my radiator end cap has a crack in it and it keeps running getting longer, I can't JB weld it anymore. The crack is right by the hot water return on top. when the car gets really hot the crack opens up and even cracks the 1/4 thick JB weld.

I have one lined up from Radiator Express for $142.00 and it's 3 row but I want to know if I have other options. I don't really want to recap the end like the Chevy Camaro factory manual says because I don't trust the recrimp.

 

Get the new radiator....

 

I had to get another radiator recently . I took Karl's (KED85) suggestion of go to the junkyard and pull one ! I pulled one in VERY good condition and paid $50 for it BUT , check it out before you pull it . Take the cap off , look inside for rust , look at the outside for the obvious ( cracks , rust ) . .....Bring a hacksaw with you to the junkyard and hacksaw the hoses off . i think the top bolts that hold the radiator support on are 10mm ? Im almost positive , someone correct me if Im wrong . I forgot what size the hoses are to the tranny and oil cooler lines . I'll look and tell you tomorrow . Karl paid like $35 for his radiator . You can find some good parts in the junkyard for cheap . My junkyard radiator looks good , cools good , and does not leak a drop !!!

Oh yeah , don't forget the rubber stoppers that go on the top and bottem of the radiator .

 

I paid $30.
Got a brand new one.
I had like 10 to choose from, narrowed down to five then to one.
Get hunting.
Just look at the engine bay (for new water system parts-hoses, water pumps sure cools...)
Then look inside. LOOK FOR CLEAN INNARDS.
You'll know it when ya see it....
It take less than two minutes to remove the radiators
HACK SAW EVERY LINE/HOSE INSIGHT!!
IT'S FUN!!!
IT AIN'T YOUR CAR!!!!!!!!
The top bolts are 10mm
Get hunting & have fun!
Mine works perfect.

 

The recrimp is a pain in the ***, and didn't work for me. I followed the GM procedure exactly, too. My side tank (pass side) cracked in my accident, and I tried to put the side tank on it from my parts car. (parts car = 84 Firebird 2.8, back then, they had a shorter radiator for the 2.8's so I didn't want to use the radiator. And, plus, that car literally had mud in the radiator. I think the guy went offroading; there was sand everwhere.) I bought a new side tank gasket from a radiator place for $5, swapped tanks, and the damn thing leaked. I even followed the correct "crimp sequence"! So I tightened the crimps down more, and it still leaked. That's when I went to the junkyard, and lucked out on a brand-new-looking radiator for $50.

 

TomP, thanks for proving my fears of a recrimp. I went to AutoZone today and they have a 3row all metal radiator so I might get that if I don't find anything good in the junk yards. Around here there isn't much in the line of "good stuff" In Houston we drive a lot and everything is gone worn out and crushed. The Camaros that are in the Pick Apart lots (3 that I go to) look like a skelotons with no meat on them. Everything is gone off them. LOL but I will call and look around to other places. $50 bucks sounds good till it cracks again. The ALL metal one from Autozone would be a good investment with it having 3 rows instead of the stock 2.

 

ABSOLUTLY 100% INCORRECT.
I had one of those made in china radiators.
IT ALWAYS LEAKED
IT ALWAYS OVERHEATED.
The GM aluminum design is 1,000 times far superior to anything I've seen (I wish I could "find" one for my 1985 Blazer-they all are old style, rats!)
Lightweight, efficent superb cooling when it's in proper shape.
You really need to ether bite the price tag or get yours fixed or find a substitute.
A engine job is way more expensive, promise.
I saw this rad shop I visited rebuild aluminum rads w/plastic tanks.
I saw it tested infront of my own eyes.
It can be done right & correct, when ya know all those tips and have the right surfaces and pressure testers to fix correctly.
Keep searching, let me save ya the money.
Been there with that replacment. And spent money repairing it, too!
IT'S junk.
HONEST.

