- Camaro and Firebird How to Replace Radiator<br>Step by step instructions for do-it-yourself repairs.
Radiator Advice
Thanks to everyone who helped me out. I greatly appreciate all your advice and contributing your solutions.
Anybody ever used this radiator?
Spectra Premium CU1485, For Chevy, Pontiac, 3.4, 3.8L
It DOESN'T have the lower driver's side outlet like CU1486 does so it won't interfere with the inlet hat on Procharged cars. I just don't know if there are any other differences that might make it not work.
From what I read the extra outlet goes to the water pump on LT1 V8 cars as the LS1 cars don't need it. They simplified and just make one radiator for LT1 and LS1 cars, but I think the V6 radiator would work just fine in an LS1 car as it has the steam port capped off. I have one sitting in the garage waiting for the lazy owner to put in.
nipples, in a couple of stages - plastic dam, 1 coat to seal, 1 coat
to fill.
I've heard that you can get sold a skinny core LS1-style rad as
a LT1 replacement, so look at what you're buying for core
thickness. But mine I got real cheap, new, local and right.
I got the new Spectra Premium CU1485 radiator put in over the weekend. It fits perfectly and IMO is as good quality as the OEM it replaced.
NOTE: Don't get the Ready Rad radiators relabeled as Spectra as they aren't as solid and don't have the required relief cuts in the upper and lower U brace like OEM.
This radiator has the thicker 1 1/4" core and does not have the lower driver's side port that our LS1 cars don't need. For us Procharged LS1 guys that extra port would not clear our air inlet hat so it's a deal breaker. It does have the overflow port, LS1 steam port (comes capped), and radiator hose inlet and outlet ports in the standard locations and sizes.
Initial road tests look promising with water temp staying well below 200* F in 85 weather fully heat soaked. We'll see how it does this summer in 105* heat. I can see no reason why Spectra couldn't specify the CU1485 instead of the CU1486 for our 98-02 LS1 cars.
Dan
Initial road tests look promising with water temp staying well below 200* F in 85 weather fully heat soaked. We'll see how it does this summer in 105* heat. I can see no reason why Spectra couldn't specify the CU1485 instead of the CU1486 for our 98-02 LS1 cars.
Dan
Did you notice any difference in the width? Online measurements show it to be a 1/2" narrower than the CU1486. CU1485 is 24.25" vs the CU1486 24.75" width.
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
http://ecat.spectrapremium.com
Also, make sure you move the rubber donut isolator from the old radiator to the new one. It's easy to miss.
Dan
Pictures from Spectra's web-site. CU1485 on left, CU1486 on right:
- Heavy duty transmission cooler.
- Billet CNC machined filler neck. A new cap is included.
- Fully TIG welded construction with no epoxy.
- Upper hose and lower connection is 1-5/16".
- Overall dimensions are 28" wide x 18-7/8" tall. Core is 24-3/4" wide x 17-3/8" high.
- Does not have low coolant level sensor provisions. On 98-99 cars, you can eliminate the sensor just like the 2000-2002 cars have.) Just curious if its good? For $219. its a steal. Thanks for the info.










