I'm glad you found them and I know exactly the junkyard you're talking about. I've driven by it and noted all the GM trucks.
CK5
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'91 K5 Four Wheel Camper
This is the build for my 1991 V1500 Blazer, AKA the K5.3. It started out life being sold to the U.S. Government with a 350 TBI/700r4/241 combo. 4 years with a 5.3/700r4 Combo and now moving to an 8.1L Vortec and NV4500 5-speed.
My buddy Ian found it a couple of weeks ago to grab a some stuff for his project. It was a hail mary to see if they had one as I'd been striking out. Really all I needed was a passenger side bracket as I've got everything else. The guy I talked to needed a little time to confrim he had some and called me back later. He had a complete set with the top plate. He wouldn't separate them either. I was ok with that as I don't have much of a choice.
For anybody looking for the elusive 6.2 Diesel top radiator brackets, there are a couple of outfits online that are selling take off parts from CUCV's. They know what they have and command a premium too. The main place I found was www.Hillbillywizard.com . I can't vouch for them as I didn't buy from them, but they do have some.
Sad thing is I threw away a set that was on my K5. Don't think that will happen again.
Yep the market is small for them as I'm sure the 6.2 setup was produced in much smaller quantities than the gassers. So not many are out there and not a lot of demand for someone to start reproducing them.
Now if a guy with @Deuling 's skill would copy the dimensions to make them fit and then make a matching top plate with dimples I bet he could sell them.
Now with the LS swaps, 8.1 swaps and nutty guys clinging to the 6.2/6.5 Rattlers the 6.2 is an excellent option for maximum cooling.
If there is a market, it would not be hard to reverse engineer the brackets (since I have several). I just wouldn't think anyone would buy them.
I'm not saying mass produce 10,000 units. Build a set to try out. Then make them as they get sold.If there is a market, it would not be hard to reverse engineer the brackets (since I have several). I just wouldn't think anyone would buy them.
beags86
Eastbound and Down
It would be easier to lobby LMC to make them.
I really can't see a market at all for them.
It's really just easier to fab up your own set.
That's part of hot Rodding in general.
I had no idea the 6.2 rad was the one to get, I have passed countless sets of 6.2 brackets up in the yard over the years.
I really can't see a market at all for them.
It's really just easier to fab up your own set.
That's part of hot Rodding in general.
I had no idea the 6.2 rad was the one to get, I have passed countless sets of 6.2 brackets up in the yard over the years.
454Sub
5/8 ton status
After looking at these pictures now I know why my blasted mounts had to be shimmed. I'm running 6.2 mounts with a old 454 radiator. The irony
Short of going to a large aftermarket aluminum radiator, the 6.2 setup is the largest radiator these trucks came with stock. Trust me I've walked by my fair share in the day too. I thought my stock small block radiator would be enough for the 5.3 swap. In normal circumstances it's been ok. Running around town, highway even in high ambient temps it's been acceptable. But I've had a couple of cases I've noted here where running off road, slow speed the temps creeped up beyond a comfortable level. Shifting into low range to keep the engine speed up for more water pump flow helped but I shouldn't have to do that. I'm certain my fan choice didn't help, but I want the most cooling capacity I can.
This is where the 6.2 radiator comes in. It will be overkill for sure. I know this though, when I put the ad up in the wanted section here a couple other guys chimed in looking for the same thing. I'm not the only one taking this direction. It's a little known option for sure, but as people do the upgrades to these trucks the 6.2 radiator is a viable factory looking way to get it done.
beags86
Eastbound and Down
I agree, I like using the most factory parts i can.
So to my surprise your saying the 6.2 rad us bigger then 454 rad?
From what I've been able to gather, the 454 had a similar radiator if the truck was built with the HD cooling option. However, if the truck was built with the 454, but not the HD option it got a slightly smaller unit. Keep this in mind, the 6.2 radiator and brackets only fit the 81 and up core support.
I'm going to have to look next time I go to the junk yard. 99% of the square bodies there are diesel.
I'm only basing my info off the trucks I've owned and searching Summit & RockAuto but the 80s 454 trucks were not as big as the 6.2L radiators.
There are 3 radiator bracket positions on an 80s core support.
The crew cab came with tbi350 no AC and a manual trans and it had a short radiator, 17" I believe. The brackets bolt to the back of the core support below the top.