Texas is hot & there has to be a decent rad shop somewhere.
BUT it does take less than 3 minutes to remove a rad from a wrecked car in the yard. AND IT'S MOST FUN!!!
ALSO look at the rad support after ya remove the rad.
WHY?
Look for dirty water signs/stains (that the rad ya just pulled, also leaked...)

 

Karl is right about the engine job !!! My Uncle just bought an 89 S-10 to race . It came with a 4cyl , but the guy that had the truck blew the motor because he overheated and a rod broke on him .

 

Being in the yards, the other day, I saw several Quad Four engines.
I was on a mission and in a rush, but........
I THINK A QUAD FOUR WOULD BE A BITCHIN SWAP with a stick!
MAYBE IN A VEGA, I saw one..........
Or a mid-70's Buick Skyhawk with the back hatch cut off for an "El Camino" look.
I also "hear" Caddy 4.1 front wheel drive V-8 engines do fit these 60* bellhousings of ours!
Does anyone know this for truth?
Are those Caddy V-8 mills 60* blocks?
I saw several of those.......
The 1970-73 Firebird I saw looked SO NICE!
I do love the look of those 1970's Firebirds...

IF ONLY I COULD FIND A NOSE & DRIVER FENDER for my Firebird....
I'm going back for that bumper cap.

 

i new for a fact that all the thirdgens in the boneyards i go to had scratched up fugly radiators and that they were all eights so i bought a GM replacement from the local Pepboys express (no service center, so i can do my own work ) which is an aluminu two row. I love it to death, cuase it gets the job done. GM designed these things well and the relacement i got made it well to.

If i were you i would check the local boneyards first... save yourself money.

Mine busted a big lak in one of the rows, StopLeak couldseal it and it was literaly pouring out the car, it was 6 at night so boneyards were closed, i knew they wouldn't have one anyways, so i bought the replacement, which i don't regret for a second.

 

Chinesse radiator????: PFFFFFF!

When I was in the University (1981) I had an anticque Ford A 1930 with the original "MADE IN USA" radiator. It was a RADIATORRRR!. I used this car until I changed it for a Pontiac Catalina V8 1966.

Protects your car. Use a good radiator.


Regards,

Denis V.

 

NO I did not buy a chinese radiator or a POS junk yard one or autozone quick fix replacement. I got a GDI radiator and yes Denis.V it is a REAL "RADIATORRRR". It has a COPPER CORE and BRASS END TANKS, just the way they use to make them. No more GM plastic crap. The radiator also has a way better automatic tranny cooler and is 3 ROW for super cooling vs the stock crap which barly cuts it here in Houston in traffic.

 

LoL , If Karl's radiator can cool good in California traffic and mine does damn good in Baton Rouge traffic , a stock boneyard one should do fine in Houston traffic . I've sat in traffic for almost 2 hours with mine and it did just fine .

 

LOL, if you guys want to use band aids and give the bone yards $50 bucks a pop every time GM's cheap crap cracks thats ok with me. I'm about fixing the problem once and for all and with this radiator if I ever have a leak I can just have the radiator shop soder it right up for $5 bucks instead of making a trip to the bone yard and giving them more cash that could go to HP. No offense to any one just one way of looking at it.

 

Ryan, I do not incorporate band aids to my ride, as my Wife & 22 Months old lives depend on it.
But, I do hear ya.
Tell ya what.
Check out Chevy High Performance, new issue Sept 2002.
Page 38 is all about Vehicle Cooling Systems.
It does explain why these GM Harrison aluminum radiators are superior, these days.
I have 5 cars. If I could pay $30-is for each replacement, I'D BE SO HAPPY!! (Guess how much for my 1974 Corvette w/AC??$$)
I truly wish I could have a modern aluminum radiator in each ride.
And actually my old 1966 Corvette did, so did the 1961 Corvettes we had back in the 70's.
GM Harrison issued. Had to find anti-freeze ok for aluminum and back in the 1970's, it wasn't easy.
Check out the magazine article at a news stand.
I converted to aluminum, before this article came out. I read the same words over and over.
After experiencing what you have (I had it) and now using the correct GM design, buying it for only $30 (I chose from 10 radiators with look-see instructions from a rad shop how to pick the best one), it was certainly worth the visit to the yard that day.
Check out that Sept 2002 Chevy High Performance article, one with the 1969 Red Camaro in upper right corner.
Double check that bottom hose.
Mine slipped off & I lost the original 2.8 engine.
IT wasn't a cheap mistake at all.
I made that decision pay off tho.
I feel like a KING stuck in traffic, AC full blast & radio on.

