Trying to find out the measurements (especially the width) of the radiator in my 79 Vette....Looking at the possibility of getting a new one, and need to find out the specs..If I don't go w/a dewitts, anyway! Also...Anyone had trouble with hood clearance by using a universal radiator that has, let's say, the cap/filling opening directly on the top, instead of how my 79 radiator is set up, with the opening off at an angle?

 

One word buddy...DeWitts.

Don't even bother looking around for a budget radiator...just get the DeWitts and consider it a HUGE piece of mind.

It'll fit PERFECTLY, look amazing, and perform better than almost anything else you can buy.

Other than that, I have no idea how wide a '79 radiator is but I do know the biggest issues with alternate radiators is the position and angle of the upper and lower hose tubes.

 

Just measured my old C/B rad from my 78 L-82 A/C vette:

Overall width= 31 1/4" (over side tanks)
Core width = 26 1/2...core thickness= 2 1/2"

Think the 79 is same..except C/B core thickness will vary depending on which rad...(STD vs HD)

Can't answer your "universal' cap filling question...no experience with those..

Rich

 

Look here. http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/GriffinFans.doc

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...hlight=Griffin

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...hlight=Griffin

Dewitts does offer a fine product. But there is more than one way to skin a cat.

Do a search here on the forum and you can find lots of good information that some may just be unbiased.

On a further note the forum members should be here to help another forum member with as much info as we can with no bias. In this way the forum member may make an educated decision.

You can also contact 71roadster here on the forum for more info.

 

I went from a stock radiator...

...to a universal fit C/B radiator...

...to a DeWitts.

If me LOVEing that DeWitts better than any other radiator I have worked with because I own one, makes me biased, then so be it.

 

Well that is your opinion. And as I said Dewitts does make a fine product. But people on this forum and others have been very happy with the Griffin as well. So it all depends on the individual and what they wish to spend and what fabrication work they may feel comfortable with.

And do not even say you have not done any mods on your car lol.

 

When you measure a radiator, any radiator, the overall length is seldom mentioned. The core is the only item a radiator catalog will reference and when measuring the core, you do not include the headers that are on each end. The headers are the flat end plates that all the tubes are welded into and the end tanks are soldered onto. These typcially are about 3/8" wide and they almost always get included when someone is measuring the core, even when I tell them not too. In short, you measure the fin area only, and no solid metal edges. When doing this the C3's have (5) five different cores. 18", 22.5", 26", 27.5" and 26.2" which match (alum 68-72) (68 only) (69-72 sb) (69-72 bb & 73-76 all) (77-82)
If you look at the list you will see there is a 26" and a 26.2". Most company will just make one core and make you bend the U brackets an 1/8" on each side to fit, We don't. So to answer the question, the core should be 26.2" between the tanks, without any edges or lips. (fin area)
I don't see any other company offering the hood relief on the inlet (driver side) tank. This flat spot is sometimes required to insure hood hinge clearance. It all depends on how the body was mounted and how many hood shims were required if this is going to be a problem. Sometimes it is and sometimes it's not. When we sold Griffin radiators I'd say we got 2 out of 10 back because the hood wouldn't close.


You can also see all the C3 features at this page
http://www.dewitts.com/pages/downloads.asp

 

and I'm more than happy with it. Sure there was some fabrication...but that doesn't bother me any. It was a bargain too.

 

Learn something everyday....seems the original poster is not in a hurry for this info anyway........