The HD cooling option was a taller 19" radiator that has a 28" wide core, same as above radiator. It uses brackets that bolt on top of the core support. This was the radiator in the 85 K30 my 454 came out of.
The 6.2L has a core that is 19" tall and 34" wide. The brackets bolt to the top of the core support but the driver side bracket is 6" over. These brackets are also bigger because the heads on the 6.2 radiator is 1" deeper than the other 2 radiators above.
All the 80s core supports will accept all 3 of the above radiators.
The downside is 6.2 radiators are expensive I assume due to not being popular. I inadvertently found mid to late 90s trucks with 454s came with the exact same size radiator as the 6.2. Luckily these are available cheaper.
There are 3 radiator bracket positions on an 80s core support.
The crew cab came with tbi350 no AC and a manual trans and it had a short radiator, 17" I believe. The brackets bolt to the back of the core support below the top.
The HD cooling option was a taller 19" radiator that has a 28" wide core, same as above radiator. It uses brackets that bolt on top of the core support. This was the radiator in the 85 K30 my 454 came out of.
The 6.2L has a core that is 19" tall and 34" wide. The brackets bolt to the top of the core support but the driver side bracket is 6" over. These brackets are also bigger because the heads on the 6.2 radiator is 1" deeper than the other 2 radiators above.
All the 80s core supports will accept all 3 of the above radiators.
The downside is 6.2 radiators are expensive I assume due to not being popular. I inadvertently found mid to late 90s trucks with 454s came with the exact same size radiator as the 6.2. Luckily these are available cheaper.
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beags86
Eastbound and Down
Two notes. I wish I knew all this information back when I built my stepside back in the late 90s I was missing these brackets and I didn't know about LMC yet. I went to the dealer and just ordered them. They were like 6 - 8 bucks or something, (just the small ones.)
Hell if I would have known I would have bought the ones for a diesel just to have!
Second, I wonder whats available for my 76, did they have a HD option for a big rad for the heavier 454 trucks, (camper special, etc, etc)
I need to start thinking about cooling options for the need big block that slated to be tossed in.
Hell if I would have known I would have bought the ones for a diesel just to have!
Second, I wonder whats available for my 76, did they have a HD option for a big rad for the heavier 454 trucks, (camper special, etc, etc)
I need to start thinking about cooling options for the need big block that slated to be tossed in.
Thanks for the clarification Mrk5. I just jumped into the GM parts catalog and cruised through Spectra's website. The 6.2 is indeed the largest. 454 isn't as big, but on Spectra's site the difference isn't much. One other thing, the 6.2 radiator on Spectra's site lists it having engine and trans oil cooler provisions.
I did spend a little time over at Larry's place borrowing time with his sandblasting cabinet. Got the brackets cleaned up and ready to paint. The wife is in Denver this week so I've got some needed garage time coming to get this done.
I did spend a little time over at Larry's place borrowing time with his sandblasting cabinet. Got the brackets cleaned up and ready to paint. The wife is in Denver this week so I've got some needed garage time coming to get this done.
The 90s radiator I used has the fittings for both as well. Don't know if they are the same tho.
Day one with the wifey in Denver. Old radiator is out. One minor setback, using the special tool I borrowed to remove the fan clutch I managed to break BOTH frigging pins on the tool that goes into the water pump pulley. Now I get to buy the tool to replace it. And the damn fan clutch is still on the water pump. I just had it off just before the desert trip and in was tightend by hand to be snug. Arrgh!
I painted the brackets and just need to pull the dead air compressor out of the way off the core support to make way for the huge by large radiator.
I painted the brackets and just need to pull the dead air compressor out of the way off the core support to make way for the huge by large radiator.
This fuel issue is interesting, I was with matt in the gunk truck Sunday and we had the similar issue, we popped the top off the fuel cell which is plastic and black but mounted in the sun, and the fuel was so hot you could barely touch it. The fuel lines are 3-4 inches from the exhaust but waiting to let it cool and covering the fuel cell allowed it to cool enough to get outa where we stopped. This we suspect was from the high temps, the high loads from the sandy washes prob didn't help us either..
I am glad now I am keeping the diesel radiator.. hope it keeps up.
Post up your results if you figure out a way to shield the fuel lines or something.
