68 – 70 Toronado 455 Radiator
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Registered User
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 190
From: Tulsa, Oklahoma
68 – 70 Toronado 455 Radiator
First: DO NOT TRUST THE PARTS GUY
68 – 70 Toronado 455 Radiator without the correct specs will not work) do not try to make it adapt
Here are my struggles and what I learned in my experiences…
I seen a post recently where someone purchased an aluminum radiator for there 68 Toronado that was the incorrect size. Just like allot of parts this is also one that the parts computers have wrong… I personally have been through this so I figured I would share my story… When I purchased my 68 it was having random overheating issues and would gradually loose its water. I worked my way replacing one thing after another… Unfortunately, every time she overheated it would destroy the seal on my fuel pump… One of the first things I did was try to order a new radiator and of course the one I ordered was way to small. I remember actually arguing with the person on the phone. I said it was way to small and they were hell bent that my original radiator had been replaced at some point. Well, they finally agreed to take it back with a restock fee… I hunted everywhere for a radiator that with a 17 x 34 core. The only new thing I could find was for a 90s GM truck, and you know that wouldn’t work. This was back in 2014… Finally, I found a company that custom built the correct radiator for my 68.
US Radiator Company builds the correct size radiator. Hoping this was going to be the solution to my overheating problem. I ordered a 17x34 Brass/Copper radiator with transmission cooler connections, in/out connections, and also went with the extra row… I had to look back to see who I purchased it from so I could share it with you. I paid $698.00 in 2014, of course there now about a $1000.00. So, this is one route you can go if you need a new radiator…
Q: Did this correct my overheating issues?
A: No, it didn’t do anything…
After exhausting about everything possible… Lower temperature thermostats, new fan blades, water pump, and a ton of fuel pumps…
Finally, the old girl overheated to the point she cracked a head…
So, in actuality my Original Problem was: I had a very slowly leaking head gasket…
My 1968 Ocean Turquoise Oldsmobile Toronado started her life out in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She only had 51k original miles when I got her, but she set from 1987 to 2008. I am pretty sure that’s because she started having overheating issues then… The original owner simply put a tarp over and she set for more than 20 plus years in his driveway… The original owner’s son sold the car to the person that I acquired it from and didn’t really know much about it… The original owner’s health was declining and he was unfortunately going to have to move into a nursing home… So, his son sold her… She obviously wasn’t the owner’s daily driver. Thankfully the original owner saved every receipt, plate renewal, window sticker, and even the original documents from when he purchased her band new… Unfortunately, 1987 was when time stopped for her… Sadly during this time the dry desert heat wasn’t good to her interior as well as allot of her other components… Thankfully time restarted for her in 2008 and has continued till today… Her interior has all been restored, dash replaced, engine completely rebuilt, and so much more… I sure hope the original owner has been looking down now from above and smiling at her progress…
Thank fully I was able to find original 68 Toronado heads from some of the wonderful Oldsmobile people I have built relationships with online during my restoration… There wasn’t anything wrong with my original radiator (Shown in the Image)
If I had things to do over again. The first thing I would do is have her original 455 engine rebuilt… I would have saved allot of time and money…
However, I wouldn’t have learned near what I have and made friends with the people who have helped me…
So, let’s all share our experiences and help each other… Let’s make getting these cars restored above over pricing parts and just being greedy… They deserve to live and be loved…
GM can sue me... If they think sharing forgotten technical data is worth it... Then they should have been selling it for a profit. I done it for free download....
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums/toronado-27/
68 – 70 Toronado 455 Radiator without the correct specs will not work) do not try to make it adapt
Here are my struggles and what I learned in my experiences…
I seen a post recently where someone purchased an aluminum radiator for there 68 Toronado that was the incorrect size. Just like allot of parts this is also one that the parts computers have wrong… I personally have been through this so I figured I would share my story… When I purchased my 68 it was having random overheating issues and would gradually loose its water. I worked my way replacing one thing after another… Unfortunately, every time she overheated it would destroy the seal on my fuel pump… One of the first things I did was try to order a new radiator and of course the one I ordered was way to small. I remember actually arguing with the person on the phone. I said it was way to small and they were hell bent that my original radiator had been replaced at some point. Well, they finally agreed to take it back with a restock fee… I hunted everywhere for a radiator that with a 17 x 34 core. The only new thing I could find was for a 90s GM truck, and you know that wouldn’t work. This was back in 2014… Finally, I found a company that custom built the correct radiator for my 68.
US Radiator Company builds the correct size radiator. Hoping this was going to be the solution to my overheating problem. I ordered a 17x34 Brass/Copper radiator with transmission cooler connections, in/out connections, and also went with the extra row… I had to look back to see who I purchased it from so I could share it with you. I paid $698.00 in 2014, of course there now about a $1000.00. So, this is one route you can go if you need a new radiator…
Q: Did this correct my overheating issues?
A: No, it didn’t do anything…
After exhausting about everything possible… Lower temperature thermostats, new fan blades, water pump, and a ton of fuel pumps…
Finally, the old girl overheated to the point she cracked a head…
So, in actuality my Original Problem was: I had a very slowly leaking head gasket…
My 1968 Ocean Turquoise Oldsmobile Toronado started her life out in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She only had 51k original miles when I got her, but she set from 1987 to 2008. I am pretty sure that’s because she started having overheating issues then… The original owner simply put a tarp over and she set for more than 20 plus years in his driveway… The original owner’s son sold the car to the person that I acquired it from and didn’t really know much about it… The original owner’s health was declining and he was unfortunately going to have to move into a nursing home… So, his son sold her… She obviously wasn’t the owner’s daily driver. Thankfully the original owner saved every receipt, plate renewal, window sticker, and even the original documents from when he purchased her band new… Unfortunately, 1987 was when time stopped for her… Sadly during this time the dry desert heat wasn’t good to her interior as well as allot of her other components… Thankfully time restarted for her in 2008 and has continued till today… Her interior has all been restored, dash replaced, engine completely rebuilt, and so much more… I sure hope the original owner has been looking down now from above and smiling at her progress…
Thank fully I was able to find original 68 Toronado heads from some of the wonderful Oldsmobile people I have built relationships with online during my restoration… There wasn’t anything wrong with my original radiator (Shown in the Image)
If I had things to do over again. The first thing I would do is have her original 455 engine rebuilt… I would have saved allot of time and money…
However, I wouldn’t have learned near what I have and made friends with the people who have helped me…
So, let’s all share our experiences and help each other… Let’s make getting these cars restored above over pricing parts and just being greedy… They deserve to live and be loved…
GM can sue me... If they think sharing forgotten technical data is worth it... Then they should have been selling it for a profit. I done it for free download....
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums/toronado-27/
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,325
From: Nova Scotia, Canada
Thanks for the post! Yes agreed, love sharing the experiences with the people on here. I just got my 66' and I've been posting quite a bit and have already learned quite a bit from the people on here.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,666
From: Ft. Wayne, IN
Beautiful '68, thanks for keeping them alive.
I remember replacing the radiator on my '69 Toro, but that was back in the mid '80s when new ones of the correct size were available. The one thing that stood out to me was that it was HUGE compared to the radiator in most other cars.
I remember replacing the radiator on my '69 Toro, but that was back in the mid '80s when new ones of the correct size were available. The one thing that stood out to me was that it was HUGE compared to the radiator in most other cars.
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