Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Replacement Radiator 4-row versus 2? (Radiator)
| Replacement Radiator 4-row versus 2? [message #363346] |
Fri, 09 April 2021 10:26  |
Jess Bressi Cortez
Messages: 16
Registered: February 2014
Location: Orange County, CA
Karma: 0
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Greetings all. I have a Cortez, the Steel precursor to a GMC. Same drivetrain, 455 Olds, Turbo 425, 3.70 final Drive from Applied, etc. Need a new radiator as a new Modine core appears to be made of unobtanium and a custom replacement core is very pricey. Jim Bounds replacement won't fit/work without major new fabrication. I also use the Applied/Tom Pryor MB electronic fan clutch fan and I'd like to keep that. I've seen that some folks are adopting CarQuest Part No. 733730 aluminum radiators from GM small trucks but all the one's I've found are 2-row. Is anyone using a 4-row version of the same radiator? If not, is the 2-row sufficient. Thanks in advance for your consideration.
Jess Bressi
Orange County, CA
1972 and 1974 Cortez's
455's/3.70's/Patterson Q-Jets
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| Re: Replacement Radiator 4-row versus 2? [message #363350 is a reply to message #363346] |
Fri, 09 April 2021 12:41  |
TR 1
Messages: 348
Registered: August 2015
Location: DFW
Karma: -7
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Not sure if the Cortez is the same, but on GMC motorhomes, the rad has 2 oil coolers present... One for the engine oil, one for the trans. At the very least, you may need to add an external cooler as I only see one oil cooler on 433730...
Also, on the GMC at least, the aluminum radiators available are also 2 core, but the dimensions are different. 433730 is 28x19"... GMCs are 28X23... Whether this makes a difference for you I guess would depend on the climate where you live, if you plan on towing, how much air you are able to move through the core, etc...
Mark S. '73 Painted Desert,
Manny 1 Ton Front End,
Howell Injection,
Leigh Harrison 4bag and Rear Brakes,
Fort Worth, TX
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| Re: Replacement Radiator 4-row versus 2? [message #363354 is a reply to message #363346] |
Fri, 09 April 2021 17:21 |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
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Senior Member |
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Aluminum is less efficient at heat transfer, but tube sizes are deeper as they are stronger so they can be, giving better surface area per row So you can’t compare rows between copper brass and aluminum as row for row.
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
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| Re: Replacement Radiator 4-row versus 2? [message #363357 is a reply to message #363346] |
Fri, 09 April 2021 19:13 |
Greg C.
Messages: 224
Registered: October 2019
Location: Knoxville, TN
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Just for comparison sake, I just pulled the factory radiator out of my 77 Royale this week. A local radiator shop I took it to quoted $800-1000 to re-core it. Really nice guy, gave me several minutes of his time, and we discussed aluminum vs. brass/copper radiators. As you may imagine, he was not a fan of the aluminum radiators because in his opinion they don't last, and can almost never be repaired, especially with the plastic tanks.
I drove a hundred miles to another reputable shop that I had previously contacted. Their quote was $600-700 for an 18 fin per inch, four row core with my factory tanks. We talked about aluminum. He said "If you are going to keep it, put in the brass/copper. If you are going to sell it, put in the aluminum one." Now I had asked for a quote from this same shop in November. It was $500-600 then. He said things had gone up that much since then. I should have taken it to him in November.
I opted for the new core with my old tanks.
I would not want the two row radiator.
Greg Crawford
KM4ZCR
Knoxville, TN
"Ruby Sue"
1977 Royale
Rear Bath
403 Engine
American Eagle Wheels
Early Version Alex Sirum Quad bags
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| Re: Replacement Radiator 4-row versus 2? [message #363406 is a reply to message #363346] |
Tue, 13 April 2021 19:32 |
Greg C.
Messages: 224
Registered: October 2019
Location: Knoxville, TN
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Sorry to take so long to answer.
I removed the radiator in about two hours. However, I did as many have done, and cut the radiator support about 4 inches up from the bottom on each side, while supporting the assembly with a floor jack. This enables one to drop the radiator straight down, then tilt the bottom toward the front of the coach, and take it out. It is heavy, so help would be appreciated, although I managed by myself.
I then welded 1 x 1 x 1/8" angle iron pieces, 4 inches long, to each end of the cut off section. Holes were bored in all four pieces of the angle iron to receive 5/16" x 1" bolts. I tack welded the bolt heads in the upper pieces so I wouldn't have to use a wrench to hold them. I then bolted the upper pieces to the lower ones, which had already been welded to the cut off section. I secured the assembly to the part of the radiator bracket remaining in the coach with welder's vise grips. This ensured proper alignment of all pieces. I then welded the top angles to the radiator bracket, and unbolted the lower section.
Now I spend a lot of time wire brushing, cleaning, and repainting every part I remove, so my installation time will be much longer than is strictly necessary.
I am replacing all coolant hoses, belts, oil cooler lines, transmission lines, power steering hoses, front motor mount, water pump, fuel pump, and timing chain. My timing chain was extremely loose, and at 67,000 miles. You can remove the fuel pump and check the chain for looseness, but I would recommend putting a socket on the crank bolt and moving the crank a little each way to make sure you are feeling the true slack.
My radiator is not yet done, so I have not yet reinstalled it. I would estimate about two hours to put it back, and another little bit to refill all fluids, install the fan, belts, etc.
This was most certainly more than you wanted to read, but there it is.
Greg Crawford
KM4ZCR
Knoxville, TN
"Ruby Sue"
1977 Royale
Rear Bath
403 Engine
American Eagle Wheels
Early Version Alex Sirum Quad bags
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| Re: Replacement Radiator 4-row versus 2? [message #363900 is a reply to message #363346] |
Sun, 09 May 2021 07:57 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Senior Member |
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I'm with Greg, here in the southeast the 2 row would be marginal at best. I've had two recored, price went fro 350 to 500, shop told me up front the price of materials had nearly doubled in the intervening two years.
--johnny
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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| [GMCnet] Re: Replacement Radiator 4-row versus 2? [message #363910 is a reply to message #363900] |
Sun, 09 May 2021 14:07 |
jimk
Messages: 6734
Registered: July 2006
Location: Belmont, CA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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We sell more Al radiators than others and know it is not the material, but
what they do to it to increase surface area of not only the fluid side but
the air side.
Also the Fluid tubes are thicker to last longer and it also now has an
Anode to cut down on electrolysis.
The design has been used and proven in lot of applications, so it is not
new.
On Sun, May 9, 2021 at 5:57 AM Johnny Bridges via Gmclist <
gmclist@list.gmcnet.org> wrote:
> I'm with Greg, here in the southeast the 2 row would be marginal at best.
> I've had two recored, price went fro 350 to 500, shop told me up front the
> price of materials had nearly doubled in the intervening two years.
>
>
> --johnny
> --
> Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
> Braselton, Ga.
> I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me
> in hell
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>
--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.gmcrvparts.com
1-800-752-7502
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Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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