'89 R3500 Crew Cab 2wd to 4wd conversion & beyond

[miniwally]

Adding Rows to a radiator begins to become ineffective. When you look at the cooling efficiency by Row the first one is obviously the best, then the second row is pretty reasonable. By the third and then fourth row it's pretty inefficient at cooling.

Added surface area is better than added rows. Once you have more than two rows your loosing too much cooling to justify the added rows.

In short, get the larger surface area radiator no matter what that one is.

 

[sweetk30]

i had my rad for the gmc7000 dump truck fixed/cleaned/pressure tested all for $115.00 out the door . place was 30min drive from me .

 

[ashman]

Are they letting you keep that radiator? If so, I would have that one fixed by a local radiator shop.

and I'm going to tell you to stick with a Diesel radiator no matter what you do, the BBC's need all the cooling help they can get.

Yup, I'd look into getting fixed. Probably cheaper in the end and you'll have the one you really wanted anyway.

 

[mrk5]

I was wondering if it was fixable. Summit said it was up to FedEx if they want to take it back. They said if they didn't contact me after a couple of weeks, I could do what I want with it.

 

[mrk5]

I suppose I should have Summit issue a refund and if FedEx doesn't claim it, I'll see about getting it fixed.

 

[skunked]

That should be an easy fix for a radiator shop.

 

[ktmoutfront]

Slide hammer with a round spoon shaped puller would fix that easy. Then resolder.

 

[mrk5]

So I found an alternate part number. It's $10 cheaper than what I ordered but it's the plastic/aluminum type which is pretty standard these days. I'll get that one in and if FedEx doesn't claim the other, I'll keep it as a spare.

 

[mrk5]

For those interested, what I'm ordering is a radiator listed for 90's trucks with 454. It has the same 19"x34" core as the diesel radiators from the 80's. The big difference is the inlet/outlet sizes. The diesel has 1-3/4" on both. The 90's version has 1-5/16" inlet, 1-9/16" outlet. I ordered ACDelco hoses from RockAuto for the 90's truck application so they come with the smaller size on the radiator ends and the typical 1-1/2" & 1-3/4" on the motor ends.

 

[fourxpete]

one thing to double check is the filler neck height there's 2 heights one just above the radiator core the other is almost 3" taller

 

[mrk5]

one thing to double check is the filler neck height there's 2 heights one just above the radiator core the other is almost 3" taller

Good catch. I did notice the one I'm getting says it does NOT have the extended filler neck. Should be okay I hope.

 

[thearborbarber]

I would think so as long as the neck is the highest point in the cooling system. My 93 has the extended neck but the rad sits lower when compared to the engine in the 93 when compared to my square body.

 

[mrk5]

The wider radiator is going to require me to remove the charcoal canister. I think the only thing connected to it is the vent line for the fuel tanks. What else could I do with that vent line? I don't want to do something that causes me to have issues with the fuel tank; like pressurizing it or difficulty filling it.

 

[skunked]

The wider radiator is going to require me to remove the charcoal canister. I think the only thing connected to it is the vent line for the fuel tanks. What else could I do with that vent line? I don't want to do something that causes me to have issues with the fuel tank; like pressurizing it or difficulty filling it.

I'm running a little hose up near the filler neck with one of those diff breathers on it. I think you could plug it and run a vented cap as well?

 

[ktmoutfront]

No room to remount the canister?

 

[skunked]

FWIW I had my canister in with the wide radiator at one point. Not sure what was different, possibly the canister mount or maybe the diesel rad support is different?

 

[mrk5]

Well I guess it's really a choice of moving the canister or the overflow tank. I'm using a 6.2L diesel overflow tank now between the radiator and the canister.

Off the top of my head I can't think of a good place to move it to. Seems like a waste to keep it with only the fuel tank vent attached.

 

[ktmoutfront]

It also keeps the fume smell down.

 

[skunked]

my charcoal canister was on the drivers side, overflow on the passenger side.

 

[nvrenuf]

Well I guess it's really a choice of moving the canister or the overflow tank. I'm using a 6.2L diesel overflow tank now between the radiator and the canister.

Off the top of my head I can't think of a good place to move it to. Seems like a waste to keep it with only the fuel tank vent attached.

I thought all 85+ trucks had the overflow canister on the pass side fender well (my 91 K5 is like this)? If not and you want to change, I got my canister from the dealer for under $40 last year.