Hey, first post on this board. I used to be on Bimmerpost and **** like that because I was driving around my parents bimmers .

Just got my own 1991 Camaro RS w/ 305 5.0 V8 Tbi, recently. Without knowing it was having cooling problems.
Yesterday in traffic about a mile away from my house the radiator blew. Putting a hole in the plastic inlet where the upper hose connects. Now I have a problem. I'm dead broke because I just bought this car, and I need a new radiator and a thermostat (probably caused the whole problem).. anyways, long story short I waited about two hours then drove her a mile home.. praying that I didnt fry any internals.. Now she's safe in my drive way..

A buddy of mine down the street that "soups" up 4th gens and trans ams has a radiator he's willing to give me for free. Its off his trans am. It originally came with a 4th gen though...

I just NEED to know..

WILL A FOURTH GEN RADIATOR FIT MY 3RD GEN RS???? Thanks. I really appreciate it.
I'll put pics up on request.

 

Welcome to 3rd gens and to TGO!

Can't answer your rad question - although I have a 3rd and a 4th gen in the driveway, I just don't know.

But wanted to have you check a few other things for your cooling.

1) You mentioned the stat - might be a problem as mentioned - can be tested by putting it in a pan of boiling water on the stove, and test water temp when it starts to open. But they are cheap enough to just replace. You don't want anything lower than a 180 degree stat - lower will keep engine from getting to temp, and make the computer run the car rich, killing mileage.

2) Pass side head (NOT block, in the head) there is a fan switch - might need replaced, or a new connector on it. When the wire for the switch gets grounded, the fan should come on - test that. If you need a new connector, order from any local parts store a Dorman 85140 part number.

3) Driver side firewall, between brake booster & fender, there will be a bracket held to firewall with two 10mm bolts. On the inside of that bracket, there are 2 relays, one fuel pump, one fan - the fan relay will have a large black with red stripe wire. If the fan doesn't come on with that fan switch wire being grounded, check/replace that relay or it's connector. The fuel pump relay should be identical - so you can mark the fp relay (that way you know which one is good), and swap it with the fan relay to test if it's a bad relay or bad connector.

4)The fan motor can be replaced also if it's bad - you can just apply 12v+ to it directly - on the black wire with red stripe and ground on the solid black wire to test it.

5) Make sure you have an air dam under the car - it should be directly under the radiator, black plastic about 4ft long, 4 inches 'tall'. Without that air dam, the car will overheat at speed.

The fan keps the car cool at idle and speeds under 35mph. The air dam keeps the car cool at speeds above 35mph (where the fan no longer does any good).

Hope that helps you - that's about all there is to the cooling system. Good Luck!

 

Autozone lists 2 different part numbers for a 4th gen rad versus a 3rd gen rad, so might not be an exact fit - but maybe could be modded in.

A 4th gen rad has a low fluid warning sensor in it - so that's one hole that would have to be plugged.