Radiator for 86 4+3
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,516
Likes: 0
From: Lockport NY
Re: Radiator for 86 4+3 (72tccracer)
GMPartsDirect lists '86 Radiator Part # 52453612 as -
52453612 RADIATOR List $238.08 Wholesale $166.65 GMPartsDirect $119.04
That sounds awful low; I'd check with Jeff Kopp on that...
52453612 RADIATOR List $238.08 Wholesale $166.65 GMPartsDirect $119.04
That sounds awful low; I'd check with Jeff Kopp on that...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 958
Likes: 1
From: SF Bay area, CA USA
Re: Radiator for 86 4+3 (72tccracer)
Try replacing your thermostat. Use a 180 or cooler thermostat. I think the stock one is 205 degree,
Do the cooling fans come on? They are designed to come on around 215 or when the AC is turned on. Does your car have one fan in front and one behind the radiator? If it does you can buy the temp switch from mid america that turn the boost fan (front one) on around 180 degrees. You can also get a reprogramed chip to turn the fans on earlier.
Do the cooling fans come on? They are designed to come on around 215 or when the AC is turned on. Does your car have one fan in front and one behind the radiator? If it does you can buy the temp switch from mid america that turn the boost fan (front one) on around 180 degrees. You can also get a reprogramed chip to turn the fans on earlier.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,516
Likes: 0
From: Lockport NY
Re: Radiator for 86 4+3 (72tccracer)
My stock rad is in good cond. It just does not keep the car cool.
Do this before ordering a radiator...And you have to pull the radiator to get the dirt, mud, and sludge out of the cooling fins...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 252
Likes: 0
From: VillaPark,IL U.S.A. IL
Re: Radiator for 86 4+3 (Rich B.)
Yes all cleaned out, no a/c condensor fan hardwired on all the time. 160 thermostat. Tried also with a restrictor instead of thermostat. One thing to keep in mind is this is strickly a road race car making 450 h.p. or so.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 8,540
Likes: 1
From: And on the fifth day, subpoenas were served to Obama senior staff
Re: Radiator for 86 4+3 (72tccracer)
Scorp is right, fan on always is hurting you. But, you need a larger radiator for that much HP and your use.
Griffin, BeCool and others are your market. You need to talk with them about your use and HP and see what they can do. If I recall, adding a row will only increase cooling by about 25% and it goes downhill from there! Good news is a great aluminum 4 row is probably all you need. Bad news is you will need to fabricate the mounts and shrouds a bit.
BTW, restrictors are BS. High flow pumps and no thermostat is what you need, but you need to run 16 psi or greater if your system is designed for it.
If you are prepaired to flush the coolant constantly run deionized H2O and Water wetter and forget the radiator upgrades (don't use coolant, water is better, water wetter provides the lubrication and wetting and short term corrosion protection, but you will not have serious freeze protection).
Griffin, BeCool and others are your market. You need to talk with them about your use and HP and see what they can do. If I recall, adding a row will only increase cooling by about 25% and it goes downhill from there! Good news is a great aluminum 4 row is probably all you need. Bad news is you will need to fabricate the mounts and shrouds a bit.
BTW, restrictors are BS. High flow pumps and no thermostat is what you need, but you need to run 16 psi or greater if your system is designed for it.
If you are prepaired to flush the coolant constantly run deionized H2O and Water wetter and forget the radiator upgrades (don't use coolant, water is better, water wetter provides the lubrication and wetting and short term corrosion protection, but you will not have serious freeze protection).
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,215
Likes: 6
From: Tampa Florida
Re: Radiator for 86 4+3 (72tccracer)
I have the top of the line Griffin in my 96. It is huge and required a huge hole to fit it in:)Mainly fan shroud and radiator grommet shave.
Haven't really run it yet, but the quality certainly was there.
Dewitts (forum vender) carries them and offered an excellent forum deal last year-might ask him what he will do for you. I was pleased with the transaction.
Haven't really run it yet, but the quality certainly was there.
Dewitts (forum vender) carries them and offered an excellent forum deal last year-might ask him what he will do for you. I was pleased with the transaction.