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Topic: Ok, Check out my radiator pics - I think its the wrong rad.

in Forum: C3 Cooling and Heating Systems


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Ok, Check out my radiator pics - I think its the wrong rad. (1/17)
 5/19/14 4:51pm
HighDesertDave
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Carson City, NV - USA

Vette(s):
Numbers matching 1972 350 4 speed, silver pewter body with blue interior


Joined: 12/4/2013
Posts: 239

First - core measurments are 15" tall by 18" wide, 23" outside to outside of tanks (max width). AFter looking at Ecklers and else ware it would seem my core is about .75" short top to bottom and too narrow on the outside max dimension.
72 4 spd, no AC.
Now, here is what I'm seeing. Tell me what you see.

1) I found the top rad baffle in my spare parts and installed. The rad core is too short and leaves about a 1.5" gap between it and the baffles bottom turned edge. 
2) The tank on the left should be to the left of the baffle (rad not wide enough), not hitting it, allowing the baffle to seal the top of the core.
3) Should the tanks be sitting on top of those thicker vertical foam seals? Would seem so vs. pushed up next to it like mine.
4) You can't see this, the top of rad, at the rear edge of the core, should be under the flipped edge of the shroud. There is a 1" thick foam seal to seal this up. With it installed, there is a .75" gap still. I would need 2 stacked seals to fill the gap.
5) The right tank is under the shrouds edge. The shroud should not be on the tank but on the core. It pushes the shroud away from the rad....leaving a gap. The right tank is kinda hitting the corner of its vertical foam seal. Not next to it or on top of it.
Conclusion: to me, it appears my rad should be about 3.5" wider and 1" taller to fit with these OEM cooling pieces. The rad is a copper replacement installed by the PO. It is pin mounted on the bottom with the little tower top center.






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My Christmas present to ME! Bought Sat 11-30-2013. 72, 350 4 spd, Silver with blue interior...Can't you just hear Pablo Cruz playing in the background?

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Re: Ok, Check out my radiator pics - I think its the wrong rad. (2/17)
 5/19/14 9:39pm
dyoes
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Zachary, LA - USA

Vette(s):
1974 L-48 Auto. Just your basic Vette. GM crate motor w/vortec heads and intake. Crane cam. Scorpion rockers, Edelbrock carb. Lots of parts still in boxes... :(


Joined: 1/27/2013
Posts: 201

Whoa...  That is completely NOT the stock radiator for your car.  Look at the inlet.  See how it comes straight out?  Corvette inlets came out, turned almost 90 degrees toward the center of the car, and actually tilted upwards towards the hood. 

Also, look at the two bolt holes (at an angle to each other) on the edge of your shroud.  Those are for the brackets (missing on your car) that hold the radiator in place.  The one in your car is way too small. 

Very bad picture of mine below.  (Ignore the shroud and fan, it's obviously not stock.)  I have a '74, but am familiar with earlier cars and the radiators are almost identical.  See how much bigger it is?  And how it's held in at the top by the brackets on the outside of the core support. 

May want to get Joel to confirm, but I'm pretty sure that is not a Corvette radiator in your car.









|UPDATED|5/19/2014 6:39:43 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Re: Ok, Check out my radiator pics - I think its the wrong rad. (3/17)
 5/19/14 10:41pm
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


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Well....I say it does NOT appear to be the correct raditater for your '72. Ouch It should definitely be wider, and the seals should fit between the rad and the core support. Iirc, the earlier cars did NOT have the two separate brackets to hold the rad in...just one in the center....I may be wrong.
Something is absolutely NOT correct there....Dead


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Re: Ok, Check out my radiator pics - I think its the wrong rad. (4/17)
 5/20/14 1:36am
HighDesertDave
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Carson City, NV - USA

Vette(s):
Numbers matching 1972 350 4 speed, silver pewter body with blue interior


Joined: 12/4/2013
Posts: 239

Oddly, I do have the single center tower on the top center. It just rides inside a bracket....kinda more like a safety stop because it does not really touch each other. Anyway, that one thing does seem correct for the smallest radiator, which my car would have had since its a 4 spd no AC car. And my rad does have its bolt holes for pin mounting in the correct place. I think it may be just a low end replacement rad. It does have a sticker on the side that says something like "AC Made" or similar.
Just to verify, you feel confident that the rad tanks should be on top of those foam vertical seals right? With a like 4" more width that would happen as would the shroud laying up against the core on the right side. I think the straight out top outlet is correct though for the smallest OE rad. Unfortunately no one seems to post the dimensions of these particular rads.... See here:

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My Christmas present to ME! Bought Sat 11-30-2013. 72, 350 4 spd, Silver with blue interior...Can't you just hear Pablo Cruz playing in the background?

