I have a 1990 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser with the Y code 307 V8. Everywhere I look replacement radiators list a rad with a heater return line connection. My return line goes to the water pump on the 307 and also on my 1970 98's 455. Almost every Olds V8 I can find pictures of online also goes to the water pump except some 75-77 350s. Why would every available radiator listed have a return line connection? With that said, how do you plug it if I can't find the correct one? The other irritating thing is they all have a driver's side rear-facing drain ****. I much prefer the passenger-side down-facing one on the OEM rad, less mess when draining.
I thought of recoring the original rad but the driver's side tank has a pinhole leak and recoring is as much as, if not more, than a new one. I'm not looking at plastic tank ones only copper/brass.

Any hints at making these work or personal experience would be great.

Steve

 

Steve, The hose fitting on the rad makes it fit more applications and would need to be capped. I never liked them either. Can your tank be soldered?

 

The pinhole faces the fender about halfway down the tank. I think it's been there awhile but so small I never noticed. I thought it was paint damage so I had painted the spot but it's green now, leaks super slow. I don't know any rad shops so I would have to hunt around. How long do solder repairs last?

 

Vendors only stock the more common Caprice radiator because they don't want the added cost of warehousing a second, low-demand part number. Use a silicone cap on that heater port. The crappy rubber ones will crack within a year.

https://hpsperformanceproducts.com/p...ete-black-blue

 

A solder repair by a radiator shop should last a very long time.

 

I guess I need to find a shop in the area. Replacing it will be a last resort.