So just doing a quick check under the hood this morning and noticed a rad leak.....its been fixed in the past...so I think its time for a new one.

So I looked on napa web site and it list two different rads...any idea which one I need???


first one part number CU364

the second one part number heavy duty cooling CU165

 

Well, considering that you didn't tell us anything about the car, like what engine is in it or whether it has A/C or not, no we don't have any idea.

 

It's a 461..... No AC

 

hey guys so I went to napa and they told me to measure my old rad...and they gave me 2 sizes

1.cu165......28 1/4 x 16 7/8 x 1 3/4

2. cu364.....28 5/16 x 16 x 1 7/8

so I measured mine from top fin to bottom 17 1/8 height

top width between two end tanks 28 5/16 width

and 1 1/4 thick at the top
Not too sure if im measuring this right.....here is a little video......I would like to get this ordered up.....as I love to drive my car as much as I can when the sun shines!!

 

75 views and no one has any input on this.....anyone have any idea if the rad that I have is original, or even the right one???

Cant seem to find any info on this on the net!!!


Thanks!!

 

My comment is that both of those radiators' dimensions seem to be essentially the same, so there's probably some other difference between them.

Radiators interchange freely across a wide range of GM cars of that era, so I would really doubt whether any one that's close would fail to fit.
Get the heaviest one and you should be good.

Also, I just got done telling someone else I wasn't going to say this, but...
Have you tried finding and fixing the leak?
Most are pretty easy to take care of with a torch, a wire brush, some flux, and some solder.

- Eric

 

Scooter, the radiator in the video looks like a 2 row radiator. I'm a little puzzled at the different sized NAPA offered you. They don't sound like differences between 2, 3 and 4 row radiators which I would think would have the same measurements except for the thickness of the core.

Several years ago I dismantled a 1971 Delta 88 and believe I still have the radiator from that car. Recently I offered it to Eric but he was able to fix his radiator leaks. I know shipping over the US/Canada line can be spendy, but I offered it to him for $50 plus shipping so I'd offer you the same deal. Here's a link to his thread and pictures of my radiator.

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...tor-seams.html

Let me know if you want me to come up with a shipping estimate for you to consider.
John

 

"Also, I just got done telling someone else I wasn't going to say this, but..."


Scooter, since Eric just went through this if your core isn't in bad shape maybe he could walk you through repairing the seam. But this may also be a good time to upgrade to a 3 or 4 row radiator to protect your new engine

 

Scooter, John is a good guy, and I've been happy with things I've bought from him before, so if you'd consider a used radiator, he's the guy to get it from.

- Eric

 

I just watched your video again, and to help with the "4 core" question. Its actually a 4 row radiator and many of us (I got schooled in this a few years ago) mistakenly call it a 4 core. The rows are how many rows of tubes go through the core. All radiators only have one core but may have different numbers of tubes running through it. If you open the cap and look inside your radiator I believe you'll see its two rows thick, that's my guess from the video. For your car I believe the options were 2, 3 or 4 rows of tubes thick. The more rows potentially the better the cooling.

John

 

Okay, I just watched the video, too.

That's definitely a 2-core (or a 2-row), and that engine looks like a big block, so that is definitely not enough radiator for that motor.

John himself took a picture of the rows in that radiator - if you look, you can just make out that there are three of them (you can see two whole ones and the end of a third).

P5270388.jpg

Since you don't have A/C, and you live in the Frozen North, a 3-core should do you fine.

As far as the core / row question, "four core" rhymes, "four row" doesn't.
Case closed, as far as I'm concerned.

- Eric

 

Here's an annotated version of John's picture, to clarify what we're talking about:



- Eric

 

Thanks eric.....I now know I need the cu364......all the measurements seem to match .....the difference in the two are the headers.......my old rad is 3 1/2 on one side and 2 3/4 and the cu364 is the same

The cu165 is 3 1/2 on both headers!!

AS for fixing it Eric... I already fixed it a year ago .....it held up for a while, so this time I think its time for a new one!!

Thanks for your help!!

 

Also thanks John for the offer.....I think im just going to bite the bullet and buy a new one!!

 

3½" is the 4-core dimension, 2¾" is the 3-core-and-smaller dimension.

I have just looked at the two radiators that you describe.

