Did any of our cars come stock with aluminum radiators?

 

i don't think so

 

Aluminum core and plastic tanks. I don't know what year they started but mine has it..its a 89

 

I agree with Tony, from looking at mine recently...up for replacement as the filler side leaks major!
Bill

 

My '83 had an aluminum, one core with plastic tanks. Tank cracked at about 5 years old. Been running a standard copper/brass radiator since. No leaks in 15 years.

Larry

 

I'm hi-jacking this with a needed question as well..
I got a used '88 Camaro radiator, finally arrived via eBay and I'm not sure about an odd item on the right top side... a metal pin goes through the middle vents, looking like it might induce a leak. A wire attached to a screw in black plastic box...
labelled: 70085, it has 5 male pins and the bottom in black plastic states; MPC 2286 IIRC
The unit also has a variable flush adjust for micro screwdriver but too small to makeout. I assume this is a temp control to the dash or ECM?
I also am not sure this one may be aftermarket listing the name "Modine". I'm not up on aftermarket of if AC Delco does the OEMs, but assist on this ASAP is requested. I own a 1989 Formula with the 5.7 TPI
The previous car was an 88 with 305 V8 and auto trans.
Hopefully I got all the vitals correct there. Is this aluminum? It's quite light
BILL S.

 

Prolly a fan temp switch from autozone or some place like that..

Tanks shoud be black plastic and the core will be well, aluminum colored ...



I have my factory aluminum rad in my car 228,000 miles ....

 

I figured it may well be a sensor for temp, but it goes thru the radiator cooling fins and it does move by hand. I may have a different fan, but according to owners manual '89 both V8 small blocks have dual fans and mine obviously does. I may need to rig my fan if it still doesn't start up. While the old one was leaking and I ran it, the fan didn't comeone and it overheated more then once.
Also, touching on one other aspect... The manifold has something akin to a birds nest under the rear of the plenum....it looks like wool and I can't imagine the purpose or how long it's been there but it worries me as a main source of heat is that close proximity to heated air and the cylinders... Is there ever any reason for insulation in that area??? It's just ahead of the distributer and I can't seem to fish it out either!

Bill

 

Thirdgen radiators have a common problem where the black plastic tank cracks where the top radiator hose is connected. The crack actually appears on the front side to the radiator directly in front of the top hose inlet. I was told that the significant temp change to that location when the thermostat opens causes the plastic to crack. I thought that puting a couple 1/8 inch holes in the thermostat would make that area warm up more gradually.

my 2 cents,

 

My problem is the filler cap area on the passenger side, facing the engine...it leaks all the way down so can't tell how big/bad it is but it loses most to all fluid so I suspect it's not a small one


Bill