truckman5000

need a radiator, that looks like the original...
Ive been looking, what is the best place/ model to buy?

Don R.

Check this out:


http://www.usradiator.com/oldsmobile...-radiator.html

truckman5000

thank you,

Magna86

CU165 can order at Autozone and other places. I used the autozone 20% and got it for around $160 shipped. Identical to the one I pulled out of my 71.

RetroRanger

http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo....271646&jsn=302

truckman5000

Id go with it..
Just that it sais its a 2- pass and the core is plastic.
So i dont wanna get the wrong kit.
Also some review was adapters needed to be made?/

RetroRanger

that rad CU165 is whats listed as the replacement rad for a 70 442 w 455 FYI

Magna86

The radiator is not made out of aluminum and plastic as the listing is incorrect. Its a brass/copper radiator 4 core radiator. No adapters needed it dropped right in my 71. You just have to makesure you which waterpump and hose you have as they have different outlet sizes but I cant remember if the radiator end changes or not. The radiator is cheaper through Autozone and usually they run 15-20% off coupons plus free shipping so it beats Rockauto by a good amount.

Look in my thread and you can see if side by side with my old one.

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...1-cutlass.html

dfire25

Just for the heck of it I searched Autozone's website for the radiator and it came up at $194. I put in the 20% code (SHOCKS20) and the total was $155. That's an awesome price for a 4 core radiator! Granted that without shipping or tax, but still a great deal. Plus shipping might be free, I didn't go that far. I've been looking at an aluminum 3 core for just under $200, but I might just go with this one.

RocketDevo

FYI The Parts Place reproduces the 1970 4 core. It looks like the original, very nice with Harrison stamps on tanks etc. It is not cheap but is the next best thing to an original if you want it to look correct.

truckman5000

thanks, im going to go with the cheap one. I thought it was plastic but i gues it isnt so close enough. Thanks again

dfire25

I ended up buying the Autozone radiator. $164 shipped for a HUGE 4 core is an awesome price! Anyway, tried to do a quick install by just widening my 3 core saddles and top plate to fit the 4 core. That didn't work out so well. The fan shroud was hitting the fan and the crank pulley.

So I ended up pulling the whole thing out again and I purchased the correct top plate and saddles. Installed everything and it fit great, no problems. Did I say this radiator is HUGE?

Drove the car a few times and let it idle for a long time and the thing never went above 175. The days were moderately warm, but this weekend and next week are suppose to be a lot warmer, so that will be a good test. I'm pretty happy with it so far, as my last radiator would have the car up over 200-210 easy.

I have a Windstar electric fan setup I'm kicking around installing, but I'm going to wait and see what my stock fan setup will do.

jpc647

That's really good to know! And this was the A165 spectra premium part number, right?

Still going okay? Still cooling the car way better than the old one?

tru-blue 442

dfire25, do you have the A/Z part #? And is it the Spectra A 165? Thanks.

Magna86

Yes it's Spectre A165 in Autozone's database.

dfire25

X2

I am VERY happy with the new radiator. Drove it a few more days in warm (85) weather, worked flawlessly. I have yet to try it with the A/C on, but I'm sure it's a lot better then the old 3 core.

Mike H.

Bought and used a Spectra in my son's Mustang. It leaked within the year between the top and core. They get very poor reviews on the Mustang site.