I need to replace my radiator on my '98 because the drain housing cracked. All my orders for p/n 52470606 come back "out of stock". I saw on Amazon p/n 20889 available. What's the difference? Is this an OEM GM part? Wiil this work? Thanks for any recommendations

 

Found this in an fleabay description - looks like same fitment and one might be the GM PN and one the Delco PN

 

Are you looking to keep your GM car all GM?
when my plastic tank on my radiator cracked and sprayed antifreeze everywhere, i just went to O’reilly’s on the way home and bought a direct replacement radiator.
I live in Phoenix, and it gets to 120 degrees dometimes, and the replacement radiator works just fine.
no temp change and I think it was $207 with tax.

 

This is GREAT excuse to upgrade to a DeWitts radiator. Their all metal construction will not crack like the stock unit. It is also MUCH more efficient, and will lower IAT noticeably.

 

Agree on this for a daily/no significant performance mods. I just paid $211 on Amazon for a GM 21451 and it came to my door. I didn't have to spend $5.00 a gallon to go pick it up. The OEM one went 17 years and it gets hot here. The stupid tool to release the auto trans lines was $39 and only came in a pack of 6. I should sell them in pairs so a couple other people don't have to experience that purchase! I only needed to use one of the 6.

 

I looked into this when I replaced my radiator. I became aware of the possible different radiators because I have a stick shift convertible, which required a passage hole configuration other cars didn't need. I think there were at one time three different radiators produced, and with the newer parts, they just added enough passage holes so that one part fits all. The radiators are all the same, the holes are below the cooling area in the plastic.

I toyed with the idea of a different radiator, but since my car is stock, and this is a major component in a system responsible for most major engine damage, I went with keeping the system as designed. I have a stock car, so have no need to start modifying systems as if the engineers were just guessing what to do with the supercomputer time budget and are easily beaten at their system design work by any bird with some cash.

Naturally, I wanted to improve on the plastic that all seemed to crack in the same place for everyone. . But given the amount of miles it served, how relatively cheap it was too replace , I couldn't justify adding the extra filled weight.

I carry enough crap around in the trunk without asking for more burdens, since this is supposed to be a performance car, once in a while.

Speaking of performance , the fuel system, air intakes , the ignition event , all of that stuff is designed for a temperature range the computer understands. . Go outside of the design specifications and you loose efficiency, and efficiency is power.

I am not knocking anyone who likes fancy aluminum radiators just because. I am consistently on the record as solidly pro fun. However, I have only seen aftermarket radiators designed for non stock needs, guys that have different goals than stock and can no longer can run stock parts. I will use an extreme to make my point. You are about to board a jet airplane, and a well wishing person suggests that perhaps lowering the ignition temps might make the engine run better .

I never want to sound preachy, or knock another guys happiness. I just wouldn't want a person with a blown radiator , looking for answers to conclude that what instinctively looks like a better part than stock , is more like running your tires at an incorrect pressure for your needs. A guy drag racing, for instance, might disregard stock tire pressures , but not on the way home.