Okay I am in need of replacing the radiator on my 69. I currently have the stock 21” radiator in the car. It’s a SB non-air 4-speed car. After searching the archives and speaking with Don out at Alumitech I have decided to go with his 23” radiator. I know I need to replace the shroud with a BB one but I’m a little confused on a couple of items. 1) Do I need to change the top hose? I’ve seen posts out there that some guys are using the hose off of a 68 and others are using the stock 69??? 2) I’m not quite sure if when I order the shroud what mounting hardware to order if any. What I’m asking I guess is will the shroud mount with the current 21” sb set up I have but my guess is I need to order the BB mounts for the shroud when I go with the 23” set up.

Edneck,

I am going through the same thing. I have a 1969. I just replaced my 21" radiator with a 23". The car had an electric 5 blade fan from what appears to be a 1984 Z28 or something GM from the mid 1980's. I am using an upper hose from a 1968 with A/C. My car does not have A/C, but the 1968 hose with A/C worked. The reason for this is as follows: In 1968 the Camaro's with A/C received 23" radiators regardless of engine size. In 1969 if you had a small block your car had a 21" radiator. It was 2 core (2 row) with no A/C and 3 core (3 row) with A/C. Only the Big Blocks used 23" in 1969.

I wish I would have taken measurements back in the early 1990's with my old one. But I was a dumb kid then and did not know any better. All I know is my first 1969 had factory A/C with a small block (327 or 307) Then the radiator shop put a huge 4 core radiator in it after I replaced the small block with a 396. I don't recall replacing the shroud, so it could have been a 21" 4 core. I guess I'll never know. I think I even went with an electric fan much later on. I can't recall.

Bottom Line: Your upper hose may be a little short if you use a 1969 hose. Mine were replaced this past summer and the upper one barely fit over the thermostat housing. I spoke with Brad (the sales manager) at D&R Classic. www.drclassic.com They know their stuff and he suggested the upper hose for my 350 in my current 1969, be the upper hose from a 1968 with A/C.....As far as your shroud. The 1969 Big Block shroud will work but the fan will be slightly offset about 1 to 1/4" to the drivers side of the car. The 1968 shroud with A/C used the 23" radiator and this will center the hole more toward the middle of the radiator. Either shroud should work. For my car, I just ordered an electric fan with shroud from a Speed Shop near my work, so I won't have a stock shroud w/ clutch fan.

P.S. The BB mounts for 1969 are the 23" set up. For 1968 if you order the shroud with A/C it will also be 23". Remember that in 1969 only the Big Block cars received the 23" set up as opposed to 1968 when you could get that 23" set up with A/C. I read this on www.camaros.org I know it does not make sense, but that was GM for you back in the 1960's through the early 1990's. Either 23" set up will work.

P.P.S. For those of you who remember, GM put a Turbo 200 trans behind V8 cars in the mid to late 1970's and a Turbo 350 trans behind V6 cars. That also made no sense. But it happened. I had a 6 cyl. 1977 Ventura with a THM350 and a friend of mine had a 1979 V8 Regal with a THM 200. Again, that was GM for you from the dawn of catalytic converters in 1975 to about 1992.

Good Luck!!

Went with stock 23" 4 row core (not curved neck) in place of my 21" on sbc application. Used the bbc fan shroud, the one that sits a little off center. Used stock Delco fan clutch and 7 blade fan. Done deal. Top hose came from a 68 I believe. May have to shorten it. Be sure to add new driver side radiator well nuts in core support, they are there for a reason, body flex. No bolts. Right side ok.

Thanks guys for just kind of confirming what I'm going to have to do.