4 row radiator

[HOGDADDY]

Well after looking for a copper/brass radiator (3 or 4 row) and even ordering what i thoght was a 4 row instead it was also plastic/aluminum and just when i i was ready to get refund parts guy says LIFETIME WARRANTY??? Hmm let me re-think the situation here:

the 4 row plastic/alloy has in reality 2 big rows that are as wide as old 4 row
i bet it cools better than copper/brass
no solder joints to come loose
its lighter
lmc sells repro BB shroud
and the kicker Lifetime warranty wth have i got to lose?

[Pyrotechnic]

If you go to a parts store and tell them you have a 86 C10, the only radiators that will come up are the small ones. Being that most of the people behind the counters aren't 73-87 fans, they probably wont know what you are talking about when you say 4 core.

The trick I used is to ask them to pull up a radiator for a 1 ton crew cab with a 454. That should bring up the part number for a 4 core radiator. Make sure you take it out of the box first and check that it's the right one though. It's actually the same price as a smaller radiator, at least at Advance Auto Parts where I got mine.

The aluminum one cant hurt though. Long as it's a quality piece. Though a lifetime warranty is nice, if my coolant is all over the road and I'm stranded somewhere the lifetime warranty isn't helping.

[Srubydo1986]

I guess it would work fine i have a 3 row but my friend has a 4 and have been looking forward to get it.

[HOGDADDY]

It seems that the copper/brass radiators are being phased out altogether.

I personally have no problem using the alloy/plastic as my 97 silverado had one stock amd it lasted over 100,000 miles before the cracks started appearing in the plastic tank on drivers side.

I got mine at Advance auto too and looked up the BB application and the large alluminum replaces 4 core

There is still a smaller plastic/alluminum one thats cheaper.

[Pyrotechnic]

Guess I might be getting an aluminum one when I do my engine swap for the 2nd time ?

I bought the regular 4 core radiator last summer at Advance Auto. Then with about 300 miles on the new engine and new radiator, someone swerved into my lane and hit me head on so the radiator is most likely garbage now. The A/C condenser took most of the hit and I haven't gotten a chance to take the truck apart and clear the wreckage but I'm pretty sure the radiator is one for the trash pile. Hoping to get that done this summer and swap the engine into another truck.

I got no problem with the aluminum/plastic tank thing. As long as they are quality pieces and at least as good at what comes from the factory in newer trucks, I wont complain. Should save a little weight too. Didn't know you got that from Advance Auto though, I thought it was some generic aftermarket thing at first.

[boatpuller]

when i bought my new one last year.i went with the original 4 row radiator,mine was a diesel.so that's what i bought.trans cooler lines are on wrong side.diesel lines crossed to drivers side,i changed it.tell them you got a diesel.then maybe they can look it up.i like going to a radiator place,they know what there talking about.and their really not that much more.

[84slopwaggin]

I bought mine from a radiator shop, so they knew exactly what I wanted.

[HOGDADDY]

The one at Advance is a Proliance (modine) brand "hencho in mexico" and after some thought I think the big aluminum/plastic tanks radiator is better than the copper/brass.

I just picked-up the BB upper radiator mount and all 4 rubbers at GM for a steal and it fits well.

[84slopwaggin]

So did the original fan shroud work? I already have the larger rubber and the upper bracket should be in friday.

[Restrorob]

Check this place out Guys; http://www.radiatorbarn.com/

I have bought two from this place for my car and van, They look and fit like factory and in my case's were HALF the price of my local NAPA and radiator repair shop.

[HOGDADDY]

Originally Posted by 84slopwaggin

So did the original fan shroud work? I already have the larger rubber and the upper bracket should be in friday.

I went ahead and ordered the BB shroud from (still waiting) LMC to be on safe side I haven't installed radiator im truck yet was trial fitting other parts.

I will let ya know how repop shroud fits. I don't think the other shroud will fit to be honest but am not positive.

[84slopwaggin]

The BB shroud is shorter I guess to clear the accessories. When I order my upper bracket from Classic Parts the guy recommended the shroud that came with truck originally for the 81-87 305-350 ck5,10,20 w/AC. I already have that one so I just ordered the bracket. I've seen pics of the BB shrould used with a SBC engine and the fan just met the shroud even with a spacer being used. I believe the fan is suppose to be just inside the shroud. If I can find the pic I'll post it.

[84slopwaggin]

Take a look at the fan setup on the page. Click on the pics to enlarge them.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1983-...QQcmdZViewItem

[HOGDADDY]

Originally Posted by 84slopwaggin

I've seen pics of the BB shrould used with a SBC engine and the fan just met the shroud even with a spacer being used. I believe the fan is suppose to be just inside the shroud.

I wonder if a longer spacer will put it right? I got the BB shroud it looks really nice and mates up with the upper bb bracket.
I wont know how well it fits until I do cam swap and replace rear seal so I gonna pull motor out real kwik.

In that e-bay pic there is no clutch only flex fan so maybe stock clutch fan setup will work ok.

[martinkh]

Just go to your local radiator shop, they fix'em and they stock common replacements. They know what a 4 core is. It is really just a big block radiator. I put one in a '71 El Camino once, and then in a '77, and the 1970 I just bought has one already (it would have been on top of the list to get one otw). The trans cooler in these is bigger than stock too, so you really don't need a tranny cooler and the risk that comes with them in this case, unless you have a huge cam, slippy converter, and like to race from stop lights to stop lights in 100 degree weather.