Re: Ok, Check out my radiator pics - I think its the wrong rad. (5/17)
 5/20/14 9:52am
dyoes
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Zachary, LA - USA

Vette(s):
1974 L-48 Auto. Just your basic Vette. GM crate motor w/vortec heads and intake. Crane cam. Scorpion rockers, Edelbrock carb. Lots of parts still in boxes... :(


Joined: 1/27/2013
Posts: 201

I looked again. If the drawings I found are correct, the aluminum radiator came with the center mount and the copper radiator came with the edge mount. Maybe the copper was for automatic or A/C cars? Both drawings showed the inlet being a 90 degree curve. Some replacements appear to have the straight shot inlets. Dunno...

Regardless, something's not right. You felt the top and bottom hoses? Both hot as hell when the car is at temperature? At least you'll know you're getting some flow through the radiator that way.

From your pictures, my gut tells me that the radiator is way too small. Both drawings I've found show, like Joel said, that the radiator goes all the way to the edge of the mounts and that the foam goes between the water boxes and the mounting.

The other obvious issue is air flow. I know you said the fan clutch is new, but that doesn't mean it's working. :-)

Before you invest in a new radiator, I'd suggest having the entire cooling system professionally flushed to see if you can clean it up some.

|UPDATED|5/20/2014 6:52:16 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Re: Ok, Check out my radiator pics - I think its the wrong rad. (6/17)
 5/20/14 11:46am
Sarge81Lifetime Member
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WEST SENECA, NY - USA

Vette(s):
1981 Blue Ice Met. w/pearl ghost flames TKO500 5speed. LS1 Swap 3.45 Dana 44.


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The straight outlet on the top I believe is for the later C3's. I know my friends '80 and my '81 originally had the straight outlet. I put a aluminum Be-Cool radiator in my friends '80. That came with the 90 degree elbow so I had to use a early C3 radiator hose as per Be-Cool's instructions. Awhile back I had my local radiator shop change my original straight fitting to a 90 degree elbow for my LS1 swap for easier installation. 

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Re: Ok, Check out my radiator pics - I think its the wrong rad. (7/17)
 5/20/14 12:33pm
F4GaryGold Member
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Grapevine, TX - USA

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1972 LT-1 convertible with factory air.


Joined: 8/26/2006
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According to my Rik's Corvette parts catalog, you should have an 18" wide core aluminum radiator.  That is for a manual, no a/c base 350 '72.  The automatic tranny or a/c cars had a 26" wide brass and copper core radiator.  Big blocks had a 27.5" core.  So you may have the right size radiator and it just needs to be rebuilt or replaced.

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Re: Ok, Check out my radiator pics - I think its the wrong rad. (8/17)
 5/20/14 1:32pm
HighDesertDave
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Carson City, NV - USA

Vette(s):
Numbers matching 1972 350 4 speed, silver pewter body with blue interior


Joined: 12/4/2013
Posts: 239

Hey Gary, does it list the height of the rad in your catalog? The one in my car is short for sure at 15". None of the top sealing parts come close to to the top of the core. It appears to be like an inch short. If you look at my left side pic you can see how big the gap is under the baffle bolted to the core support. Also, I've noticed that the aluminum OE rads have minimal tanks on the ends...they do not protrude like the brass ones. That would make sens with the vertical foam end seals. Does your catalog show straight or curved top inlet pipe?
As far as flushing, the PO had been restoring this car for many years. When I bought it the engine had been rebuilt and recently installed with all these new parts including the rad, clutch fan etc. He told me when he was sorting out the over heating they had replaced the old clutch fan and installed the new Delco unit at a shop which had tested it. They said it improved the running temp. I dunno...but from the clutch fans I've replaced, they typically spin very free when cool if they are bad, or leak oil or make a ton of noise. This seems proper. Plus I've added the electric fan to the front. I think part of its overheating issue is a lack of proper sealing to the core support and shroud, but since it appears too small you cannot get it to seal using the stock sheet metal parts and foam.

______________
My Christmas present to ME! Bought Sat 11-30-2013. 72, 350 4 spd, Silver with blue interior...Can't you just hear Pablo Cruz playing in the background?

Re: Ok, Check out my radiator pics - I think its the wrong rad. (9/17)
 5/20/14 2:31pm
F4GaryGold Member
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Grapevine, TX - USA

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1972 LT-1 convertible with factory air.