 

Same as Karl , I do not bandaide my car either . I am VERY picky about the parts I put on a car . Thats why I TOLD ya , check it out very good for leaks , rust , look in it . I use to be dead against pulling any parts from the boneyard including a radiator . But I trust Karl's knowledge and expertise .The last radiator I had in my car was an autozone one , which only lasted two years . That's another reason , I went to the boneyard , wanted to find me a good ole' Gm radiator that was like new for a good price .

 

My "bandaid" radiator has been working great, no leaks or anything, since I got it from the junkyard in May of '96. Damn, it seems like yesterday, but that was over 6 years ago? Wow.

 

:lala: :lala: OOOOOHH the new CHP is out too, i have bought the last 15 mags single handedly, one of these days i might get a suscription

btw - i bought the Hot Rod Mag Tom, the one with the formula on the cover Man that is a sweet formula, 10 seconds on the stock L98 with mostly SLP products, and think of how many people complain of the L98!!!!!! Tell them to see that article. I just bought a new Camaro Mod book yesterday ( White cover, blue 91-92ish camaro with cowl on the cover) and it has a caption of a 305 powered thirdgen that ran 13s!!!!! with the stock exhuast, now how crazy is that??????

 

Ked85, i'm not saying that the aluminum is bad it's the plastic end caps that I have a problem with and the dam crimps (I won't say it better even just CHEAPER for GM to make). Now if GM had gone with aluminum ends sodered on AND A 2ND ROW now that would be a good radiator. Guess if I had the coin I would get a racing radiator like in Nascar or pro street guys use that is all aluminum, but I don't. LOL you thought you where KING with the A/C on and the radio blasting, you should see the difference with a 3 row radiator, if you saw this sucker you would want it. I'll check out that article but nobody is going to tell me that a 1 row is better the a 3 ROW.

 

were not saying that a one row is not better than a three row, just that its not necessary cuase the one row does the job just nicely Besides not everybody can afford to go out and buy a $300 radiator

 

If I had a three row , Id be scared of running too cool . My car VERY VERY seldom goes over the 220 mark . 3 row radiators are mostly for BIGGER engines . The stock one is plenty good .

I ALMOST put a Griffin radiator or Be Cool on my car , but I just dont need it plus I can throw that money on some of Camaro hunter's headers in Novemeber if he is still selling them .

I

 

Ryan,
I KNOW you're being real
My 1968 Firebird 400/TH400, no AC...
Had four row.
CONSTANTLY TO WARM (it was the 10.25 compression & a very tight engine bay cause of the engine size-NOW this knowledge is no surprise-back in 1982-83, I kept looking for answer. I wonder if I had a good fan clutch, then too????)

My 1974 is a four row.
It keeps it way cool & is the original one (Aug 29th 1973 issued). I've seen constant 200*+ some days, and it cools down again.

My 1967 & 68 Camaros-Three rows.
With no engine (big block or AC) these are perfect.

My S-10 B lazer is a three row & it works & will be perfect again.

The Firebird had that crap thing and was such wasted money on my end to keep it.
I wish I knew, first time I went to rad shop, to hit the yards.

Read the article.
We all have TWO VERY WIDE & TALL ALUMINUM FINS, running sideways. It does the job so well.....


