hey everyone lol I bought an 86 berlinetta recently and I just got it started for the first time today and I drove it a little bit after i was finished I was letting the car idle and to my dismay the radiator blew up (facing the car right hand side where the feed from the engine goes into the raditor) straight threw the plastic part on the right hand side (turned the car off imediatley) I was wondering if this has happened to anyone before and the car just recently got an engine swap and the water pump doesnt look to be the correct one for the engine its a little larger and hangs off the mounting point for god only knows what reason the person would stick it on there for is but is this a common problem or was the water pump to intense and biult up to much preasure in the system? also it is a v6 and do you guys think I should get a new water pump and just grab a radiator from the junk yard because come spring im dropping a 350 into it thanks!

 

If your planning to drop a 350... try to find a refurbed water pump.. no point in putting a new one on if your just going to pull the motor out in a few months. About the radiator.. Just buy a radiator that will be compatable with the new motor. try to stay away from the plastic tanks on the sides... I've always had problems with those. Get a radiator thats all metal (copper tanks)

 

alright that's what I figured my next question is can i just use the larger radiator I was going to need to get for the 350 or will the system not be able to handle a larger radiator?

 

Putting in a larger radiator is not a problem. The t-stat will regulate how much coolant goes through it. A stock V8 replacement radiator runs around $100. An aftermarket V8 radiator can be had for not much more unless you need the tranny cooler in it, then it gets much more expensive.

The water pump would not have caused a high pressure problem in the system. Engine temps will do that job fine by themselves. Your radiator was probably cracked or otherwise damaged and had finally had enough. Your rad issue is not related to your pump.

 

awsome thats good to know yea the car has been sitting a while all the plastic is pritty brittle I would asume the radiators plastic was in the same shape im guna get a radiator from summit I think and flush the rest of the system the kid who had it before ****ed arround with electrical a bit ill check to make sure the fan was working properly the engine didnt over heat as far as im concerned but it obviously did get pritty hot i was stuck on some ice and was trying to get out then i was letting it idle for like 2 or 3 mins and the radiator popped and I cut the car out immediatley so all should be ok even though the water pump probably did not cause the problem i think im going to replace it anyway considering its deffinetly not the correct one for the engine thanks a bunch guys for your imput

 

been looking for a bit cant seem to find the radiator i wana get trying to keep it under 150 but i want one without the plastic resivoures any suggestions thanks again guys!

 

If you've got an automatic transmission it's probably not going to happen.

 

well what do you recommend? considering i do have an auto haha