I am restoring a 1970 Cutlass SX, 455 currently with HD cooling. (did not come from the factory with it) I've been told by someone who has restored many Cutlasses that my top plate for the radiator is incorrect for my car. I have pictures of both, one is a four row top an the second is a three row top plate that I could convert to a four with bracket modification. I believe the ones called "orig1, 2" (the one that is was told is incorrect) seems like it could be an original for a Cutlass with HD cooling, is this correct? The second, which is labled NOS1,2 I believe to be for regular cooling, and there was never a version with that top plate design for a four row radiator, is this correct? Your knowledge on this would be appreciated!

 

If you are going for the Y72 option, HD cooling and Generator, then that called for the 4 row radiator. Is that what you were asking?

 

I have never seen a real SX without HD cooling, is your car equipped with AC?

 

The two pictures on the left (NOS1, NOS2) are a top plate for a 70-72 non-A/C car.

Terry

 

The correct 4 row top plate for a 1969-72 would look like the one below. This one has some wrinkles over the shroud area, but the ends where it fits over the radiator tanks is the key to look for. They're being repop'ed and run $129 or you can get a good used one for a little less. John


P8111150.jpg

P8101133.jpg

 

And the one John posted is also for an A/C car....whether or not your car has A/C should narrow it down...

 

The two pictures you posted are for with shroud or without. I know all a/c cars came with a shroud. Is it possible to have H/D cooling without a shroud?

 

Every 4 row of this vintage I've seen has the top plate like I posted. Both my 1969 and 1970 are non-AC cars and they both have this top plate. My 1971 is an AC car and it also has this top plate. Maybe I'm missing something guys, but isn't the heavy duty cooling option the 4 row? I know the 1967 and 68 top plate for a 4 row looks similar to one the OP posted, but shouldn't all 69-72 look like the one I posted?


John

 

John - you are correct - the HD option required the 4 row radiator whether or not it had AC (at least it did in 1970). I am not sure if it also required the shroud - but I would imagine it did.

OP - note that the HD option (Y72) for the 1970 SX required a different alternator and pulley set up - see ASM section 6-1 page 93 (photo attached)

 

I'm asking if either of the top plates shown are correct for the car. This car was previously restored in 1990 and at that time the original top plate may have been changed/altered as I now have a four row aftermarket radiator. I'm trying to get it correct for the car.

 

These pics seem to match the ones I posted as orig1, orig2, would you agree?

 

This is an A/C car

 

The build sheet shows a/c, Y-79, but no Y-72, could Y-79 include HD cooling?

 

Thanks Terry

 

To me, since its an A/C car, the plate in the first two pics is eliminated....

 

The Y79 option could have the Y72 option as well.

Note though that the differences in C60 and Y72 are: a different radiator (still 4 core), and a different fan clutch. The C60 and Y72 shared the same pulleys and generator.
If both C60 and Y72 were requested, the Y72 radiator and fan clutch took precedence.

 

Here's a thread to a 1970 SX I looked at a few months ago. There's lots of pictures if you want to compare what you have to this car. It's also an AC car. Hope this help. John


https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...-survivor.html

 

My '69 w/ "Heavy-Duty Radiator" option code VO1 (4 core) uses the second top plate. It also has the fan shroud. The '70 SX that I had 35 years ago had a four core radiator w/fan shroud (a/c equipped) but I do not remember what top plate it had.

 

Yes, C60 (AC ) would give you a shroud, the second set of pics...Y72 would also give you a shroud, but not neccessarily AC......so, if your car has AC, the second shroud pic'd would work for your car.....if you don't have AC, but can verify Y72, the second shroud would work.......since you don't have Y72, but do have C60, I am almost certain the second shroud is for your car. Y79 does not give you Y72. C60 does give you heavy duty radiator....sorry for the confusion!

 

So both the C60 and Y72 carried the four core, but different? The Y72 also carried HD water pump.....are you sure they used the same ALT? This is interesting!