I am glad now I am keeping the diesel radiator.. hope it keeps up.
Post up your results if you figure out a way to shield the fuel lines or something.
I'll post up what I got. Honestly, the more Larry, Ian and I have brainstormed over this subject the more I believe the exhaust is just too close to the tank at the corners. I'll take pics of this to show it. My exhaust guy is certain that an inch or two of clearance is enough. Well it's not two inches to start and if it wasn't the problem why would 17 gallons of fresh fuel in the tank when it was actively doing it before then stop it?
This may end up going to another shop to get fixed. I'm not in a mood to argue with the guy. Especially when his wife happened to stop in the shop the other day and ask me if I had fixed it yet. She used to work for me. But what puzzled me is when she kind of laughed and said her husband told her the exhaust was too close to the tank. Yet he told me it was ok. So that's the way they want to play I'll make sure I don't give them a damn penny. Much less any business from our shop or any referrals.
Good progress tonight. But before I get rolling on that I'll show what I'm talking about for the close proximity of the exhaust pipes to the gas tank.
Here's the driver's side pipe to the tank:
Close up of the same side.
Passenger side.
Overall shot of the passenger side.
As you can see this crap is less than an inch away from the corner of the tank. I think somebody with a little more skill with the bender should be able to thread the gap between the shock and the tank without being as damn close to the tank. I'm torn between tearing the guys head off to point out this obvious issue and making him fix it and just sucking it up and paying somebody else to do it right. I can't trust the guy to do it right a second time and he's already talking smack about it behind my back. I'd rather not deal with it. So to the rest of you guys chime in, Too close? Or Lots of room, no big deal?
Moving on to the radiator swapperoo...
After breaking the fan clutch tool yesterday, I grabbed the shop tool from work and popped the clutch right off. The tool I busted of my tech's is going to run me $130 to replace it. But I'll take the broken one and repair it, keep it for myself. So it's not as big of a loss. Anyway onto the pics.
The opening:
Size comparison between the old and the new radiators. Size matters boys, well at least in cooling it does.
The rest of the parts, prior to cleaning the shroud.
The radiator in place. The rubber cushions I bought were the exact right ones also, I'll post up the part number for them tomorrow as the receipt is in the garage right now.
One issue I can see coming up. Mocking up the shroud up to the radiator with the new fan in place is showing a problem. The setback of the 5.3 with the mounts in the stock small block location has fan well out of the shroud. Obviously I can't space the radiator back, so I think I need to get some sheetmetal and make an extension that I can bolt to the inside of the shroud and get the fan pulling air better.
Plus I need to get something to block off the extra nipple below the filler neck. Then I can fill it with coolant and get it together.
Here's the driver's side pipe to the tank:
Close up of the same side.
Passenger side.
Overall shot of the passenger side.
As you can see this crap is less than an inch away from the corner of the tank. I think somebody with a little more skill with the bender should be able to thread the gap between the shock and the tank without being as damn close to the tank. I'm torn between tearing the guys head off to point out this obvious issue and making him fix it and just sucking it up and paying somebody else to do it right. I can't trust the guy to do it right a second time and he's already talking smack about it behind my back. I'd rather not deal with it. So to the rest of you guys chime in, Too close? Or Lots of room, no big deal?
Moving on to the radiator swapperoo...
After breaking the fan clutch tool yesterday, I grabbed the shop tool from work and popped the clutch right off. The tool I busted of my tech's is going to run me $130 to replace it. But I'll take the broken one and repair it, keep it for myself. So it's not as big of a loss. Anyway onto the pics.
The opening:
Size comparison between the old and the new radiators. Size matters boys, well at least in cooling it does.
The rest of the parts, prior to cleaning the shroud.
The radiator in place. The rubber cushions I bought were the exact right ones also, I'll post up the part number for them tomorrow as the receipt is in the garage right now.
One issue I can see coming up. Mocking up the shroud up to the radiator with the new fan in place is showing a problem. The setback of the 5.3 with the mounts in the stock small block location has fan well out of the shroud. Obviously I can't space the radiator back, so I think I need to get some sheetmetal and make an extension that I can bolt to the inside of the shroud and get the fan pulling air better.
Plus I need to get something to block off the extra nipple below the filler neck. Then I can fill it with coolant and get it together.
