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3100 RADIATORS


GIANT MOTH

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HEY!!! I own a 95 GP with a 3100. Replaced the radiator with an OEM sometime ago. There are radiators out there that have 2 to 5 rows. Any of you know of any dealers or manufacturers that make 2 to 5 row radiators for my ride? Have any of you replaced your radiator with these 2 to 5 row radiators? Is there a difference in temperature control? I live in the desert so it is a concern of mine.

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someone will chime in here and say get one for a 3.4 dohc cause they're bigger. however this is not true for 94+, all the 3100 and dohc ones i've seen are the same and about 1 1/2" thick. stock is probably as good as you'll get without going custom(expensive). swap in a cooler thermostat to get the coolant out of the block and into the radiator sooner, make sure you've got no obstructions and your radiator is nice and clear of debris, and i've heard that redline water wetter actually does work and drop the temp of your engine about 10 degrees.

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Make sure your valence is in good condition and is not loose either.......

 

 

You dont have to worry about your cary over heating. The primary and even secondary fans come on before your car even comes close to over heating or doing any kind of damage.

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I was checking out my OEM radiator when I took it out of the box. It looks like it could of been a three row radiator. Where can I purchase my performance three row radiator? If I can get a bigger badder better radiator instead of having to go through the trouble of customs I would dump like two bottles of water wetter down the hatch.

 

 

Also, I was checking out a few 160 rated thermostats. Most where for 3800s. Hey you think their the same size to fit in the housing? The thermostats that are built for 3800s are insane. Their also easier to find but I don't have a 3800. Gas is expensive and I like my 3100.

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Im assuming you have a stock engine. Dont bother with any other radiators, the stock one of good enough for what you need it for.

 

BTW, change the color.

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:arrow: Ok I figured out how to change the color.

 

 

 

:arrow: You have got to be kidding me. None of you have larger radiators with 2 to 5 rows? You must live is in the Antartic. I would assume that living in the desert would constitute me getting a bigger radiator and dumping a few bottles of Water Wetter down there as well. I bet 3800s have bigger radiators.

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Like I said before. The stock radiator is big enough to handle everything and wont overheat your car. If you live in the desert tell me, does everyone out there get a bigger radiator? No, because you dont need a bigger one. Thats why you have a good radiator from the factory and dual electric fans.

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:arrow: Your right but I like to beast around here and there. It's getting really hot too. That's when my car temps start rising above normal. I was like "if I got a bigger radiator that would mean more fluid, more time to cool down, and plus I can add MORE Water Wetter into my system". I just don't find it all fair that my 3100 has to suffer under these conditions. That's all. And really I find it hard to believe that new cars, like the GTO's and the like, that have monster engines in them are using 1 row radiators.
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I had a modded 86 TPI corvette and they have very little airflow in that tight engine bay area for the radiator to cool down.That being said,like most GM cars,they were designed to run hot,about 220-230 degrees was considered normal.Only had a basic radiator in there.Some areas got a hevay duty cooling rad but it didnt do much,and theres only one part number for one rad,despite HD rad claims...

 

That being said,I felt it ran a bit hot in those temps so the best thing I could do,and with any GM car,is to make sure the radiator is CLEAN...check between the a/c condensor too!Make sure the fins to the condensor and rad itself have no grime stuck in there.

 

If theres any blockage,the coolant wont cool down enough.Then you can get a new fan temp siwtch or have the ecm programmed wether the car is prom or flashed and have the coolant fans turn on sooner...say have it come on at 200 and shut off at 180 and have a cooler thermostat installed,but dont go below a 175 stat.I just kept my stat 195 and the car ran great and never seen temps over 210 on the hottest days(90-100 outside),with the a/c blowing full blast.

 

A larger rad can hold more coolant but if you cant get the airflow to pass through or have the fans pull it earlier or enough,its not gonna cool down.

 

My 95 3800 Minivan never gets hotter than 200 degrees either,with the stock rad.I take the rad out every year and clean the fins out and get the leaves,garbage and whatever out between the a/c condensor and radiator and that helps keep temps down.

 

Finally,be sure your system has proper pressure.If your rad cap is old and the system isnt holding good pressure,it wont cool properly.

 

Whew,this was long! Sorry folks!

 

 

 

 

 

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