NOW ever hear the stories of the guys that had the ZL-1 (aluminum 427) engines in their rides (69 Camaros/69 Corvettes (only two) & went to "Town" for the races, cops came & they "raced home"......?
Cops "touched" their engines to see if "hot" from driving around...
The engines were very cold.
Aluminum dissapates heat very well.
The plastic end caps....
I saw this one guy do it right infront of my eyes.
He used what he had in hand.
Wasn't a challenge at all.
Tested, too, right infront of my eyes.
HONEST, IF those plastic caps are broken, fins cracked off, etc, any sign of damage... ya pass on it as a potential rad for your ride.
Why was I at this rad repair shop?
Getting 3 of my 4 radiators repaired/cleaned. For $25 each!!!!
Removing the Corvette one?
OH MY G0D, I'll wait until I lift the body off the car, thank you!

Ryan, keep fresh antifreeze in there, often.
Sounds like you won.
Good going!
Isn't it great to feel like a KING in your ride?

This is the first car I've had operating AC in since 1998 or so....
Can't wait until I do the '74 Corvette system rebuild..... OH JOY as I open my wallet.
FYI just so ya know how lucky others are.
My 1974 has a TWO YEAR AC HOSE DESIGN
For NCRS points, I gotta keep that hose.
NO ONE makes it.
NO ONE.
I got a spare, got very lucky.
Know how heavy my AC Compressor is????
Close to a single cast iron V-8 cylinder head weight.....

It's great to feel like a KING with operating car AC.

 

Need a extra hand when you take the body off your 74 ????? Can't turn down an opertunity to work on a C3!!!!

 

Know what I regret doing ? ...Ordering that $200 re-build kit for my tranny thats heavy duty . I didn't need that . I don't know what I was thinking at the time . Why don't I need it ? ...I dont have a 350 or 400 small block under the hood , and I dont drive the car hard that often enough to have it .

 

Hey, KED85 I read that Super Chevy page about cooling. I like how they talk about 6 or 7 rows thats nuts. One thing I thought was stupid is the idea of pushing air thru a radiator, anybody with 10th grade science knows the vacum effect of drawing air and leting the air pressure do the work.

I think the best thing that is on cars today is electric fans, the fan comes on at high RPM regardless of engine RPM giving you the maxium cooling of a radiator.

If you look at page 26 of that Super Chevy you will see the ALL Aluminum radiators, they start at $139 for our cars. Getting the automatic tranny cooler on it is extra plus shipping and it doesn't say how many rows. So I bet when your done, your looking at $200. I love my Camaro but thats a lot of cash.

I'm happy, I payed $142, no tax, no shipping and it has a REAL nice long coiled tranny cooler and has 3 rows w/ cooper core. If you think about again with your 10th grade education cooper and aluminum have the same conduct properties for conducting electricity and heat, for example cooper wiring and heater tubes on boilers. Another example is "overclockers heatsinks" for guys who like to over clock their CPUs they are made out of solid cooper. I think they only ADVANTAGE to aluminum is that it is lighter thus making a drag car lighter, thats why the hot rod boys like them, but for cooling they are the same.

I hear you loud and clear about the coolent changing, I had to replace a freeze plug on the back of my block because it ate through. I use that Haveline red stuff now and in the GM Factory Camaro manual it says to keep -34 F strength to protect against corrosion. The former owner never changed the coolent until I brought the car.

 

This is a great education for us.
You discovered an option for our rides a realistically price rad, that also works.

PROMISE, The Corvette is a long ways off.
The Corvette is basically receiving a body on frame restoration, currently (steering pump hydrualics system, steering box & rear diff rebuild are next-then nose & rear bumper)

I want to do my 1967 Camaro RS/SS 4-Speed convert, Body-off restoration first! Been awaiting since 1990 for that project to continue...

Once I get this 3.4 off my engine stand, home comes the 1970 LT-1 I built!!
I want to install that in the 1974 Corvette to break in the motor....then in it goes to the 1967!

Want to swap motors on my motorcycle?..... That's a 1/2 day job! You can always remove the 6 in my Wife's 1968 Camaro..... Engine hoist should be free shortly, as that 3.4 goes into the 85 Blazer very soon....