2001 V6 Firebird Radiator??
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2001 V6 Firebird Radiator?? Hi guys,
Daughter's 2001 3.8 V6 Firebird, auto trans.. Broken friggin' plastic radiator tank.
So, it gets to 130 degrees frequently here; 115 even at night. We want to replace the radiator with a good aluminum one, but hopefully at a fair price and without too many modifications. (The kid is struggling.)
With the radical temps here though, we need a good radiator. Amazon shows one for 168 bucks. It is 3 row and all aluminum, but it's for a V8. Will that fit a V6 car without too much fuss, or is there a better option??
https://www.amazon.com/Radiator-1993-2002-Camaro-Pontiac-Firebird/dp/B098DX92S8/ref=asc_df_B098DX92S8?mcid=85239eacae2533468f97baa 8c32e99e8&hvocijid=18003244783565745755-B098DX92S8-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw= g&hvrand=18003244783565745755&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqm t=&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9191285&hv targid=pla-2281435176698&psc=1
I usually avoid buying car parts from Amazon, but it looks like Rock Auto only has plastic.
Help?
Thanks,
Vettepilot
Daughter's 2001 3.8 V6 Firebird, auto trans.. Broken friggin' plastic radiator tank.
So, it gets to 130 degrees frequently here; 115 even at night. We want to replace the radiator with a good aluminum one, but hopefully at a fair price and without too many modifications. (The kid is struggling.)
With the radical temps here though, we need a good radiator. Amazon shows one for 168 bucks. It is 3 row and all aluminum, but it's for a V8. Will that fit a V6 car without too much fuss, or is there a better option??
https://www.amazon.com/Radiator-1993-2002-Camaro-Pontiac-Firebird/dp/B098DX92S8/ref=asc_df_B098DX92S8?mcid=85239eacae2533468f97baa 8c32e99e8&hvocijid=18003244783565745755-B098DX92S8-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw= g&hvrand=18003244783565745755&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqm t=&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9191285&hv targid=pla-2281435176698&psc=1
I usually avoid buying car parts from Amazon, but it looks like Rock Auto only has plastic.
Help?
Thanks,
Vettepilot
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You have a point. However:
Living in this desert, quite close to the certified hottest place on earth, had I personally bought this car new I would have specc'ed every high performance cooling option they had, just to be safe. Since I was not the original buyer, now is a great chance to upgrade the cooling system.
Besides that, I am an old school hot rodder, and we take any opportunity, such as routine parts replacement, to make the car better. Her stereo recently went bad. Do you think we fixed it with stock replacement? Oh no, no, no. And she really rocks now!!
Vettepilot
Living in this desert, quite close to the certified hottest place on earth, had I personally bought this car new I would have specc'ed every high performance cooling option they had, just to be safe. Since I was not the original buyer, now is a great chance to upgrade the cooling system.
Besides that, I am an old school hot rodder, and we take any opportunity, such as routine parts replacement, to make the car better. Her stereo recently went bad. Do you think we fixed it with stock replacement? Oh no, no, no. And she really rocks now!!
Vettepilot
Just a quick glance at the radiators for the 3800 vs LS1 and it seems the biggest difference is there's an additional hose connection on the LS1 radiator on the driver side, maybe, and looks like a built-in hose clip on the passenger side bottom of the V6 radiator. The main hose connections seem to be similar.
At any rate, I don't see why you couldn't use one designed for an LS1 car and if there is an extra bung just block it off.
At any rate, I don't see why you couldn't use one designed for an LS1 car and if there is an extra bung just block it off.
Last edited by SparkyJJO; May 6, 2025 at 09:17 AM.
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Ok, thanks guys. There is some confusion, with some sites listing V6 and V8 as standalones, with others saying one will fit the other. Anyway, I found one that looks good; 3 row all aluminum, says for V6, on E-bay for 139 bucks and free shipping. Seller has 99%+ rating, and accepts returns.
We'll see if it's any good...
I have stopped ordering most all auto parts from Amazon, as everything I got was either pure junk, or did not fit. Big surprise heh?
Vettepilot
We'll see if it's any good...
