I modified my core support to fit the 31x19 summit aluminum radiator. However, it appears that the inlet and oulet are larger than the OEM's. Anybody else run into this?

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ThaDex
1981 Z28
1978 LT

Might need to run a hard pip between and/or piece out some other hoses that have a larger intake side and all....

Unless you find someone that solved this same problem. I KNOW there are others that have done this swap....

I had the same prob with my Griffin rad, only I was lucky and only had to fumble with the lower hose cause the fitting was bigger and cocked to the right. I don't know the brand of the hose but the number is 20559. I just heated up the smaller end and shoved it on. Hope this helps

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Peter
'77 LT, New 350, 600 Holley , Performer Intake, Hedman Headers, 2 1/2 dual exhaust :)
'79 Z28, no motor or tranny :(
'68, 250 6 cyl. 3 in a tree, all original

I used my stock hose on the summit rad.

The lower rad. fitting is alittle bigger than the hose, but I was able to pour some anti freeze in the hose, and wiped some on the spout..

Then put hose on at an angle just so one side was started over the spout and kinda "screwed or twisted" the hose onto the spout.

I was actually going to buy a summit aluminum radiator in a few days because i cant keep my car cool, did they help with the temp that much for you guys?

Thanks for the replies guys. I think I'll try some heat and maybe some antifreeze or silicone spray to soften up the hoses and get them on.

I'll let you know if the new rad helps to keep the temps down. My old radiator was in pretty sad shape, so I am expecting good results.

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ThaDex
1981 Z28
1978 LT

If you buy one of their radiators do you also have to buy a separate tranny cooler before you can install it?

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Tommy

Cats...the reason God created water.

75 Camaro
78 Camaro
80 Camaro
81 Trans-Am
87 Iroc-Z28

The universal radiator I bought had no built-in tranny cooler, so I had to buy a seperate one. I bought a B&M supercooler...big one, 20,000 btu or somethin like that.

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ThaDex
1981 Z28
1978 LT

Not sure how big a deal it is, but I heard that you gotta be careful with using an external cooler only, when driving in cold temps. supposed;y you don't want the tranny too cold. The oil cooler in the rad helps maintain a desired temp when used in conjunction with an external cooler.

I already had 2 separate tranny coolers before I bought the alum. rad so that wasnt a prob for me.

But yeah, the summit alum. rad. does not have a built in trans cooler.

That could be good or bad depending on your opinion of whats the best.

Myself I don't like the built in coolers. I have always called them "tranny heaters" cause of the fact the trans will never run any cooler than your water temp when the cooler is built into the rad.

I wasnt running the in rad "tranny heater" on my brass/copper 3 row rad before I bought the alum one.

I used a a B&M super cooler 24,000 GVW 11" x 6" x 1.5", and an Imperial 3/4" x 7.5" x 15.5" transmission cooler..


4-71/Z-28... Yes it helped my cooling ALOT. My old rad. was pretty bad though. I was running 220-240* in a 5 mile trip.. Flushed rad twice and got it down to 200-220* in a 20 mile trip.

Now with the summit alum rad. I can drive 150 miles at stay in the 190's*

A few weekends ago I went up to rossville, GA. which is on the GA/Ten line and thats about 130 miles 1 way, and my water temp going up there topped out at 201* and that was after a WOT 120 mph blast, on the way back it was night and I drove norm. 60-75 mph (2800-3500 rpm or so) and temp topped out at 187*

Thanks for letting me know how the radiator worked out for you , i am definatly going to get one no. My situation sounds exacly like yours!! I dont run the trans fluid through the radiator, and currently my car runs 230 within a 6-7 mile trip.

I just want to make it clear that I had to do some extensive modification to my core support to get the radiator to fit. The radiator sat too high in the support, so I had to cut the entire support out, weld on new metal, and weld it back in about 2" lower. I also had to cut some material from my shroud to get it to fit on the new radiator.

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ThaDex
1981 Z28
1978 LT

You guys may want to try a Napa #NBH7449 hose. It is the most common one used on G-bodies with that very same radiator. It fits perfect with no mods so you want to give that a try on a second gen. Camaro. -Jabin

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Gmachinz Sales and Performance
"...updating the level of performance..."

I cut about an 1 1/2 off of the hose, sprayed WD 40 on the hose and the outlet, and got it to go on. I'm using a stock lower hose for a 79 with a 350 from NAPA.

Be sure to check how the hose fits. Mine wanted to rub up against a bolt for the steering arm, so when I cut it, I made sure that I cut enough out that it wouldn't rub on that bolt.

It made a huge difference in my going down the road temperature, about 30-50 degrees. At idle, it made no difference, but I think I've almost got that problem solved.

This is NOT anywhere near a bolt in radiator. The bottom of the radiator support has to be cut off, and a new one has to be made and dropped down a couple of inches so the radiator will fit under the hood. External tranny cooler is required. The fan shroud also has to have som material ground off of it to fit.

you guys running sbcs or bbcs? I have a new rad and a bbc ready to go in.

I've got a BBC, and the process for the radiator install is the same, SBC or BBC.

Don't forget to use a spring inside the bottom hose and maybe one in the top hose of there is any possibility of it callapsing(Sp?)??

pdq67