Looking for detailed, exact measurements of the crossflow v8 radiator from a 2nd gen. Ideally pics too with the measureing tape... please list core dimensions, and overall dimensions with tanks included. My goal is to find an aftermarket universal radiator that is as close to original as possible. thank you for your help!
+4
wideload
mbasaraba
donivan65
kookykrispy
8 posters
Need DETAILED, EXACT measurements of v8 radiator (2nd gen)
kookykrispy- Number of posts : 1533
Location : Helendale, CA
Age : 51
Registration date : 2009-05-22
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12248
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
So you want to put a 2nd Gen V8 radiator in a 1st Gen,,,,,,,,NO PROBLEM!!! since those crossflow radiators sit so low under the seats, it needs a surge tank with a recirc line to get the air out of the system, so there is no radiator cap on the radiator,,,,,I see lots of 2nd Gen radiators for sale, but they have radiator caps on them,,,,,they are for a Step Van,,,,and I kind of think these 2nd Gen V8 radiators are really from Corvettes,,,,These radiators probably come in 2, 3 and 4 row cores AND TANKS,,,,,so get the wide 3 1/2" tank and slap a 4 row core in there and you will have a REAL COOL van,,,,,,
kookykrispy- Number of posts : 1533
Location : Helendale, CA
Age : 51
Registration date : 2009-05-22
Don, I knew you would come through for me!! I have all the pieces to the 2nd gen v8 cooling system puzzle except the radiator itself. Thank you so much!
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12248
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
See if the radiator shop has or can get that 4 row core,,,,,and then you need the wide tanks,,,,I don't have too much faith in finding a good 45 year old radiator,,,,you might as well start off with a fresh new core.......
mbasaraba- Number of posts : 823
Location : North Central Alabama
Registration date : 2009-01-08
Just so I understand...
You dont want one with a radiator cap or these just didnt come with one on these type?
The Recirculation tank is to get air out cuz it sits so low?
What if the radiator is up higher?
If the radiator has a cap, does that cap need to be above the return hose to allow for air removal?
Is there a coolant volume I should look for? IE 3 gallons of coolant max capacity... (Just an example)
Core differences? I found a 3 core but only 2.5 inches thick, seems like I have been seeing a lot of people say 3.5 inches is desired.
Sorry for all the questions. I dont know anything about radiators functionality. I am looking to find a radiator on eBay and just need to know approximate size and then does and donts.
You dont want one with a radiator cap or these just didnt come with one on these type?
The Recirculation tank is to get air out cuz it sits so low?
What if the radiator is up higher?
If the radiator has a cap, does that cap need to be above the return hose to allow for air removal?
Is there a coolant volume I should look for? IE 3 gallons of coolant max capacity... (Just an example)
Core differences? I found a 3 core but only 2.5 inches thick, seems like I have been seeing a lot of people say 3.5 inches is desired.
Sorry for all the questions. I dont know anything about radiators functionality. I am looking to find a radiator on eBay and just need to know approximate size and then does and donts.
wideload- Moderator 1st Class
- Number of posts : 1389
Location : Kevil, Kentucky
Age : 71
Registration date : 2008-05-11
Matt be careful on e-bay. A lot of that stuff is Chinese. You can go to a local shop and get one built to your dimensions for around $300.
The one I put in my 67 was a 2 row but the tubes were 1".
The one I put in my 67 was a 2 row but the tubes were 1".
_________________
Mike
WIDELOAD
https://vintage-vans.smugmug.com/Chevy-GMC-Vans/Wideloads-65-66-67-68/i-CK5s29s
mbasaraba- Number of posts : 823
Location : North Central Alabama
Registration date : 2009-01-08
wideload wrote:Matt be careful on e-bay. A lot of that stuff is Chinese. You can go to a local shop and get one built to your dimensions for around $300.
Didnt know that Mike. I would rather keep the money local anyways.
The other technical information I would still need so I would know what I did need though.
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12248
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
The crossflow radiator sits low, under the seats,,,,in the actual air flow,,,,so if you had a radiator cap on it, you could never fill the heater core or cylinder heads with coolant,,,they would also be filled with air,,,,,thats why there is a tank on top of the radiator,,,the coolant level needs to be above the engine,,,then a hose goes down to the radiator to fill it and another line goes to the upper hose to vent the air out to the tank also,,,,,
Digz- Number of posts : 3794
Location : United States Six Lakes MI
Registration date : 2008-05-17
You can put the rad low with a cap on it, You have to put an in line fill or one of those at the thermostat housing to pull it off. Like Don says you have to get the air out at a high point. trick to this tho if using an off the shelf Skip White type rad with a cap is to tie the overflow outlets (from the rad and the fill) together and use a recovery tank. The caps must have matching lb ratings. It works for me.
pan58head- Number of posts : 512
Location : new hampshire
Registration date : 2010-03-15
Matt, check out speedway motors for aluminum universal radiators. My buddy bought a aluminum radiator for under $130 for his v8 toyota project and works awesome and not a cheap piece of $#!t. Bob
Guest- Guest
I've been looking for a new radiator for my 68 Chevy van. I have the stock v8 307 radiator with the tank on top in it now. It has a small leak in it that I'm sure I could fix. But If I can find a new one to put in I rather do that and not worry about it anymore. I found two radiators on ebay that might work good for 2nd generation vans.........
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Howe-Racing-Enterprises-342A28NF-Radiator-without-Filler/231947116257?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D40130%26meid%3Dfbb642d9946b4b28ae81d9809e788ab6%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D142275124735
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Northern-Factory-209676-GM-Chevy-Universal-Aluminum-Radiator-27-5-x-19-Race-Pro-/330423623874?hash=item4ceec860c2:g:eAcAAOSwo6lWGC8w&vxp=mtr
...any thoughts, suggestions or opinions?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Howe-Racing-Enterprises-342A28NF-Radiator-without-Filler/231947116257?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D40130%26meid%3Dfbb642d9946b4b28ae81d9809e788ab6%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D142275124735
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Northern-Factory-209676-GM-Chevy-Universal-Aluminum-Radiator-27-5-x-19-Race-Pro-/330423623874?hash=item4ceec860c2:g:eAcAAOSwo6lWGC8w&vxp=mtr
...any thoughts, suggestions or opinions?
kookykrispy- Number of posts : 1533
Location : Helendale, CA
Age : 51
Registration date : 2009-05-22
If you can make the stock radiator work, do that. If you need to, have a radiator shop re-core it with the factory tanks. There really is no direct fit aftermarket replacement. I ended up having a custom radiator made and I'm still not quite happy with it.
Guest- Guest
Yeah.....I think I'll fix the original one I have kookykrispy. The core is good it's just the side tanks that are beat up and leaking a bit.
KISSfan- Number of posts : 110
Location : Omaha,Nebraska
Age : 55
Registration date : 2016-08-23
I just had a local shop re-core mine. It was a 3 row and now is a 4 row.
It was pretty expensive, but was done right. I have a pusher fan and no shroud. Shold run a lot better than it used to!
It was pretty expensive, but was done right. I have a pusher fan and no shroud. Shold run a lot better than it used to!
Xelmon- Number of posts : 361
Location : Smell-A, CA
Registration date : 2011-10-11
If you want starting point to recore, I can send over my old radiator. It definitely needs it, however it's definitely a good starting point compared to the stuff on the market.
Came out of a 68 w/ an I6.
Came out of a 68 w/ an I6.