I am considering an aluminum radiator to solve my cooling woes. The stock size radiator is 26", but I was hoping I could get the 31" one to fit in there. does anyoneknow if I'll have the clearance.

Thanks, Ken

I don't think you will be able to fit a 31" without some modifications on the support.
I just switched my 26" SB 3 core radiator out for aluminum. I went with a summit brand that was 27 3/8" wide. I had 2 pieces of 2"x2" angle TIGed to the sides and it bolted right up to the BIG BLOCK mounting holes.
I think the distance was about 29.5" between the holes for the big block mounts. If you go much wider than that you will run into problems hitting the voltage regulator and such. I had to trim the edges of the angle to fit in there.

You can take a tape measure and add 5" off the driver side of your radiator now and see about where you would end up (unless you move the battery), but I think you would at least have to drill new holes if nothing else.

Just to mention my radiator dropped my 400sb temp over 20* so it runs right on the stat (180*) and it takes forever for it to warm up. I'm gonna have fun when it gets real cold this winter. If you aren't running super hot now, a narrower radiator may do what you want perfectly and fit your existing holes unless you have another reason for wanting a 31". just a thought?

Can you say.... www.streetrodstuff.com/Products/157 (http://www.streetrodstuff.com/Products/157) for a custom PRC radiator?

My problem is I am running at about 200 degrees in my small block and I am running a 160 thermostat. I currently am using a 31" standard radiator out of a later Chevy Car, but I have not installed my fender wells yet so I was concerned about clearance, plus its ugly. I would like to use a smaller aluminum radiator, but was concerned about further loss in cooling. I'm currently also using 2 electric fans( one is 16" and the other is 14", but would like to get one Black Magic electric fan. I'm hoping the aluminum will put me to a better operating temp with the electric fan. I'm looking at aluminum radiators that come in 26, 28 and 31 inches. I want to make sure I buy the right radiator this time around. By your reply I'm thinking the 28" should do the trick

Neal, do you have any pictures of your Summit radiator installed?

SUM-380328
Chevrolet: 27 3/8 in. x 19 in., aluminum, two row, racing radiator
$169.95

CAMFRK68 I THINK graemlins/clonk.gif that 28"was the width of the original big block radiator, someone else may know for sure. If so then that would fit perfectly.

The question is how much you want to spend. I couldn't justify spending $300-$600 on a radiator even if I could just bolt it in. The one I got was $170 and I had a friend TIG the brackets on for free. Now, if you don't mind spending the extra bucks one from streetrod, be cool, or someone similar may be the way to go. Then you could just drop it in and go. Also, some of them come with 1.25" tubes rather than 1" to help out cooling even more.

Since you are getting another fan have you considered the Lincoln mark VIII? I have not tried these personally, but a lot of people here speak highly of them, just do a search on them it’s a lot of info. That or a similar fan and a good aluminum radiator should cool pretty much any engine you throw at it.


Brian sorry I don’t have pics yet, I just finished getting it in last week. The 380328 was the one I got and it fit great with 2”x2” angle brackets. I didn’t even have a problem with hood clearance with the straight filler neck. It was not a show piece by any means (some marks here and there from the jig and welding it together) But I am very pleased with it.

By the way how did those flowmaster tailpipes fit? I’m making up a new exhaust system this weekend using and x-pipe and those tailpipes. Is there any chance of them fitting center outlet mufflers? I’ll try to snap some pics this weekend of the radiator and email them to you next week sometime if you are still interested.

They will fit both Center and Side outlet mufflers. They do fit very nicely!! A little angle to them but it kinda fits the angle of the rear quarter so if I were to cut the ends off about 2" so that they end before the tailpan then they would probably look better. All in due time, car has no interior right now because I am dynomatting, installing all new wiring for a nice 5 channel stereo system, and all new interior is going inside which arrives today from Ricks!
Exhaust Pictures (http://www.nextmill.net/69camaro/exhaust.htm)

Originally posted by HOTRODSRJ:
Can you say.... www.streetrodstuff.com/Products/157 (http://www.streetrodstuff.com/Products/157) for a custom PRC radiator? I can, and did. Great radiator at a reasonable cost. George

call ron davis radiators,they will have something to fit and you can't beat the product.they also have a web site,rondavisradiators.com/

Heavy duty radiators are 23" wide (core width), the tanks are a bit under 3" wide each making the whole radiator just about 29" wide. Ther is no such thing as a factory big block radiator, just heavy duty or regular duty. All A/C cars got the same radiator that regular duty big blocks got. Big blocks with a/c got the 4 core bent neck heavy duty radiator that the L72's and ZL1s got.

Since the opening in the core support is only 23" wide what good does it do to go to anything wider than that. Your not going to get any airflow thru the part of the core that isn't infront of the opening.

You can go deeper (more cores) but you can't go any wider without increasing the size of the core support opening. You can also increase the fin count (fins/inch) to get some more surface area.

Also a 160 thermostat will not help you with an overheating problem. All the thermostat does is determine the temperature at which flow starts and stops thru the radiator. If you have a capacity problem (not enough heat removal) the thermostat won't help you. If you have enough capacity having to low a thermostat will allow the engine to run to cool and it won't be able to boil off any water vapor that will accumulate in your oil thereby shortening the life of the oil.

If you have access to the September issue of "Chevy Rumble" there is an article on this. It's the installation of an aluminum radiator into a 69 Camaro. :D

Here`s my 31" universal AFCO. Radiator pic (http://community.webshots.com/photo/70088195/70089282IMgxgT)
The battery will have to be relocated and I built the radiator mount and fan shroud into one unit. It cools my 496 great. Good Luck, Brent