Radiator

Teich · Addicted!

Radiator

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Imop Champion offshore cannot be beat for the money Laurie. I've been running one for 3 years now without issue.

Some will say don't buy that Chinese crap, spend 200 more. Sure, they look a little goofy with the square fab'd top tank, But these rads have decent quality, and actually fit just like OEM, and do cool very well.

Champion

jim P · Veteran Member

My 62 with a 283 and the original rad. never had an overheat problem even on the hottest summer day. Like you Laurie I am installing a 350 in it. I am going to try and run it with the original rad but just in case I inquired at our local GM dealership re: the availability of a new one. They told me a new one was available for my car and the price quote was $325.00 Cdn. and delivery of only a few days. This was about a month ago........Jim

Teich · Addicted!

More to tell, stopped in at the rad shop this morning to see what they used to clean the inside no real answer, but talked about a recore not sure about that. Did some read of catalogs last night found that in southern US a 6cyl engine had a three row core all the V8s had a 4 row core and the AC ones were about 2" taller. Was in Winnipeg today to get a 5 blade clutch fan from a 66 that had add on air, there was also a rad there Told me that it was from 283 with auto and it had 2 row core. Jim how many rows of tubes does your rad have? cdnpot I think you are right on the Champion rad read alot about aluminun rad also, people seem to say that one should just read specs very carefully to get the best rad for your money, sounds like they make different ones for different stores. I 'm going to take the rad in and have them check it maybe clean it and try it before spending to much. I also found out that I will have to shorten the fan shroud as the fan is in too far, I used the long water pump so as to get the power steering pump closer to the engine, wanted more space for new steering box. Thanks for info will posr what I find out Laurie

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

Teich wrote:
More to tell, stopped in at the rad shop this morning to see what they used to clean the inside no real answer, but talked about a recore not sure about that. Did some read of catalogs last night found that in southern US a 6cyl engine had a three row core all the V8s had a 4 row core and the AC ones were about 2" taller. Was in Winnipeg today to get a 5 blade clutch fan from a 66 that had add on air, there was also a rad there Told me that it was from 283 with auto and it had 2 row core. Jim how many rows of tubes does your rad have? cdnpot I think you are right on the Champion rad read alot about aluminun rad also, people seem to say that one should just read specs very carefully to get the best rad for your money, sounds like they make different ones for different stores. I 'm going to take the rad in and have them check it maybe clean it and try it before spending to much. I also found out that I will have to shorten the fan shroud as the fan is in too far, I used the long water pump so as to get the power steering pump closer to the engine, wanted more space for new steering box. Thanks for info will posr what I find out Laurie

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cdnpont

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Imop Champion offshore cannot be beat for the money Laurie. I've been running one for 3 years now without issue. Some will say don't buy that Chinese crap, spend 200 more. Sure, they look a little goofy with the square fab'd top tank, But these rads have decent quality, and actually fit just like OEM, and do cool very well. Champion

DonSSDD · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Fan blade should be half in half out of the shroud.
Best cooling is 50/50 antifreeze.
Best fit fix (should fit like it does now) would be a recore, if they are a good shop, it would be fine. Have it pressure tested by them if you go that route.
Aftermarket Chinese is hit or miss, but it sounds like people here had good luck with Champion. But, if you have modified steering and a long water pump, you may have a fit problem, wouldn't know until you try to put it in.
Thermostat- should be a 180 I think.
Did you flush your heater too?
Some old timers say the copper rads cool better than aluminum, that I don't know about.
The good reproduction radiators come from a Canadian company, Spectra Premium. It used to be cheaper to buy them in the US and get them shipped, than to buy them in Canada. Even though they were made in Canada.

I would fix the fax shroud first. I have an old chrome one you can have for free to cut down if you want it. I also have a spare reproduction 409 fan shroud I'd sell you, its in excellent shape and quite a bit shorter than the stock small block one. Pic below.

Don

DonSSDD · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

jim P · Veteran Member

To answer Laurie's question, I just went out to the shop and checked my rad and it is a 2 core.
Jim

Pontiacanada · A Poncho Legend!

DonSSDD wrote:

Some old timers say the copper rads cool better than aluminum, that I don't know about.

Don

Mixing more metal types (Aluminum, Brass/Copper, Lead, and Iron) isn't good either. They aren't compatible with one another. That's where anti-freeze comes in, it helps stabilize them, helps with corrosion. I'd stick with a brass/copper rad, and forget aluminum rads (just my opinion).

Teich · Addicted!

Well last Tuesday I took the radiator to the shop,had the guy look at expecting the worst but looks in top with flashlight says that is very good just needs to be boiled out? and tested for leaks. Kinda smiling now, he also says it would cool a 396! It has three rows of tubes. The shroud is now shortened fan half in half out thanks Don and Don I like the engine What type of fan do you use? Got a chance to drive a 1963 Pontiac wagon 34000 miles black outside really red nice inside and it had factory 409 4 speed also was a solid lifter engine Still remember that one! Should have rad back on Friday if things go well Laurie

DonSSDD · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

That's good luck on the rad. The 409 has hydraulic lifters, I'd trade my 2 door for that wagon. It has a fan clutch, the fan itself is off a 63 corvette, I found a NOS clutch for it. Don

jim P · Veteran Member

Don, the top of your rad cooling your 409 looks identical to mine. I am just curious. Has it been re-cored? If not and it is original how many rows of tubes does it have?
Thanks, Jim

seventy2plus2 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Teich wrote:
The shroud is now shortened fan half in half out.

How did you shorten the shroud? Did you cut it? Could you have changed the spacer between the water pump pulley and the fan?

Teich · Addicted!

I shortened by cutting it at water pump end I used a long water pump so I could move PS pump up and closer to the engine, and want to add fan clutch. Laurie

DonSSDD · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

jim P wrote:
Don, the top of your rad cooling your 409 looks identical to mine. I am just curious. Has it been re-cored? If not and it is original how many rows of tubes does it have?
Thanks, Jim

Its a reproduction from Show Cars, they have pretty good quality stuff.

Teich · Addicted!

I finally got the radiator back on Thursday, looks nice and clean in side its installed green stuff in. Picked up 17 " six blade fan for the fan clutch at Softy's yesterday afternoon. This thing should fun cool now! Just have to install the new sway bar go for alinement then the big road test. Forgot I want new 15" tires for the rally wheels gosh it never ends. Laurie

-- Edited by Teich on Saturday 19th of March 2016 02:31:44 PM

Teich · Addicted!

Had car for test, sown the lane a few times rad seems to work good, had to redo the shroud too short fan now in half way. Now I do have photos can not get them to up load tried 4 times they will be here when I figure it out. Now on to next issues front suspension ( have photos but same problem) Laurie

-- Edited by Teich on Tuesday 29th of March 2016 09:25:14 PM