Radiator upgrade,replacement!?!

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Kriegs

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My rad in my 90 c1500 pos/project took a dive.....I eventually want to swap to an LS 5.3/6.0 -4l80e, it has a 4.3l-5spd in it now.

I was wondering what route to go on replacing the leaking rad with something that I could use on both the 4.3 for now and still be adequate for the eventual LS/Auto?

Is there an OEM solution, 454 rad,5.7 96+ vortec years, 2500+ radiator, etc etc etc?

I've read horror stories about the cheap full aluminium ones off ebay and similar having issues, as well as the plastic china replicas breaking at the upper bung/hose on the tank.

TIA
 

RDF1

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I found a 1991 4.3 radiator and tried it with my 5.3..it was a no go.
Ended up getting 5.7 radiator that come with the towing package I think it was. About 34" wide. I'd have to look it up again.
But used LS1 Fbody Efans since I had some laying around.
Works great.

Sent from my HiDiNg PlAcE
 

PlayingWithTBI

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Here's what I put in my 88 5.7 - rated 800HP, whatever that means unless they're calculating BTU/HP conversion? Anyway, so far it's working well, today I took it out for a tune run @ close 100* out and data log showed it never going over 196* with a 194 T-stat. Check out other options here too.

https://www.radiatorexpress.com/Product/222481/1031106#vehiclefitmenttab
 

90halfton

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PlayingWithTBI

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The OEM shroud fit with a little cutting on it and the bottom radiator rubber mounts. What I did was slice 3/8" fuel line and pushed it on the edges of the shroud that rubbed against the radiator helping to seal any bypass air too.
 

alpinecrick

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