I have stopped ordering most all auto parts from Amazon, as everything I got was either pure junk, or did not fit. Big surprise heh?
Vettepilot
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From: Camp lejeune NC
Ok, thanks guys. There is some confusion, with some sites listing V6 and V8 as standalones, with others saying one will fit the other. Anyway, I found one that looks good; 3 row all aluminum, says for V6, on E-bay for 139 bucks and free shipping. Seller has 99%+ rating, and accepts returns.
We'll see if it's any good...
I have stopped ordering most all auto parts from Amazon, as everything I got was either pure junk, or did not fit. Big surprise heh?
Vettepilot
We'll see if it's any good...
I have stopped ordering most all auto parts from Amazon, as everything I got was either pure junk, or did not fit. Big surprise heh?
Vettepilot
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Go to your nearest napa or oreillys order what they list for it. Don't waste your time with internet find crap because if you do have problems it takes days vs a drive to your nearest auto parts stores.
When these cars were new there was not HD cooling option it was either a V6 or a V8 and both stock radiators cooled fine with 0 overheating problems in stock form and this is coming from a long time resident of south texas it's a little warm down here.
Those little 3800s are great cars man they run forever and you can beat the dog **** out of them and they come back for more. The only other premptive I would do based on the age of that car is replace intake gaskets just CYA then the cooling system is bullet proof.
The dishonest mechanics and internet will tell you it's got bad headgaskets or cracked head in the future when the oil turns into a milk shake they are all full of crap all it is is intake gaskets so head that problem off at the pass early on.
3800s never have head gasket problems ever. But I have had many upon many saved by intake gaskets
When these cars were new there was not HD cooling option it was either a V6 or a V8 and both stock radiators cooled fine with 0 overheating problems in stock form and this is coming from a long time resident of south texas it's a little warm down here.
Those little 3800s are great cars man they run forever and you can beat the dog **** out of them and they come back for more. The only other premptive I would do based on the age of that car is replace intake gaskets just CYA then the cooling system is bullet proof.
The dishonest mechanics and internet will tell you it's got bad headgaskets or cracked head in the future when the oil turns into a milk shake they are all full of crap all it is is intake gaskets so head that problem off at the pass early on.
3800s never have head gasket problems ever. But I have had many upon many saved by intake gaskets
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If you overheat them enough, they'll blow head gaskets as my brother proved. (Of course anything will...) They don't have the greatest clamping around the cylinders. I noticed this, and it was confirmed when the machine shop said they get lots of these heads in that need milled as they're tweaked.
We put a much better radiator in this one of my daughter's. One reason is the extreme ambient heat of 120 to 130 degrees here. The other is the running temp. A stock radiator is designed to be efficient, and suitable to keep the engine at a smog necessary yet detrimental very high running temp of 220 degrees. (Incrediby, the fans, as stock on my Corvette did not even turn on until 229 degrees!) Not the 180 or less I insist upon for my cars--> so, a much better radiator was indicated.
Here is the one we used, and we're happy with it. https://www.ebay.com/itm/326141594099
One common thing with the E-bay radiators though. Check the cooler line fittings very well before proceeding as sometimes they're not well tapped, plus sometimes they need adaptors to fit flared lines. Then in our case, for our V6 install we needed to block off one small outlet in this V8 radiator.
Vettepilot
We put a much better radiator in this one of my daughter's. One reason is the extreme ambient heat of 120 to 130 degrees here. The other is the running temp. A stock radiator is designed to be efficient, and suitable to keep the engine at a smog necessary yet detrimental very high running temp of 220 degrees. (Incrediby, the fans, as stock on my Corvette did not even turn on until 229 degrees!) Not the 180 or less I insist upon for my cars--> so, a much better radiator was indicated.
Here is the one we used, and we're happy with it. https://www.ebay.com/itm/326141594099
One common thing with the E-bay radiators though. Check the cooler line fittings very well before proceeding as sometimes they're not well tapped, plus sometimes they need adaptors to fit flared lines. Then in our case, for our V6 install we needed to block off one small outlet in this V8 radiator.
Vettepilot
Last edited by Vettepilot; Aug 13, 2025 at 08:38 PM.