s10 radiators
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 25
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From: kansas
s10 radiators Hey guys, I need to choose a radiator or a 1st gen s10 with a cammed 5.3 with a turbo, stalled auto, air conditioning and air to air intercooler. That's a LOT to cool.
Trying to choose a radiator and most searching Ive found most guys are using a 4.3 hd radiator which isn't going to cut it as ive used that before in sbc builds and others are using these conversion radiators like: http://www.wwwsuperiorradiator.com/s10_v-8
only issue with those, is they have a smaller core than a 4.3 radiator. which they are a THICK dual pass rad but not only is the core smaller but that prevents a lot of oem fan assemblies like the intrepid fans ect. The fans they provide don't have a super impressive cfm flow.
Anyways, Do I try my luck with one of these conversion radiators or do I try to find an aluminum rad that's bigger?
Its hard to find one the size I need as I only have 16 or 17 available inches height wise and im wanting both inlet and outlet on passenger side.
Any s10 guys that have AIR CONDITIONING want to chime in? I cant really find anyone with a power adder that retains ac and really drives it daily.
any of you guys with smaller cars like nova's ect with limited size running ac feel free to chime in. Im not really sure what these setups require for core size to cool on a triple digit summer day.
Thanks!
Trying to choose a radiator and most searching Ive found most guys are using a 4.3 hd radiator which isn't going to cut it as ive used that before in sbc builds and others are using these conversion radiators like: http://www.wwwsuperiorradiator.com/s10_v-8
only issue with those, is they have a smaller core than a 4.3 radiator. which they are a THICK dual pass rad but not only is the core smaller but that prevents a lot of oem fan assemblies like the intrepid fans ect. The fans they provide don't have a super impressive cfm flow.
Anyways, Do I try my luck with one of these conversion radiators or do I try to find an aluminum rad that's bigger?
Its hard to find one the size I need as I only have 16 or 17 available inches height wise and im wanting both inlet and outlet on passenger side.
Any s10 guys that have AIR CONDITIONING want to chime in? I cant really find anyone with a power adder that retains ac and really drives it daily.
any of you guys with smaller cars like nova's ect with limited size running ac feel free to chime in. Im not really sure what these setups require for core size to cool on a triple digit summer day.
Thanks!
I think a more important question is how much room do you have between the accessories and the radiator support? An s10 with a 5.3 and turbo makes for a crowded engine bay. Have you mocked up the OE radiator? From what I recall in my s10 days, many guys trimmed the support to push the radiator into it for more room if needed.
If I were in the same position, I'd probably give the 4.3 HD setup a try with a 160* t-stat, beefy aux trans cooler and a good set of shrouded fans. First gen Olds Auroras I found to be good fan donors. There are tons in junk yards because they aren't worth anything (sad, because they were awesome cars), and their radiators had to cool the 4.0L V8s without a grille. I went through a few aftermarket fans before resorting to the junkyard. Lesson learned.
How much power is the setup pushing?
If I were in the same position, I'd probably give the 4.3 HD setup a try with a 160* t-stat, beefy aux trans cooler and a good set of shrouded fans. First gen Olds Auroras I found to be good fan donors. There are tons in junk yards because they aren't worth anything (sad, because they were awesome cars), and their radiators had to cool the 4.0L V8s without a grille. I went through a few aftermarket fans before resorting to the junkyard. Lesson learned.
How much power is the setup pushing?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: kansas
Currently gen 3 rods, 78/75 billet turbo, going to push 5 to 6 rwhp for a while while i prep a gen 4 engine over the winter.
I just know with my 355 6 speed blazer the 4.3 rad with intrepid fans with ac was at its limits on hot days, with sealed rad support and deflector underneath, watter wetter, 180 stat... i just dont know that it would cool an ac ls engine with a power adder.
I just know with my 355 6 speed blazer the 4.3 rad with intrepid fans with ac was at its limits on hot days, with sealed rad support and deflector underneath, watter wetter, 180 stat... i just dont know that it would cool an ac ls engine with a power adder.
