Using GMT400 radiator in square?

[urbex]

I pulled a 4L80E out of a 1995 small block Suburban 2500 that will be going into my 86 K5 with a well fried 700R4, and a Chinese aluminum 2 row radiator with dual electric fans..one of those eBay kit set ups from the PO, with fans that don't pull anywhere near enough air for anything beyond traffic free street driving.

Wondering if I can just use the radiator out of the Burb in the K5, which also would make running the cooler lines a simple affair...alternatively, I do also have a clean 4 core from a '85 K20 that I could use as well. Really just going for whatever will be easiest to get this thing bolted in, and cooler lines installed.

 

[HankScorpio]

I have had some real bad luck with the china radiators. They look great and work fine at first and then start leaking where the tubes enter the tank. We have a burb up here on its 4th champion radiator in about a year. Keeps getting warranty replaced. That doesn't help when you are in the mountains for the weekend. Beware of cheap AL radiators.

 

[urbex]

Hence why I'm changing it out........

 

[6872xtc]

I believe that the radiator out of the '95 is the same dimensions as the diesel one for a square truck.
@mrk5 can you help?

 

[HankScorpio]

Yeah, if you can get a factory radiator of any kind in there its worth it.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

I have a GMT400 radiator in my '84 pickup, it fits right in there. I think the hose sizes may have been different though.

 

[urbex]

Making up hose adapters is piece of cake. Had to do that on the Scout and the Samurai motor swaps...actually, did all copper tubing on the Samurai because the routing was so tight on that one..just for some reason any time I have to deal with small tubing bending and routing, it ends up being an all weekend test of the limits of my patience...so if I can reuse the factory lines, I'm much better off, lol.

 

[mrk5]

I believe that the radiator out of the '95 is the same dimensions as the diesel one for a square truck.
@mrk5 can you help?

Yes it was a mid 90's truck with 454 radiator that I used. It fits in place of a 6.2L diesel equipped squarebody radiator. You have to have the brackets made for those trucks, but the mounting holes are already in the core support as well as the area to mount the bottom rubber cushion. In regards to the radiator I remember there being 2 styles of filler necks where the radiator cap goes. 1 is short and the other is tall, I used the short version.

 

[sweetk30]

ran a 88 c-20 35o tbi rad in a 81-up square no problem before. if i recall the rad cap is a tiny bit higher so watch as you close the hood for the first time to be sure .

 

[mrk5]

Here's my post on the radiator swap:
https://ck5.com/forums/threads/89-r...onversion-beyond.303347/page-129#post-3791789

And a bit about the brackets:
https://ck5.com/forums/threads/89-r...onversion-beyond.303347/page-129#post-3791165

 

[sweetk30]

and i should say if you have the tall rad option in the square to begin with .

 

[urbex]

So from what I'm seeing, I should be a bit ahead, as I have the entire Suburban to pull parts from.