'71 Vandura: Seeking Radiator Comments

"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura) 04/25/2017 at 10:15 • Filed to: None

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This is the original radiator in the ‘71 Vandura and I want to replace it. Or have it rebuilt. Is that one row of tubes and tanks that can accommodate two rows? My inclination is to have the radiator rebuilt with a new core and a second row of tubes. There are aluminum radiators available for likely a bit less money. What are your thoughts on aluminum versus copper? What are your thoughts on adding an additional row of cooling tubes. Eventually, I want to add an air conditioner.

Sweet Trav > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 04/25/2017 at 10:18

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http://www.championradiators.com/ I run one of these in my Monte, car hardly hits 190.

Run a 2 or 3 core with an electric fan if you want to add AC.

Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 04/25/2017 at 10:19

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Anymore, I’d just measure it and note the inlet/outlet locations then buy a cheap aluminum replacement. In my opinion it’s easier and better in every way.

crowmolly > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 04/25/2017 at 10:24

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I’d check out some of the aluminum replacements that Summit has in their catalog. Not a Griffin or Be Cool but a Champion or maybe a Summit house brand.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 04/25/2017 at 10:27

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I just replaced the radiator in my 1970 Corvette and it looked kinda similar to yours! What I did was re-core the original radiator with a denser cooling package. Basically the stock 1970's GM fins are not dense enough to cool very well, you can put more modern dense fins in using the same tanks to retain the same size. I run a 4-core in my 350-HP Corvette with no issues. You should be fine with a 3-core copper radiator. Aluminum is unnecessary really. I paid $500 CDN to re-core mine but you could likely do it cheaper. Hopefully this helps you out and I can answer any questions about the process too. New Corvette radiator pictured.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > crowmolly 04/25/2017 at 12:56

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Not a Griffin? Are those poor parts?

I’ll look. Thanks for the tip.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 04/25/2017 at 12:58

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Thank you. I think my existing radiator is two-core and the tanks can handle four. It’s hard for me to imagine that you could have too much radiator. I am leaning toward re-coring the existing.

crowmolly > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 04/25/2017 at 12:59

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Griffin and Be Cool are both great. They’re also the most expensive :)

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 04/25/2017 at 13:06

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Yeah you have a two-core for sure. Re-coring is what I’d recommend. Aluminum would be overkill.

crowmolly > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 04/25/2017 at 13:10

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Oh, and if you are going to be running an automatic trans now would be the time to buy a radiator with a built-in cooler (if you don’t want to run an external).

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 04/25/2017 at 14:26

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It looks to me as if those tanks could accommodate four cores...

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > crowmolly 04/25/2017 at 14:28

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NEVER!

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 04/25/2017 at 14:33

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And using the original radiator is somehow appealing to me, though recoring with four cores is probably over $400.

MM54 > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 04/25/2017 at 18:11

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I had the chevelle’s (also a ‘71) re-cored by a guy who turns out to have worked in the plant it was made in originally. It costs a bit more but is guaranteed to fit, and I don’t see why you couldn’t step up a row or two.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > MM54 04/25/2017 at 19:02

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It looks to me that my existing radiator is already two rows and the tanks might even accept four. I am much more inclined to rebuild the original that to wrestle with something aftermarket. With three or four rows, that would be a behemoth radiator.