When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I’m putting a gen 3 6.2 (lq4 bored .060 over) into my 96 bronco. Custom hoses and cheap radiators are things I don’t like. I have a cold case for the oem 351w. It’s worked fine. The issues are the inlet/outlet aren’t LS sized and one is on the wrong side of the radiator.
I had contacted both Ron Davis and Dewitt’s. Ron Davis had a laughable price. I know high quality but $1800 for a manual transmission radiator is nuts. Dewitt’s was more palatable but still pricey. Is there anyone that makes custom radiators for a reasonable price? If I gotta pay to play, it is what it is. Just looking for other sources. I had previous run a Dewitt’s on my c6 z06 and the quality was top notch.
So on my LS swaps I'm too cheap to buy the big name direct fit radiators.
On 68 C10 LS6 project I used a generic LS rad from Afco. Biggest I could fit. Inlet and outlet on the right side of the rad. Single "16 Spal fan. Rad hoses from Oreilly's. Made pattern out of wire and they let me in the back room to search for what I need.
My current project is a 80 Camaro with a 6.2 swap. Used the biggest Be Cool generic LS rad and a single 16" Spal fan I could fit.
Both run cool in traffic. Fan on at 205 and off at 195.
I have a Cold Case in my LS swapped "71 Camaro. Works great. Call them and ask for help fitting a radiator for your swap. They have great customer service/tech support
On the 4th gen turbo setups, everyone always does a griffin 27.50 x 15.5 setup and runs pushers because their T6 S400 style turbo is too big to enable pullers to be ran.
That's great and all but PWM brushless pullers like the C7 14" fan and the 2017+ Chevy Volt 12" fans move far more air and offer much better cooling.
I saw one setup where the rad was 13" tall but only 21.5" wide using an AFCO 80104N which allows the rad to be pushed forward more, right against the hood release mechanism which isn't possible with a 15" tall rad (unless you cut the bottom rad support out and drop it down, supporting it from the sides) Pushing a 13" closer away from the engine enables plenty of clearance for a pair of 12" pullers.
I've searched Summit's website with the criteria I'm looking for, but has anyone come across a rad that is 13" tall x 27-28" or so that is a crossflow 2 row with inlet/outlet both on the pass side and a steam vent hook up?
This would be perfect for mounting a pair of Volt 12" fans and a custom shroud without having to cut that much.
I'm sure a custom shroud would accommodate the 80104N to run dual 12" pullers, but if there's a longer rad that fits might as well get it.
Note the amount of clearance above to run pullers vs this 15" 1-58241-XLS Griffin setup:
See your local radiator shop. The last custom I had built was about $400 for an aluminum core with custom tanks
As for custom hoses. Look up the Gates Molded Hose catalog. They have an index by diameter with pictures and rough dimensions. Been using that catalog for 30+ years of swaps and engine installs
Years ago I passing by the Griffin radiator manufacturing plant. Had the time so I stopped in to see if they would give me a tour. They said sure. Nice folks. They also said they can custom build almost any rad you might need.
Hi, I worked on Broncos for PJ, Steve McQueen, Walker Evens and more great drivers that raced for thr Fords in the BAJA races.
I too use Griffin radiators made for me to fit a Pantera.
They use AL core tubes that are 1.25 wide.
That design made Griffin the "choice" for CUP Cars
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.
Custom radiator? 
