Are the stock radiators installed in the 305 V8 cars (mines a 1990 Firebird) 2 or 3 rows?

I've noticed too that all of the aftermarket replacements now have plastic tanks,does anyone still make original style all metal units or are the plastic tank models just as reliable?

 

Actually the original aluminum ones are single row-
one wide tube the same thickness of the radiator.
The copper/brass radiators found in most '82s could be
2 or 3 row-most '83s i have seen have the aluminum
core radiators,possibly with certain '82s getting the
aluminum core radiators.
In my experience at least,the plastic/aluminum ones
(originals at least,don't know about cheap import
aftermarket)are much less trouble than copper/brass
that corrode,have solder bloom problems and other
leakage problems.I have heard of the plastic tanks
cracking or even blowing apart on here though...

 

Thanks! I guess that explains why every autoparts store and radiator shop only has one rows.
all of then have plastic tanks too,they're around 89.99 with a lifetime warranty at the local Autozone.

I suppose since they're all made in china they're probably all pretty much the same quality wise.

My cars radiator is stock and it's all metal,even the tanks.

By the way,should one gallon of straight anti freeze be enough for the mixture when I replace the radiator?

 

i think"northern"brand stock type aluminum/plastic
radiators are made in USA,but i haven't checked if all
northern radiators are US made-far better to have
something US than a chicom one that may leave you
stranded in a cloud of steam... If your copper/brass
just has a leak,a radiator shop should be able to fix
and clean it

 

When I bought my brand new 84 trans am it had the heavy duty cooling option. unlike the single pass aluminum core plastic tank, this one was a staggered 3 row aluminum core with plastic tanks. Never had a problem with cooling on it.

 

Cool! would love to find one of those the radiator in my
car since 1997 is an aluminum core one i got from an
'82 crossfire T/A-looked like it had an '82 date code,
didn't think aluminum core was used that early,but
found out here that certain '82s did have aluminum
core-so i am thinking that T/A radiator was the original
to that car,its the standard one with single row of about
1"thickness.
My original LG4 radiator was 2-row copper/brass.

 

The one I removed from my car yesterday was a staggered three row all copper/brass unit.It still cooled the car fine,but had developed a leak.

It seems now that it's cheaper to simply buy a new radiator than get one recored.