The NR CU364 lists for $434, and the isting states: "Important Information: Except Heavy Duty Cooling."
This is its top view:




The NR 365 lists for $414, and the listing states: "Important Information: w/ Heavy Duty Cooling."
This is the top view:




You can clearly see, from both the text of the listing and the pictures, that the 365 is the heavier-duty radiator.
It's also $20 cheaper.

I would get the NR 365, and modify the rubber holders that are too small (use a razor knife). That way, you'll save money and get a cooler engine.

- Eric

 

also the cu364 is a 3 core......I think it shoul be ok......I think if its much thicker it will cause my fan blade to make contact with the shroude!!

 

The shroud is attached to the core support edge on the bottom and the radiator header on the top - it is not attached to the radiator and will not move with different radiator sizes.

- Eric

 

Oh...ok I was not sure on that!!.....So with the difference of the width 3 1/2 on both headers....where my old one is 3 1/2 on the passenger side and 2 1/2 on the driver side...how would this affect fitment???

Im all for better cooling right now I looked in the rad cap and its a 2 core rad...so the up grade to the 3 core should be little better!!!

 

I know from experience that you can use a razor knife to extend the groove in the rubber isolator that the narrower edge of the radiator sits in to accomodate a radiator with two wide tanks.
Just takes a bit of whittling.

If it were me, I'd spend less, get more, and take a few minutes to "customize" the mountings.

- Eric

 

True Eric......I think I will order that one tomorrow.....Thanks for all your help and others as well!!

 

Hey guys so today I got my new rad...I went with the cu364 as it was the one which matched my old one on the measurements!!

But here are the problems.....the trans cooler line fitting are smaller than the old rad.........and my old rad the top rad hose was 1 9/16 and my bottom rad hose is 1 3/4......but the two rads that they ahd for my car were 1 9/16 both top and bottom


So first question can I get some kind of adaptor/coupling to thread on to my old trans line fitting to the new???

And second..is there a hose that will fit my lower rad hose from water pump to the new 1 9/16.......or will I have a problem stretching it over the water pump??.......right now its the 1 3/4 flex hose with the spring

new fitting
image_zps8aa6f2b4.jpg


old fitting

image_zpsf1bbf7d0.jpg

 

You should be able to get adapter fittings at any hardware store for that.

So you're saying that the lower fitting on the new radiator is larger than the one on the old radiator, and the hose won't fit?

Two possible solutions:
1. Remove hose from water pump, get it good and warm (like let it sit in the sun), then slowly and firmly work it onto the fitting (a good forearm workout).
2. Get a hose made for an earlier big block - you'll have to check specs to find the right years.

- Eric

 

W I was saying is my old lower rad hose was 1 3/4 at the rad and my new rad is 1 9/16......so just wondering is a hose that's 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 will fit the water pump....or is the water pump 1 3/4???

I looked up the hoses on napa and there is one with flex with wire and a one cut to fit no flex and no wire

As for the trans lines...I hope I can find some fittings tomorrow...would like to drive my car this weekend

 

Oh, right - the new radiator fitting is smaller than the hose. Too late at night for fractions.

Most "universalized" radiators like this come with a rubber spacer piece that you can slide onto the fitting to make it the right size for your larger hose.
Check in the box.

- Eric

 

I was just playing around at RockAuto and they show the earlier hoses as being 1 3/4" at the radiator and 2" at the water pump. Then I tried 1973 and they showed 1 1/2" at the radiator and 1 3/4" at the water pump. You may have to pull the hose off your water pump to see what size the water pump inlet is.

I've used the rubber sleeve that Eric talked about. If you need to go larger to match your water pump that might be the way to go.


John

 

Thanks guys!! I will check the box!!

 

Today im a happy man.....finally got the rad in with some set backs!!!

First the fittings that spectra sends with the rad don't fit my old trans lines...had to buy two reducer type fittings and then there was the lower rad hose too large for the 1 1/2 hose fitting.....bought the 1 3/4 to 1 1/2 reducing rubber which worked great!!!

So after I had the car all toped up with coolant and took it for a spin.....then took my wife out to BPs for dinner in the delta 88......I sure missed driving it the last two weeks!!!

Thanks for your help guys!!

Happy Canada Day long weekend!!!

 

You're welcome!

Glad you're out enjoying it!

- Eric