I am getting ready to put an LT1 radiator in my car and figured I would take some pics the them side by side. There is a noticable difference between the two. Just figured I would share.

LT1 on the top


LT1 on the left

 

wow alot more cooling surface

 

That makes me want to go out and get one, I wonder why they changed to a smaller one?

 

I can only think the engineers figured with an aluminum block we did not need a bigger radiator. Of coarse this is just a guess. Could also be that gm was trying to save a buck.

 

Any significant issues when bolting the LT1 radiator in? Have heard it's a easy swap, but IIRC that was based on the SLP "Heavy Duty" radiator, which I thought was a slightly modified LT1 version.

Also, where did you purchase your radiator. Autozone has four different brands, two with LLT warrantees and two with 3-month warrantees.

 

I have not actually stuck it in yet but it looks exactly the same besides having a bigger core. Yes, SLP sells these with there name on them for a lot more than what you can get a used one. I bought mine on this board awhile ago for $70 I think. Try in the wanted adds. I have no idea about the autozone ones.

 

congrats on the new radiator... i think the stock radiator is crap... mine had a crack in the plastic area so I had to upgrade as well... Be Cool vs. Stock

 

The LT1 radiator has a provision for an extra sensor - low coolant level. I was able to score an old sensor off of a wrecked car to fill the hole. Other people have just expoxied their's shut - which works equally as good. Other than that, it slid right in and everything bolted up as with the original radiator.

I put a fresh motor in the car at the same time, so I have no real comparision of coolant temps of the LT1 radiator vs. the stock one. I am of no help there, sorry.

Soul TKR - that Be Cool is a VERY nice piece. But, I pretty much horse traded some things I had laying around in the shop for my slighly used, (approx 300 miles) LT1 radiator. Had I not been strapped from plunking down all the money for a new motor/trans/etc - I might have been persuaded to go that route.

 

What did that cost? Pretty damn nice!

 

They are around $500-ish, but don't expect it to be a direct drop-in piece...mine was a tight fit in my car, but now that it is in, I wouldn't trade it for any other radiator.

 

That Be-Cool radiator looks heavy. How much does it weigh?

BTW - I switched to the LT1 radiator and it made a noticeable difference in coolant and trans temp.

 

Dont you have to get the Radiator out of an auto for an auto due to the tranny cooler?

 

You can or you can plumb a separate trans cooler. Some people will plumb a separate trans cooler in conjunction with the cooler inside the radiator. But if you're looking for a one-for-one swap, then yes you should get a radiator with the integrated trans cooler.

 

I already have a seperate Trans cooler. (28,000 gvw or what ever its called). Would it really hurt to just eliminate the regular radiator one? I have heard that it really doesn't help all that much anyways if you have a seperate cooler.

Thanks for the info.

 

Well, (IMO) the integrated cooler only keeps the trans as cool as the coolant temp. So, I guess you could presume that as long as engine temp is good, trans temp is too. If you run a separate cooler only, I'd plumb a trans temp gage for monitoring purposes.

 

it's not heavy at all... it's all aluminum...

 

Although I didn't weigh the two of them, it was really no heavier than the stock LS1 radiator...it will most certainly weigh more due to its bigger capacity for fluid though. It holds about twice as much coolant as the stocker did.

 

That BeCool radiator is a monster! You also dont have to worry about the plastic sides anymore. If I were not on a budget that would be on my list of things to get.

 

The plastic sides were a big turn off to me...and one of the biggest reasons why I went with the BeCool unit. I'm hoping it is the last radiator I'll ever have to buy for this car.

 

My 98 has a low coolant level sensor...wonder if they did away with it after that year?? I've heard complaints of them getting gummed up and setting the low coolant light even though the coolant level was fine, so maybe that had something to do with it.