Radiator

[Shimy87]

Getting ready for the track tomorrow and after the test drive my radiator sprung a leak. It's a pinhole leak up by where the upper hose comes out. Can these radiators be repaired would I be better off getting a replacement. If they can be replaced where is a good place to find a replacement. Better it happened here at home then after a 2-hour drive to the track but still a pain in the ass.

[Steve Wood]

If you can find a radiator shop they can be repaired. At this age, i would replace it

[Shimy87]

I can get a replacement from rock auto for 165. An aluminum one from OPGI for 245 or another aluminum one from g body for 459....recomen dations?? I don't know anything about radiators

[Scoobum]

Cheapass Camaro rad and trans cooler.

[Tim Hensley]

Spectra radiator CU162 is very similar to the Camaro but it’s inlet and outlet same size and location as OEM

[Shimy87]

Getting an all aluminum one from rock auto, 200 with new hoses

[Shimy87]

New radiator is coming in today old radiator has tranny cooler built into the radiator and then there's an aftermarket cooler strapped to the front of it for engine oil new radiator has Provisions it appears that I can put the engine oil through the new radiator and the same connections for the tranny oil. Should I retain the engine oil cooler or plumb into the new radiator....wh ich would cool better

[Steve Wood]

Not sure I understand what the new radiator comes with, but, if it has both coolers in it, I would route the transmission oil thru the cooler in the radiator, on to the external cooler in front of the radiator and then back to the transmission.

The line coming from the transmission would go to the lower fitting on the tranny cooler in the radiator, then the top fitting would go to the lower fitting on the external cooler, and the top fitting back to the transmission.  I think this will best push out or eliminate trapped air in both coolers.

[Shimy87]

Thanks for the info I get what you're saying. I attached a picture do I leave the black plastic plug in there or should I replace that with a metal one?

[Steve Wood]

I assume the black plugs are to close off one of the coolers if you don't use it?

You are going to use both the transmission cooler and the engine oil cooler as I understand it.  So you would remove the appropriate plugs and replace them with fittings that fit your oil cooler lines or transmission lines.

Your transmission line from the tranny will go to the lower fitting on the radiator.  then the top fitting for that cooler goes to the lower fitting of the external cooler.  And the top fitting of the external cooler will connect to the return line going back to the tranny.

Obviously, we have to use some rubber line to go from the radiator cooler outlet line to the external cooler and from the external cooler outlet to the return transmission line.

(Unless you like to go to the effort to use steel braided hose or the push loc type hoses.  

[Steve Wood]

BTW, a lot of us don't use the engine oil cooler at all.  We just remove the adapter plate behind the filter and do without....

[Shimy87]

Thanks Steve!

[Shimy87]

The lower coolant outlet came with a rubber sleeve on it, upper one didn't, do I leave it on or remove it???

[Steve Wood]

I am sure you need to remove it

[Shimy87]

Well I got the radiator swapped in. No leaks, it's a miracle!! took it out for a test drive it's hotter than hell here today before when I ran the air conditioning the temp always climbed up to about 185 but now she stayed right at 160. Very pleased