Question about Radiator
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 3
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From: Huntsville, AL
Question about Radiator
I have a 1971 that was originally a 350 four speed. The previous owner swapped out the engine for a 396 big block. As i am going through the car, i realized it needs a new radiator. My question, can i go with the same radiator in aluminum so my support and hose location work, or do i need to move up to a big block radiator? Also, can i improve cooling with an electric fan instead of the mechanical one that is on the car?
Had a 1976 L-82, 4-sp
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: Some days your the dog and some days your the hydrant.
Royal Canadian Navy
Move up to the biggest aluminium rad that will fit your car. Cold Case makes a nice rad that uses 1-1/4" tubes. Don't overpay for an aluminium rad because a lot of folks in here did buying a Dewitt rad. Electric fans don't cool any better than a good mechanical clutch fan with a proper shroud. Don't be fooled. There is a sticky on rads and cooling. Suggest you read it before parting with your money.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Was New Orleans but swam to Baton Rouge LA
Cruise-In IX Veteran
I have a 1971 that was originally a 350 four speed. The previous owner swapped out the engine for a 396 big block. As i am going through the car, i realized it needs a new radiator. My question, can i go with the same radiator in aluminum so my support and hose location work, or do i need to move up to a big block radiator? Also, can i improve cooling with an electric fan instead of the mechanical one that is on the car?
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2015
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From: SW Florida.
https://www.southerncarparts.com/c3-...t-for-l88.html this is what the skinny rad support looks like. i believe the few inches of sheet metal can be trimmed for a 27 inch wide radiator.
measure your core width.
measure your core width.
Last edited by derekderek; May 19, 2021 at 07:55 PM.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Apr 2021
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From: Huntsville, AL
I appreciate the feedback. It looked like the radiator support was modified to fit the small block radiator with side plates. Should be easy to modify for a larger radiator. I will just have to figure out the fastening system. The current one has two pins at the bottom and a center fastening point at the top.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Crossville TN
It's not brain surgery. Just get it to fit with the largest opening that is easily achievable, buy a good quality 3 or 4 row aluminum radiator, use a good (and well matched) fan and shroud, and seal up the gaps around it. Install a 180*F thermostat and all should be good.
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
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2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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You need a big block radiator.....trust me. But also make sure all the seal are in front of the support, top and especially bottom. I have a 68 so its completely different but your radiator should fill the opening from fender to fender I believe.. 68s sat in between the frame rails so its very limited compared to the later models
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Crossville TN
Number of 'rows' is a function of how the rad is designed and whether the rows are relatively small or larger. Smaller rows have more surface area (per volume) than larger row units. So, you can buy whatever design aluminum radiator you want. But, an aluminum radiator is what you NEED if you want to enhance cooling capacity.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
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From: North tonawanda NY
And besides every engineering dept for car manufacturer out there that has deemed the mechanical clutch fan obsolete years ago, There are some including myself who have actual first hand experience with both stock mechanial and and electric fans on the same car that would disagree with the statement above that one doesnt have cooling advantages over the other. its an old argument with folks with different opinions, like those that feel fuel injection offers no advantages over a carb .. For some the advantages are a moot point or not worth it. and for others the simplicity of the design works in their favor. But they are not equal in every respect.
But thats really secondary to needing an aluminum radiator with increased heat transfer/cooling capabilies to offset the additional heat btus being generated. This is because either fan setup will work and prevent overheating if properly implemented.
But thats really secondary to needing an aluminum radiator with increased heat transfer/cooling capabilies to offset the additional heat btus being generated. This is because either fan setup will work and prevent overheating if properly implemented.
Last edited by augiedoggy; May 22, 2021 at 11:52 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
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From: Lafayette Louisiana
IMO, go buy a DeWitts big block radiator, a big block radiator support and a big block radiator shroud. DeWitts also makes an electric fan setup to go with the radiator, but I have found just the OEM mechanical fan to work great in south Louisiana.
Can not find my old reference link, but check your 71 AIM and vendor catalogs Zip, Corvette Central, Vol Vette and I believe there are 3 different radiator supports: smallest radiator pin mount, larger radiator support for sbc a/c and LT-1 and largest radiator support for the big block radiator. The bottom radiator support arms on the sbc a/c and bbc radiator are I think for a 26 and a 27 radiator and are different distances apart. The top radiator support also changes to accomodate the different radiators/ Yes, you could fabricate a support for whatever radiator you get, but it is easiest to just get the right radiator support to begin with. And a lot of times the bottom of the old radiator support is rusted out so that would be more repairs. I have had great luck going with DeWitts and I decided if I spent a lot on a great radiator, that it was smart to get the right and new radiator support for it. My 2 cents and hope this might help.
Can not find my old reference link, but check your 71 AIM and vendor catalogs Zip, Corvette Central, Vol Vette and I believe there are 3 different radiator supports: smallest radiator pin mount, larger radiator support for sbc a/c and LT-1 and largest radiator support for the big block radiator. The bottom radiator support arms on the sbc a/c and bbc radiator are I think for a 26 and a 27 radiator and are different distances apart. The top radiator support also changes to accomodate the different radiators/ Yes, you could fabricate a support for whatever radiator you get, but it is easiest to just get the right radiator support to begin with. And a lot of times the bottom of the old radiator support is rusted out so that would be more repairs. I have had great luck going with DeWitts and I decided if I spent a lot on a great radiator, that it was smart to get the right and new radiator support for it. My 2 cents and hope this might help.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 6,299
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From: Michigan
Number of 'rows' is a function of how the rad is designed and whether the rows are relatively small or larger. Smaller rows have more surface area (per volume) than larger row units. So, you can buy whatever design aluminum radiator you want. But, an aluminum radiator is what you NEED if you want to enhance cooling capacity.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 6,299
Likes: 416
From: Michigan
Move up to the biggest aluminium rad that will fit your car. Cold Case makes a nice rad that uses 1-1/4" tubes. Don't overpay for an aluminium rad because a lot of folks in here did buying a Dewitt rad. Electric fans don't cool any better than a good mechanical clutch fan with a proper shroud. Don't be fooled. There is a sticky on rads and cooling. Suggest you read it before parting with your money.
Had a 1976 L-82, 4-sp
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 5,338
Likes: 1,213
From: Some days your the dog and some days your the hydrant.
Royal Canadian Navy
I have no dispute over the quality of a Dewitt rad but they are expensive (excluding the private label) especially the models with 1-1/4" tubes for C3's. I just didn't see the value for the price so I went with a Cold Case. But if that rad fails prematurely, I would be taking a closer look at the Dewitt rad.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
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From: Crossville TN
DeWitt's are great, if you want the BEST and most original configuration replacement radiator. But, you will pay extra for those benefits. If 'factory original' isn't your thing, buy a Champion aluminum radiator or similar aftermarket replacement and save a BUNCH of money. I have been very pleased with Champion's quality and cooling efficiency.
Last edited by 7T1vette; May 23, 2021 at 03:00 PM.