I have been having some cooling problems, so I cleaned out the fins to find that there was a few leaves and a lot of small debris including a bunch of small rocks stuck in the condensor and radiator. I cleaned the fins the best I could with an air hose.

I would like to get a lt1 radiator to see if that helps, but i don't know what year lt1 radiator to get. Also, should I get a 6-speed one or an auto?

I have tried all of the normal things to fix this, but it hasn't helped much.

I have flushed the cooling system really well. The coolant is now very clean. My fans are set to come on earlier for the 160 t-stat. I am sure I don't have any air pockets also.


thanks

 

If you have a 6 speed then get a 6 speed radiator. Auto will have the cooling line hookups. I would go with 94-97 radiator.

 

I'm not worried about transcooler hookups. I saw where someone said to get a 6-speed radiator even if you had an auto. I didn't know what the differences would be.

 

I believe they are the same capacity and all. I am using my stock 95 radiator with my new ls1 and it cools great!

 

get the Be Cool... i have it and have no complaints... cept that it is massive

 

that is really nice.........a little more money than I was wanting to spend on this, but nice

 

Damn that is big. My lt1 radiator def keeps it cooler than the ls1 radiator

 

If your looking for the best then the Ron Davis is what you want. Yes it is more expensive than the Be Cool. 100% tig welded, no epoxy anywhere it will lower your coolant temp by 20%. They have models with integrated oil coolers as well. Drop in replacement. I have a customer who went with the LT1 and had to hack things to get it to work. Still overheats... wonder why? Because it is no where near the Ron Davis in ability. We have 7,14 and dual 14 plate heat extractors as well.

 

You can use an LT1 A4 radiator on a M6 if you need, you just don't use the A4 trans cooler hookups. The A4 cooler is a closed system within the passenger side of the radiator, so no coolant will leak out.

 

thanks eveyone. I think a new ls1 radiator would work for me. Mine is just beat up and gunked up from the dexacool and it has ton of small debris stuck in it. If I ever go to a big motor setup I wouldn't hesitate to get the Ron Davis. I just need one that will work like mine did when it was new.

 

Get the LT1 radiator. It will cost the same and cools much better. I switched to a LT1 radiator and it definitely cools better than the stock LS1 radiator. It's a straight bolt in as well. Here's a pic comparing the core size.

 

So which lt1 should I get.........a auto or a 6-speed. I have a separate trans cooler, so that is not an issue. Is that the only difference in the auto vs the manual. Also is there a difference in the year models? I priced a lt1 6-speed 96 model radiator..........will that work?


thanks for the help

 

That 96 6-speed radiator will work fine. The 6speed and A4 radiators have exact same in/out ports. The A4 rad adds a useless trans cooler tank inside. Hookups are the same if you don't use that trans cooler tank.

 

what is the part number?

 

GM part number for LT1 radiator: 52466004

 

thanks, found it later on the internet, but its good for it to be in this thread.

wonder if gm still sells that number rad.

 

just talked to a gm parts department she said that part number is now 7/8" thick so they must have changed from the original design !! now what?

 

I just bought a Howe Racing Enterprises direct fit dual 1" core that I a very happy with. Only had to do some minor trimming on the airbox cause it's way thicker than OEM. Also had to buy some brass NPT fittings but I guess you would have to do that with any of the big aftermarkets? The only real complaint is I had to use tranny cooler lines and clamps to hook to the tranny cooler in the radiator. No biggie anyway.

Saved $300 over a Becool and can run my A/C in stop and go traffic with no worries.

 

Bump


Do you have to mod anything to get the LT1 radiator to fit or is it a direct swap?

 

its a direct swap, just need to cap the heater hose port unused on the ls engine.

i had to oder several different rads before i actually got one with a thicker core.. think it ended up being from napa.