Dillon Radiator can mod a radiator with a divorced filler neck if you want to mod the core support and sink the radiator in some. You need a rough idea of the max opening prior to calling. If you sink it in some and want to run the ac condensor you can gain some clearance with a tube grille. It is not as thick as the plastic stocker... I have the modded divorced filler rads in one of my LUV's and my Nissan Hardbody. I had a large aluminum radiator in my last dime in the stock location. just massaged the core some for max width. I had ac on the dime with a Gen one sbc and a stock long water pump serpentine system and no firewall mods...
This one seems legit and about $99 less than the BeCool unit. http://www.wwwsuperiorradiator.com/s10_v-8
Looks like it requires it to be inset in the core support as mentioned.
Looks like it requires it to be inset in the core support as mentioned.
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I have a 2000 s10 with a/c no turbo yet. I used this rad 1-25271-X Griffin and moved it into the support with intriped fans. Iv seen people convert them into dual pass. I would recommend having a separate oil/trans cooler
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SUPERIOR radiator and dont look back!!! They have s10 specific LS swap radiators and they can also customise it if you want to mount your condensor as well. CPW is nice, but not $1k nice with condensor. Superior will run you $600 with fans.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: kansas
Yes I know they are nice guys, but i was just looking for first hand experience if a 15X24" radiator core is big enough to cooler a turbo 5.3 with ac and stall. Thats what im asking. I dont care about ease of install, im debating if a 15X24 will work or if I need to find something like a 17x31 inch core (roughly the biggest I can fit in an s-series.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: kansas
and I have engine as far back as it will go as I knew an air to air intercooler would be impossible to fit otherwise. Which is proving to be a challenge to fit a crossover AND downpipe of respectable size between the frame rail and block/trans. Already chopped the bellhousing side for more clearance. Love/hate relationship for minitrucks
My first idea was to mount the air to air horizontally between the frame rails behind the bumper with a scoop to get air to it. I recently talk to a guy that has.a twin turbo car and he want air to water cooler and says he likes it even on the street, I know people say it's not very friendly for street use.but might be worth looking into. As far as the down pipe I haven't gotten an idea about that yet if you figure something out I would like to know.
and I have engine as far back as it will go as I knew an air to air intercooler would be impossible to fit otherwise. Which is proving to be a challenge to fit a crossover AND downpipe of respectable size between the frame rail and block/trans. Already chopped the bellhousing side for more clearance. Love/hate relationship for minitrucks
Mine isn't turbo, but I got the Superior Radiator. Not great IMO, the hoses they told me to buy were all wrong and their included fans sucked. Plus the neck was definitely in the way of where an intake should go, to the driver's side. In the end, I ended up moving the battery to the back.
The relevant part here is that I mounted it flush with the core support. After that and some modification of the hood latch bracket, I got an 87 or 88 Jeep Comanche condenser to fit in front of the radiator.
Mine is a 2000 and I have Fbody accessories, so I'm not entirely relevant... just saying there's a condenser out there that will accommodate the Superior Radiator, even if I'm not a fan of it.
The relevant part here is that I mounted it flush with the core support. After that and some modification of the hood latch bracket, I got an 87 or 88 Jeep Comanche condenser to fit in front of the radiator.
Mine is a 2000 and I have Fbody accessories, so I'm not entirely relevant... just saying there's a condenser out there that will accommodate the Superior Radiator, even if I'm not a fan of it.
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 349
Likes: 19
I'm planning to run AC in my '89 LQ4 swap, but I am going to use the AC box out of either Jeep Liberty or 1st Gen Neon. They mount flat on the inside, so I can shave my firewall.
My plan is to run the Superior radiator as well, and it's convenient because they're sorta local to work.
I'm subscribing to this thread so I can hear about your results as mine are a ways off.
Jay
My plan is to run the Superior radiator as well, and it's convenient because they're sorta local to work.
I'm subscribing to this thread so I can hear about your results as mine are a ways off.
Jay
pic of the finished rig...