Radiator question for a 87 K5 with a 383 Stroker.

[srqmedic]

Hey everyone, I have a 383 stroker en route and want to upgrade the radiator, and put electric fans on it as well. I checked Cold Case and even though they have radiators that will do the job, the person I spoke with said their fan system won't work with my truck because it requires 3" of spacing and I need to stay with the factory fan. It sure seems like I have enough room but is anyone here familiar with this. Anyone have suggestions or other options?

 

[Joel Wilson]

I dont quite see how you couldn't have 3" of spacing if you took off the stock mechanical fan. You would be removing the shroud, fan, spacer and/or clutch. If you take all those off, you should have at least a 6 to 8 inch gap between the radiator and the pulley on the water pump. Maybe more.

 

[Wes Harden]

not impressed with their fans for the K5 radiator. just regular zip tie to core core fans. Should be better options out there. Also many of these trucks came with sbc 400 in them.
Any radiator can keep one of those cool can certainly keep a 383 cool.

edit: I see that they have a shroud for the k5, not sure what I looked at the first time

 

[srqmedic]

not impressed with their fans for the K5 radiator. just regular zip tie to core core fans. Should be better options out there. Also many of these trucks came with sbc 400 in them.
Any radiator can keep one of those cool can certainly keep a 383 cool.

edit: I see that they have a shroud for the k5, not sure what I looked at the first time

Yeah, I didn't catch the zip tie attachment. I'll have to keep looking at different options. They just happened to look like one of the better companies to deal with. Thanks

 

[Joel Wilson]

A 3 or 4 row aluminum with a mechanical fan is hard to beat and dirt simple at that. The one thing that always annoyed me about the shroud was that it was always one piece. Our 2002 Astro had a 2 piece radiator shroud so I kinda made the shroud on the Jimmy into a 2 piece. I just cut it into 2 pieces and spliced them together with some straight brackets and some small screws. Sure makes doing anything to the front of the engine a whole lot easier.

 

[K5Devil]

not sure which fans it was but the electric fans in front of my 383 on the aluminum radiator would not keep the engine cool. Switch to mechanical with shroud and solved the cooling issue.

 

[cheavyk10]

My 84 has the two piece fan shroud.

 

[Wes Harden]

yes the second gen squares got 2 piece shrouds. the early 73-78,79 80 somewhere in there got 2 piece

 

[Keitha]

For what it's worth: I've been running the stock style radiator and factory fan off my 383 in my 1991 Suburban. I have Never had an overheating issue - even pulling my heavy boat. It is reliable and simple.