trust it. If I run into major issues using the Yukon radiator, my plan was just to pick up a "correct" big block radiator and just use that with adapters/etc for the steam vents. I have a thing with overbuilding a cooling system - did it in my old Buicks too.

Originally Posted by Rich84

The radiator will fit and work great. I used an Escalade radiator and fan. You can use the factory harness for the fans as well. I'm assuming that the Yukon and Caddy are probably the same. I also used the Tranny cooler.
Attachment 1911538

Yeah - I imagine the Yukon and Caddy use the same radiator as well. Do you mind measuring your total outside length (including the end tanks?) Looks like it fits pretty nicely from what I can tell - I'm also moving my battery to the other side so I can use the stock airbox and tubing. The company I'm having do my harness provides the fan hookup using the stock connector and a new relay for it - or, if I get brave and decide to just do my own wiring conversion, I'll plan on using the stock harness connectors so I can control on/off with PCM tuning. Thanks for posting a picture! Did you end up bending up new trans cooler lines? The Yukon has all brand new (less than a year old) fuel and trans cooler lines from the GM dealer so I'm going to try to salvage everything I can from it. I'm using a 4L80E vs. the 4L60E in the Yukon so I'm sure there will be some modifications regardless of fit.

[Rich84]

If you have the factory 3 relay fan harness all you need from the pcm harness is the 2 fan triggers to attach to it. Very easy. I also used the existing trans cooler lines and fuel lines from the donor. Everything attaches just like it did on the donor. I just ran rubber FI hose from the sending unit to the steel line from the donor. I did have to massage the tranny lines a little.
The radiator is a monster fans hardly ever come on. Plenty of room in there for it.

[skyphix]

Originally Posted by Rich84

If you have the factory 3 relay fan harness all you need from the pcm harness is the 2 fan triggers to attach to it. Very easy. I also used the existing trans cooler lines and fuel lines from the donor. Everything attaches just like it did on the donor. I just ran rubber FI hose from the sending unit to the steel line from the donor. I did have to massage the tranny lines a little.
The radiator is a monster fans hardly ever come on. Plenty of room in there for it.

Awesome, thats great info. I haven't found anyone else that has publicly said they reused the fuel lines or how well they fit. Great to know they do - saves me yet another purchase. Just need to get the new tank, sender, and fuel pump and odds and ends I can grab at the parts store.

The trans cooler lines I am willing to bet I can use 90% of them and use high pressure compression fittings to AN to connect to the trans itself.

Thanks a ton!

[NorCalAnthony]

@Rich84 that turned out great! What did you wind up doing for mounts for the newer radiator? I have the same radiator and efan setup from my donor vehicle (05 Escalade) and was wanting to use it with my swap like you did, just wasn't sure about how to go about actually getting it mounted in the yet...

[Rich84]

On the bottom I drilled 2 hole in the radiator support for the rubber grommets at the bottom of the radiator to fit in. On the top I used a piece of angle attached to the the radiator support with a piece of 18 gauge flat stock. If you have A/C the width of the radiator will create a problem for the lines to the condenser. I have Vintage Air so I just bent the lines to accommodate.

[NorCalAnthony]

Thanks for the info and pics. The upper part is a little hard to see but it looks like you have a piece of angle mounted to the core support and another piece of angle mounted to the engine side of the radiator (the gray pieces with the holes) with the top plate connecting the two and the fans mounted to the engine side angle piece is that right? Sorry for the questions, that's pretty much the exact setup I'll be running (Vintage Air and all) and I like the way yours turned out versus trying to modify my existing upper radiator mount like I was originally thinking.

[Rich84]

The pictures are not too good. You are correct. 2 pieces of angle. It was really not too bad all.
Did my first long trip with the A/C. It was awesome. You will be very happy.

[NorCalAnthony]

Thanks, I thought that's what was going on, just wanted to double check so I can try to mimic it. Again, great work that cam out super simple and nice looking.

Sorry OP for butting in.

[skyphix]

Circling back around on this - no need to apologize! Its all great information and totally applicable.

I finally got a chance to get everything set and am getting close to dropping the engine in and firing.

I test-fit my Yukon radiator and it fits like its made for it. I need to drill the holes for the grommets at the bottom of the radiator and this radiator is original (so from 2006) so I decided to use this one for mock up and order a new one.


Also need to grab some angle iron and sheet metal to build the top mount but thats simple enough and can wait a little bit.