radiator size
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Joined: Feb 2007
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radiator size
my car came with a small block, no AC. i am putting in a big block with vintage air. i am thinking about cooling problems. the catalogs show a small block radiator at 26" and a big block at 27.5". there has to be something else different besides width, more cores or something, or highth diff. i cant believe,everything else being the same, that 1.5" in size can make that much diff.thanks for your help.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,381
Likes: 416
From: N J
The dewitts is thicker from front to back and will do the job. I put one in my 77 with a healthy 454 in it just a few days ago. The fans come on, and in a few minutes they shut back off again at 165. I have another one in my 68 big block also with the stock mechanical fan. They just work.
Former Vendor
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 5,593
Likes: 631
From: Brighton
It is hard to suggest anything without knowing what year you have, I'm going to assume you fall into the 69-72 era since you are talking about 26 and 27.5 size cores? The 1 1/2 difference doesn't really mount to much in terms of cooling and as mentioned you want to pick out a radiator that matches the core support you have. If you have a manual transmission then you might have the smaller aluminum radiator and side surge tank. That smaller frame won't work and you will need to upgrade the core support to one of the sizes mentioned above. The BB radiator (27.5) has no filler neck and still uses the side surge tank, the SB (26) has the a filler neck and uses no tank. It depends on how you want to set it up
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
My 72 had the small block w/no AC. I bought a DeWitts radiator for that combo before we decided to do the LS1 transplant. I still have no AC but the LS1 is producing 2X+ the horsepower of the stock motor and I have had no cooling problems at all. The fan comes on when the temp gague hits the first hash mark after cold and the needle never goes above that mark.
Rick B.
Rick B.
