Radiator Help
 

Hello all, I need some help desperatly. The backstory: My car is a swap car, it was a 305 and was changed to a 350 in the 90's. The block is a reman and the swap was not completed all the way at the time, meaning I had all 305 electronics. My car has not run correctly probably since the swap, and recently has gotten worse, despite the fact electronics have been changed to 350 stuff.

To add insult to injury, my radiator has been crapping out the last 2 years, I have had it repaired three times (-shop wouldn't give me a warranty either on the repairs). I have dished out $100 each time, Add another 70 or so in coolant (kept refilling), and am totally done with this stock radiator as it has developed a fourth leak.

So about that engine story, I need a new radiator, one that will cool this engine, and one that will work with an LS1 or LQ4. And I really don't want to pay for a radiator twice. So what is the smart play- what Radiator should I get. Will the champion work fine. I should add, I can't do an engine swap at this time.
If I get a 4th gen radiator, will it have provisions for a coolant level sensor (I have a digital dash) and will it keep my gen 1 sbc cool? (I have heard that an LS1 is supposed to run hotter and therefore the 4th gen radiator is smaller) Currently I care more about the dash not showing low coolant on the DIC, though :lol: :lol: (just kidding of course)

Re: Radiator Help
 

Anyone?

Re: Radiator Help
 

Any stock radiator should work out just fine. Go get a new one they are cheap.

Re: Radiator Help
 

If you can't do the LS swap now and plan on driving it, just get a stock replacement radiator.

Check out Rockauto, they have just about everything for these cars. Stock radiator will keep a a 400 cool if it's not built too hot.

Re: Radiator Help
 

Yea I was thinking of Rockauto or ebay.

As for the engine, well I am not planning on it soon. :gocrazy: The sad part is the car always plans for me, it just happens. :mad: For all I know the oil pump will fail on my way home tomorrow, or the head gasket will fail. :lol: So now that the radiator is on its way out, I wanted to plan ahead alittle. :D

Anyway what do you guys think about this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/351126758254?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Re: Radiator Help
 

I can't speak for that exact radiator, but I have a 3-row Champion I ordered off eBay. The Champion is very well made and is supposed to fit in our cars. HOWEVER, it did not fit in my Firebird which led me to cut the bottom of my radiator support, do a lot of fab work and weld it all together.

Not trying to discourage you from the 3-row but you should understand that any aftermarket part may not be a quick "bolt-on" (despite what the ads may tell you). Be prepared (if needed) to do some fabrication work or send it back.

Do a search and you will see that others had mixed results with fitment.

Just my 2 cents.

Hope this helps!

Re: Radiator Help
 

Thanks, I heard that about the champion radiator, I believe someone on TGO got a radiator (could have been you actually) that was way to tall. The ordeal sorta made me hesitant about champion. It does help

Re: Radiator Help
 

Well I pulled the trigger and ordered it. The dimensions seem spot on, but I haven't seen it in person yet. For 170 bucks it better be worth it.