im looking to find the stock radiator dimensions for an 86 auto that originally had a 305. i found some ones that claim to be a drop in replacement, but im thinking they will need custom mounts made. i found this http://www.northernfactory.com/store...&ctg_id=133789 but it is also the same dimensions as the first gen. will it be a drop in or a custom mount?

 

I dunno what yer looking for but my 100 dollar Napa replacement is running a steady 180-190. Dropped right in. I know a few folks have poo-poo'd this thing, but its holding up well and doing its job.....

 

yea, i poo-pooed it because my temps rose an average of 5 degrees over my stock rad, and that thing was crusty as coral. plus see the sig. i had issues keeping the car under 240* in traffic even with twin fans on a switch.

 

Micro, my radiator is sitting on a shelf in the garage. I'll try and get some measurements for you ASAP. Do you want just the size of the core (fins), or the overall length, height, and width including the tanks?

 

overall length, width, and core thickness. the one im looking at from northern has a thickness of 2 1/4", so i know i will need slim fans. im just trying to figure out though, that if its the same dimensions as a first gen rad, ill just make some custom mounts and save $200

 

I guess it must have been the motor. Im TOTALLY pleased with my Napa hundred dollar jobber. I stay below 190 all the time now. All last season Id get on the highway and she'd jump to 220 or better, traffic she would go higher. I tried thermostat swaps and coolant flushed and all that jazz, nothing made a difference. The new radiator has her cooling like new.....

Too many people just dont understand that over time these things just get filled with crap and dont run as efficiently as they are supposed to.....they just get rid of the thermostat and thinks that will solve all their issues.... 8-(

 

I have to agree with Scott, you must have had other issues as well. I've got a factory replacement from 1-800-Radiator and with my 350, 180 degree thermostat, and a regular flex fan, she stayed exactly at the 190 mark. Sometimes on a really hot day Florida day she would climb to 205, but never close to overheating.

Before I installed the flex fan I was running the stock clutch and she would shoot up to 230 while in traffic.

This time around I have a set of dual TPI fans I'm installing. Should compensate for the added power I'm going to have since they flow a lot more than the flex fan did.

This isn't saying it's a bad idea to upgrade your radiator. Ours are relatively small and weren't designed to cool high horsepower power plants, Scott and I are just some of the few who are lucky enough to get away with the stock cooling system.

 

Oh yeah, I'm going out to the garage right now, I'll try and get some measurements Micro.

 

let us know what they are jr.

 

Crap, I dropped the ball guys. I spent 4 hours washing the mud off my Jeep from last weekend, then went to work and totally forgot to get the measurements.

I will tomorrow.