Universal radiator in a square body
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Staging Lane
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 61
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Universal radiator in a square body I just can't see spending $700. On a radiator for my square body chevy truck . !!!! Not when they make universal ls1 radiators for half the price. Is there a universal ls1 radiator that works in a 73 - 87 chevy truck 2wheel drive standard transmission.?
I need name and part number
I need name and part number
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 22,295
Likes: 3,617
From: Central Cal.
Do a little research and check overall dimensions and inlet/outlet placement. Don't expect it to fit "just right". It costs bucks to make a radiator that will bolt in to the truck AND hook up to the LS engine in a neat manner.
Cheap - Works - Fits well ---- Pick any two...
Cheap - Works - Fits well ---- Pick any two...
I'm using one from an 05+ full size truck with the electric fan out of that truck. For both the fan and radiator new from rockauto was like $250 for the pair. Have to do a little modifications to fit but it looks great. The core support has mounting holes for the hold downs for both the smaller and larger radiators that came on ls trucks.
I am using the larger squarebody radiator, I believe it was found in the diesels. I had it rebuilt years ago. It uses the one metal piece on the top to hold the radiator to the core support. I also used 98-02 Fbody efans.
I pulled the LS1 fbody water pump off and used 3/4" water pump spacers from ICTbillet with a '10+ Camaro water pump. This made for a much shorter top hose running to the top driverside of the radiator, the hose is from a '10+ Camaro as well.
I paid $100 for the water pump, $30 or so for the spacers, $25 or so for the belt, $100 for the efans. $20 or so for the two relays and wiring them up. I think I have maybe $100 in the radiator but I'd have to look back and see.
Excuse the mess, West texas is dirty and blows crap all over everything.
Last edited by lowchevytrucks8503; Aug 16, 2017 at 10:08 PM.
Teching In
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 11
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I used this one in my 85 with my 4.8 swap:
http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo....059825&jsn=458
It's the larger stock radiator for a small block 81-87 Chevy Truck.
$129 shipped from rockauto or 132 from amazon. I used stock hoses from a 2005 Silverado.
I run a single 14" electric fan from Jegs mounted on a really simple bracket I made. It isn't even that tight to the radiator and no problems cooling stopped in 100 degree ambient temps.
http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo....059825&jsn=458
It's the larger stock radiator for a small block 81-87 Chevy Truck.
$129 shipped from rockauto or 132 from amazon. I used stock hoses from a 2005 Silverado.
I run a single 14" electric fan from Jegs mounted on a really simple bracket I made. It isn't even that tight to the radiator and no problems cooling stopped in 100 degree ambient temps.
I used this one in my 85 with my 4.8 swap:
http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo....059825&jsn=458
It's the larger stock radiator for a small block 81-87 Chevy Truck.
$129 shipped from rockauto or 132 from amazon. I used stock hoses from a 2005 Silverado.
I run a single 14" electric fan from Jegs mounted on a really simple bracket I made. It isn't even that tight to the radiator and no problems cooling stopped in 100 degree ambient temps.
http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo....059825&jsn=458
It's the larger stock radiator for a small block 81-87 Chevy Truck.
$129 shipped from rockauto or 132 from amazon. I used stock hoses from a 2005 Silverado.
I run a single 14" electric fan from Jegs mounted on a really simple bracket I made. It isn't even that tight to the radiator and no problems cooling stopped in 100 degree ambient temps.
I think my radiator is the same as this one! If you guys look at the crate ls3 water pump and '10+ Camaro upper radiator hose I used, it shows that I used 3/4" spacers to make the pulleys line up. But the '10+ Camaro pump lines up with the truck accessories perfectly. So if you don't want the hose running across the radiator/fan shroud, this is an option.
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Teching In
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 11
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You radiator is bigger. It's the old copper brass 4 core.
The spectra CU 730 is the replacement for that one. I just noticed it's slightly cheaper on amazon than the one I linked above. It would work fine. It's a 2 core aluminum and plastic one. Some people hate on them, I've got 5 or 6 in different trucks and they have been fine for me. At just over 100 bucks, they are cheap enough that I wouldn't cry too hard if one fails.
The spectra CU 730 is the replacement for that one. I just noticed it's slightly cheaper on amazon than the one I linked above. It would work fine. It's a 2 core aluminum and plastic one. Some people hate on them, I've got 5 or 6 in different trucks and they have been fine for me. At just over 100 bucks, they are cheap enough that I wouldn't cry too hard if one fails.
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Verdad Gallardo You radiator is bigger. It's the old copper brass 4 core.
The spectra CU 730 is the replacement for that one. I just noticed it's slightly cheaper on amazon than the one I linked above. It would work fine. It's a 2 core aluminum and plastic one. Some people hate on them, I've got 5 or 6 in different trucks and they have been fine for me. At just over 100 bucks, they are cheap enough that I wouldn't cry too hard if one fails.
The spectra CU 730 is the replacement for that one. I just noticed it's slightly cheaper on amazon than the one I linked above. It would work fine. It's a 2 core aluminum and plastic one. Some people hate on them, I've got 5 or 6 in different trucks and they have been fine for me. At just over 100 bucks, they are cheap enough that I wouldn't cry too hard if one fails.
Do you think my 4 core will work fine?