Should I get an anuminum radiator?
 

My '70 Chevelle 454 has too small of a radiator and runs hot. Do you think a new replacement 4-core radiator will work fine? I want the car to look stock. I have been doing research on chevelles.com and I swear everyone is brainwashed by Alumitech Reproductions there. I just don't want to waste a bunch of extra money on an Alumitech radiator if an original-type 4-core would cool my car just fine.
What are your thoughts?

Re: Should I get an anuminum radiator?
 

What are your habits/conditions with the car?
Daily driver-nightly street-drag strip-trailer it?
I would suggest sticking with the original Harrison 3 or 4-core,as it should cool it off just fine for most ordinary uses.And don't skimp,get a good solid durable clutch for your 7 bladed fan too.
I would contact Lenny over at A-Len in Downers G.
He has done hundreds of these and knows them inside an out,and he still has a few of the old tanks stock piled last I talked to him.
His skills,experience and equipment are second to none.

Re: Should I get an anuminum radiator?
 

My original 4 core has always done a great job in my car. Even a few years back when we were stuck in a 'grid-lock' situation at one of the Street Machine Nationals, and I had a battery I didn't trust (afraid if I shut it off it wouldn't restart). The car sat at idle for well over two hours in 90° temps and never once got above 195°. Running down the highway or even around town it stays in the 175-180 range. That's with a 180 thermostat.

Re: Should I get an anuminum radiator?
 

Our 427 never had a cooling problem with its stock rad. Three core the last time I looked if memory serves me correctly. I had the rad in our 455 Lemans redone with a high density three core unit and the engine stayed cool even in 100 degree heat. Lean jetting and retarded timing can make an engine run warmer than normal. Faulty fan clutches can also cause grief.

Re: Should I get an anuminum radiator?
 

[ QUOTE ]
What are your habits/conditions with the car?
Daily driver-nightly street-drag strip-trailer it?
I would suggest sticking with the original Harrison 3 or 4-core,as it should cool it off just fine for most ordinary uses.And don't skimp,get a good solid durable clutch for your 7 bladed fan too.

[/ QUOTE ] The engine is a fairly stock 454 truck block probably early eighties. Car is just a weekend cruiser that I would occasionally like to drive to shows up to a few hours away. It would occasionally be stuck in some traffic (surprise surprise). The car does not have A/C but eventually I would like to add vintage air.
Speaking of the 7 blade clutch fan; the one on the engine now is too big for the NPD '70 Chevelle BB repro fan shroud that I bought. What would the correct diameter be for the fan? Mine is 19.5 inches, the same size as the shroud opening and it touches all the way around.

Re: Should I get an aluminum radiator?
 

Is that a #914 Fan shroud NPD sold you?..if so keep it.
An 18" diameter 7 bladed clutch fan is what the factory put on it if yours is an LS-6 w/4:10 rear,or LS-5 w/Air Conditioning,or optional V0-1 equipped.
Either the LS-6 #065 or A/C #772 fan will work,as they are near identical in design/function.
I would stick with original Harrison 4 core tanks,then get a new core installed in between for durability,especially if you plan on adding a Vintage Air system in the future.It will pay for itself in the long run,regardless of which direction you plan to go with on the car.

Re: Should I get an aluminum radiator?
 

No shroud could be your whole problem.



Jason

Re: Should I get an aluminum radiator?
 

[ QUOTE ]
No shroud could be your whole problem.

You are 100% correct Jason. My chevelle would never run right without the shroud.Changing the rad at this stage is just a waste of money. It should run as Gm made it and will.


Jason

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: Should I get an aluminum radiator?
 

I will have to check on what fan shroud I got from NPD, but I think that's right. So now I know I definitely need to get the correct size fan, and possibly a different clutch assembly once I find out what mine is. I know just adding a fan shroud could fix my problem, but I know my rad. is definitely not a 4 row and since I will probably be adding A/C in the future I want to have complete confidence in my cooling system.
Thanks for your help guys. I was almost brainwashed into wasting a lot more money after reading so many posts on chevelles.com about Alumitech.
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: Should I get an aluminum radiator?
 

I talked to a guy at a local show a couple weeks ago, and his father-in-law had a 440 or 383 Cuda that saw street duty...over drive trans, vintage air, that kinda thing...anyway, it was running just a *tad* warm, so he called up some parts place, and they sold him an entire system and guaranteed it would drop the temp by a bunch of degrees...dropped like 2-grand to this place...aluminum rad, water pump, lines, all kinds of crap. Well, guess what? The thing runs *hotter* now! Needless to say, the guy isn't happy, and last I knew he was trying to return the parts to no avail...