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Re: Ok, Check out my radiator pics - I think its the wrong rad. (10/17)
 5/20/14 4:50pm
HighDesertDave
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Carson City, NV - USA

Vette(s):
Numbers matching 1972 350 4 speed, silver pewter body with blue interior


Joined: 12/4/2013
Posts: 239

Thanks Gary, great info! 

______________
My Christmas present to ME! Bought Sat 11-30-2013. 72, 350 4 spd, Silver with blue interior...Can't you just hear Pablo Cruz playing in the background?

Re: Ok, Check out my radiator pics - I think its the wrong rad. (11/17)
 5/20/14 6:37pm
F4GaryGold Member
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Grapevine, TX - USA

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1972 LT-1 convertible with factory air.


Joined: 8/26/2006
Posts: 1406

Hey Dave, I used to fly a Cessna Citation out of Carson City back in 82.  My parent's and grandparent's old stomping grounds were the Portola/Grey Eagle area.  I know the area well, we got married on the shore of Lake Tahoe.  That park area just north of the tunnel/cave (I forget what it's called).

|UPDATED|5/20/2014 3:37:09 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Re: Ok, Check out my radiator pics - I think its the wrong rad. (12/17)
 5/21/14 1:44am
HighDesertDave
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Carson City, NV - USA

Vette(s):
Numbers matching 1972 350 4 speed, silver pewter body with blue interior


Joined: 12/4/2013
Posts: 239

Cave Rock? There is a small turn out with a nice view not far from the tunnel. I used to see wedding parties out there often in the summer. I commuted from Carson to Heavenly ski resort for 10 years. Ya we have a nice little airport here. Quite a few antiquers and war birds. Weaver bros. restore ex military albatross's out there still. Many of the Reno air race T-6's live out there. My office is about 2 minutes from the airport. I still run outside like a kid when I hear a built radial pulling into the thin air. You never know when a sea furry with a hidden corn cob's gonna take a test run.
I proposed to my wife on the north fork of the yuba. 14 years ago. We canoe up in gold lakes basin and sometimes stay in the grey eagle area. I'm a big fan of Plumas Eureka state park and the iron door there in Johnsville. Spendy but tasty. That area is one of the local hidden gems up this way.

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My Christmas present to ME! Bought Sat 11-30-2013. 72, 350 4 spd, Silver with blue interior...Can't you just hear Pablo Cruz playing in the background?

Re: Ok, Check out my radiator pics - I think its the wrong rad. (13/17)
 5/21/14 12:14pm
F4GaryGold Member
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Grapevine, TX - USA

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1972 LT-1 convertible with factory air.


Joined: 8/26/2006
Posts: 1406

I've been to all those places!  And I crewed T6's for 17 years from '81 to '97 at the air races.

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Re: Ok, Check out my radiator pics - I think its the wrong rad. (14/17)
 5/21/14 6:36pm
HighDesertDave
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Carson City, NV - USA

Vette(s):
Numbers matching 1972 350 4 speed, silver pewter body with blue interior


Joined: 12/4/2013
Posts: 239

I love the air races. Talk about gettin your patrotic on. Kinda teatering on the edge of failure right now. Last year had a low turn out even though the weather was perfect. I think people are scared. Not me. I could die on the way to work...screw it. I'm there. We need an F4j to show up sometime. I never see F4's. Hey whatever happened to Dago Red? I've tried to search her out but cannot find any info on her. I think I saw her fly twice, always in the gold and now poof, vanished. Hey check this out, my gramps (living) test flew the 3rd ever commissioned P-80. He was stationed at Muroc after WWII (B-17 pilot). He was one the staff report writers for all the early jet testing post war. Flew some modified F4u's down there too. Said the were the fastest prop jobs he ever piloted. When I can get him talking there is a ton of history waiting to unfold.

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My Christmas present to ME! Bought Sat 11-30-2013. 72, 350 4 spd, Silver with blue interior...Can't you just hear Pablo Cruz playing in the background?

Re: Ok, Check out my radiator pics - I think its the wrong rad. (15/17)
 5/22/14 1:02pm
F4GaryGold Member
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Grapevine, TX - USA

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1972 LT-1 convertible with factory air.


Joined: 8/26/2006
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Dave, I found this on Dago Red:

http://www.mustangsmustangs.net/p-51/?news/112233931/dagored_021111


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Re: Ok, Check out my radiator pics - I think its the wrong rad. (16/17)
 5/22/14 1:06pm
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20126

 

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Joel Adams
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Re: Ok, Check out my radiator pics - I think its the wrong rad. (17/17)
 5/22/14 1:54pm
F4GaryGold Member
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Grapevine, TX - USA

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1972 LT-1 convertible with factory air.


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...and just as interesting.  Wink

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