CK5
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Radiator fitment
- Thread starter 53chevy
- Start date
Radiators don't come with mounts
Is that an '80 or older truck? Looks to me like they sent you the "short" radiator, which I think is 16" tall, vs. the 19" "tall" radiator. The short one was pretty rare (not in a good way) since they were apparently used on the lowest output engines, which were not commonly found.
Nothing goes under the radiator except the cushions. I think I see one in your pic? The upper radiator plate/mounts are different if you have the short vs. tall radiator, that's where the height difference was made.
If it's 18", I don't think you have the wrong radiator. Wrongly made perhaps, not the wrong one. It's closer to 19 than it is 18. Pretty sure I can measure mine without disassembling everything, to give you an idea what it actually measures.
You are measuring across the core?
You are measuring across the core?
Measure the core height yourself, they may have sent you the wrong one, or it's just mismade. Which is kind of common with the AL units now. You can see how much shorter the radiator is than the upper radiator mount in your pic.
Been fighting this the past few days on a friends 89 suburban. He bought a 4 core Champion AL one for more cooling. It is thicker which was expected but it is about an inch short from fitting with any of the brackets we have tried. Been digging through my pile of brackets but cant come up with a set that fit. Of course the manufacturer says it is a direct replacement. Since this is already the 2nd try, (1st fit but leaked, different brand) we are just making new top brackets. The new AL ones available online seem to have all sorts of dimensions when you actually get them in your hands. Buyer beware.
The "cushions" are about a 1/2" thick but are slotted to fit around the tank seam. Height wise they only account for about a 1/4". They were also a bit hard to find, parts stores were no help. Bought prothane big block ones from amazon.
The "cushions" are about a 1/2" thick but are slotted to fit around the tank seam. Height wise they only account for about a 1/4". They were also a bit hard to find, parts stores were no help. Bought prothane big block ones from amazon.
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I'm trying to figure out if this is what becool is selling now for these trucks. Those "ears" pictured seem to be right for the AL tanks (pretty much all welded tanks it seems) that don't have the edges for the core support cushions...
https://www.jegs.com/i/Be-Cool-Radiators/134/62013/10002/-1
https://www.jegs.com/i/Be-Cool-Radiators/134/62013/10002/-1
Dad had same issue with the 454 Champion radiator in his "1981" K20. Had to make spacers for the upper brackets. Worked great, just the install was not as easy as it should have been.
https://www.jegs.com/i/Be-Cool-Radiators/134/62013/10002/-1
https://www.jegs.com/i/Be-Cool-Radiators/134/62013/10002/-1
Dad had same issue with the 454 Champion radiator in his "1981" K20. Had to make spacers for the upper brackets. Worked great, just the install was not as easy as it should have been.
Sounds like the same issue. We made brackets but were thinking about a spacer. Just welded up some scrap.
Ground down the pinch seam to lower the bracket.
If you need a tiny bit more filler, the obs rad cushions are thicker than ours, and they straddle the fatter radiators pretty nicely.
So are you guys saying that some of the manufacturers don't make a proper bug block version?
I have found lots of trucks with the short radiator. My old '79 K30 had one. It had a 350, 4 speed and no A/C. But a 400 SB with air had a tall one, same as a big block.
Maybe this is another case of crappy research on the part of the aftermarket. It's very common anymore.
I had a BeCool in my '70 which took modification to fit the mounts, but was the correct dimensions. It started leaking multiple places in very few miles. The Northern one I replaced it with fit better, and is still holding. But that doesn't mean that Northern is perfect, I have had some fitment and durability problems with some of them in the big trucks at work.
I have found lots of trucks with the short radiator. My old '79 K30 had one. It had a 350, 4 speed and no A/C. But a 400 SB with air had a tall one, same as a big block.
Maybe this is another case of crappy research on the part of the aftermarket. It's very common anymore.
I had a BeCool in my '70 which took modification to fit the mounts, but was the correct dimensions. It started leaking multiple places in very few miles. The Northern one I replaced it with fit better, and is still holding. But that doesn't mean that Northern is perfect, I have had some fitment and durability problems with some of them in the big trucks at work.
Griffin offers a great fitting BBC radiator but it has a 1.75 lower hose diameter which doesn't seem to match any oem hoses like they advertise it as an exact fit.
Otherwise its great.
Otherwise its great.
