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4 core radiators?

N

nsxxtreme

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Any of you know which 4 core radiator I can throw in my blazer. Mine has a 2 core now. As some of you know I have the 383 in there and it does fine 90% of the time. But as I climb a steep hill on a hot day towing a load the temp begins to climb. Only up to about 210 but I have a 160 degree thermostat. So its obvious the radiator cant keep up. I haven't even tried to look yet. I was hoping some of you might have a good recomendation that isn't super expensive. Its an auto transmission so has the transmission cooler built into the radiator.

Truck is an 87 Blazer with a 383
 
I just ordered one from a local shop that now deals with that 1-800 radiator place, ordered a heavy duty cooling 4 core unit.

It is a plastic tank unit, I have had to replace it once already, but with a lifetime warranty, just a little bit of labor and some coolant if you can't capture all the old stuff.

Mine works great, 4 core in combination with a heavy duty fan clutch with the 195 t-stat, it holds steady at the t-stat level no matter what here in Arizona, back in Indiana where it's at now it has a difficult time reaching t-stat level, over cooling i would guess.
 
most of the companies make a 4 core for the 87, you will probably need the parts that it sits on and sit on top of the radiator. You can get them from dealer, junkyard, LMC, brothers etc.
 
Oh yeah, I did have to modify the shroud a bit and tweek the upper mounts some for everything to fit, it's not perfect, but it holds it in place.
 
I just swapped out the small radiator for a big 4 core in my k10 and I ended up having to get different top brackets for it. Some mount using the top of the core support and others use the holes on the face of it facing the engine. The core supports have both setups in them already though, just need the correct brackets.
Go browse on LMC, they have dimensions for the radiators and pictures of the different brackets.

Oh, I also had to get different radiator hoses. I told them it was the same year as my truck but a big block k30 and it was the right hose. It wasn't drastically different but different enough that my old one would kink and the correct one didn't.
 
We sold many radiators to 4x4 entusiasts at the junkyard ---many of the full sized GM cars from the 70's like Impalas,Pontiac Bonneville's,Caddy's and Buicks are the same size radiators as a full sized GM truck from 73-87 were,the vans were too in many cases..so if you still have any old cars in junkyards where you live,you might look into one from those,we used to get a lot of cars people just put in new radiators and many other new parts,then got disgusted when they still gave trouble,and they scrapped them...I'm always seeing freshly installed rebuilt starters and altenators in "junk" cars,and radiators that were recently replaced...
 
Do not buy one from LMC, the side tanks are plastic. It didn't say that in the description and I ordered one.
 
You may actually be able to lower your temps with a higher temp thermostat.

A 160 is kinda low. a 180 or 195 may be a better option.

If the thermostat isn't closed long enough for heat to transfer to the water it won't cool efficiently.

A slightly higher temp thermostat will help with this and is a much cheaper way to begin.

Just a suggestion.
 
ford vs chevy stuff...

But I needed a rad for my F-150, and the only one the parts store (O Reilly) had was a 4 core. Im guessing its a generic replacement for any ford truck from a 6 cyl to the 460, so the parts store only has to stock one.

Might be worth a shot.
 
I just chopped my upper mounts and added the LMC rubber top and bottom. I haven't had a problem yet and it holds it tight, plus the shroud is mounted to the core support, also holding the radiator in place.

This radiator is from LMC. Not much time on it yet though. It's thicker than my stock one, but it's only two BIG rows.

2011.jpg
 
All the aluminum radiators that I have worked with have been 2 rows. Big ones like ya said.

One in my blazer is a 2 row and rated to 700HP.
 
I bought the one for my burb, it's a 4 row, plastic tanks, but it was an aftermarket style. When it started leaking, I had them warranty it out, they brought me a factory replacement unit, which had thicker tanks, seemed more heavy duty compared to the first one they sold me.

Bought the heavy duty one for my mothers truck, the factory was a 2 row/core, but the heavy duty replacement was still a 2 row/core, but the rows were wider, the whole core was about as wide as a 3 row unit, but still used two flowing rows. They called it a "Maxi-cool" Stupid thing cools amazingly well.

Again, both my Burb with the 4 row and her truck with it's "Maxi-cool" are also both using the heavy duty fan clutches, alittle noisier, especially when cold, but they sure do work when the heat rises and demand for cooling is needed.

BOTH, are still using the factory 195* thermostats as well. :D

Also bought one of these heavy duty cooling units for my brothers Ford Taurus a few years ago, same thing as mothers truck, still two row unit, but the rows were thicker, never overheated again after that.

All are aluminum cored units, plastic tanks. Fords hasn't ever been warrantied out yet due to leaking, been in there for about 4 years now.
 
Thanks guys,

I'm going to head to the junk yard and see what I can find. And yes I know the 160 is a cooler thermostat. I'm able to run more timing advance without detonation with the cooler thermostat. When we were tuning the motor we played with 160,180, and 195 and the 160 gave the best results. I dont' know what the stock 2 core radiators are rated at HP wise but I am sure I have exceeded it.

This only becomes an issue when its 90+ outside I have my boat attached and I am going up a steep hill. And even then it never goes over 200. And once I crest the hill the temp drops right back down. So I'm sure a 4 core would be enough to keep things steady.

What kind of cars should I look for that have a 4 core and auto transmission? I know I will need new brackets on the top to hold the radiator any ideas on where to get those?
 
K85 Octane said:
I just chopped my upper mounts and added the LMC rubber top and bottom. I haven't had a problem yet and it holds it tight, plus the shroud is mounted to the core support, also holding the radiator in place.

This radiator is from LMC. Not much time on it yet though. It's thicker than my stock one, but it's only two BIG rows.

2011.jpg
Click to expand...

I have the same one in my 91 and I tow a 4600 lb boat around in 90+ degree weather up hill and the 383 in my suburban wont get over 195.

I just don't like the idea of the plastic tanks and would have gladly paid more for brass tanks.
 
If you don't already have them, a 7 blade fan w/ a severe duty fan clutch might help.
 
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