Miko K Posted July 15, 2010 Report Share Posted July 15, 2010 I did all kinds of searches here and everywhere, can't find out the truth about radiators. Advance auto offers a single row 1 3/8" thick: http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_Radiator-Ready-Rad_19920448-P_31_R|GRPCOOLAMS_1443183692___ I found this one and a few more on ebay that is a 2 row 1" thick: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280500063895&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT What is your experience with radiators guys? I went to the local yard today and only saw single row big radiators on the 3800 and DOHC cars, I am going to get a brand new one just for a peace of mind but just trying to get the best one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted July 15, 2010 Report Share Posted July 15, 2010 The 3800 and DOHC cars came with thicker stock radiators. piece of mind or not, if the radiator looks good then it should be good. tip: if you get a thicker radiator, you need a different driver's side fan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miko K Posted July 15, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2010 Yep, I am getting a set of slim 16" fans from ebay, rated at 2500CFM each. I am not sure if the 2 row will work better than the 1 row radiator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted July 15, 2010 Report Share Posted July 15, 2010 I'd just get an LQ1 fan and radiator. get one before deathcool and it will more likely be better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GnatGoSplat Posted July 15, 2010 Report Share Posted July 15, 2010 The eBay radiator description is a lie! I bought that exact radiator from that exact seller on eBay, and they sent me a 5/8" thick single-row radiator. It is really thin! I complained that it was not the specs they listed on the auction, so I returned it for exchange (they paid return shipping). They said they would research and see if they do have a thicker 2-row version, but when they got it back, they said the p/n on the box matched what they had listed on the auction and all other rads for that p/n are the same, so they decided to just refund my money. It would have worked, except it was so thin. Don't buy that one! I got the CU1518 from this site: http://www.yourautocoolingsource.com/site/823209/product/CU1518 It's the best price I was able to find. They must have a local warehouse, because it was on my porch the very next day after ordering online. It's Spectra Premium brand, same as what they carry at Autozone and I think exact same specs as the one you linked to at Advance Auto. Works fine, perfect fit, and it is the exact same thickness as OEM for the 3.4 DOHC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miko K Posted July 15, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2010 Thanks man, you saved me from quite the hassle. I was going to get the ebay one. I went to Advance and NAPA today and measured their radiators with my digital caliper- both stores are selling the same exact product PN 43-2387, napa puts another PN on the box but the radiators have the same 43-2387 stickers on them. Both were 1 row and measured about 1.076" on the top of the core. Both had 33 fins, my 5/8" one has 34. So I guess there is no 1 3/8" or double row radiators, just the 1 row ones, just like the thick GM ones. I am going to wait another week to see if anyone else will chime in with info and will see which one is the best choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtwmechanic Posted July 15, 2010 Report Share Posted July 15, 2010 zzp sells a larger hd rad. i know i keep refering to using 02 impy parts in differnet posts but that was the parts car for my swap so go figure but the fans off of it work great and provide a little extra clearence to the front exaust manifold. the combo of both works excellent. i am just guessing you have a cutty by your pic and that is what i have and i am running this set up in mine. we have been having 96* days with a heat index of 110* and my fans hardly even need to cycle http://www.zzperformance.com/grand_prix/products1.php?id=222:thumbsup:already set up to use 99-up gm fans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtremerevolution Posted July 15, 2010 Report Share Posted July 15, 2010 Just an FYI, I bought that exact same radiator for my 95 Regal (L27) as a replacement when the stock one cracked. I didn't bother to read the description, but I did compare them when the new one came in, and it was identical to my old one in regard to thickness. I know this because I had to use the same top middle mounting bracket from the old radiator since the one on the new one wouldn't work properly. However, they do list mine as 5/8", so they sent me the correct item. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Fury Posted July 15, 2010 Report Share Posted July 15, 2010 zzp sells a larger hd rad. i know i keep refering to using 02 impy parts in differnet posts but that was the parts car for my swap so go figure but the fans off of it work great and provide a little extra clearence to the front exaust manifold. the combo of both works excellent. i am just guessing you have a cutty by your pic and that is what i have and i am running this set up in mine. we have been having 96* days with a heat index of 110* and my fans hardly even need to cycle http://www.zzperformance.com/grand_prix/products1.php?id=222:thumbsup:already set up to use 99-up gm fans. Haha, his cutty is FAR FAR FAR from 'just a cutty' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Addicted to eaton Posted July 15, 2010 Report Share Posted July 15, 2010 hd rad + headers = Big problems! Friends car with HD rad and SD headers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtwmechanic Posted July 15, 2010 Report Share Posted July 15, 2010 mine is an 1 1/4" thick, stock gtp is 1" and 3xxx w-body's are 5/8" at least the ones i've seen. you have to specify that you want the oversized one or they will send a stock replacemnet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miko K Posted July 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2010 (edited) mine is an 1 1/4" thick, stock gtp is 1" and 3xxx w-body's are 5/8" at least the ones i've seen. you have to specify that you want the oversized one or they will send a stock replacemnet. Can you actually measure the core size? I have not been able to find anything over 1.076" yet. My GTP had a 5/8" radiator The pic on the ZZP site is the same exact one as the ones that NAPA and Advance sell. It really confusing... As far as the clearance, I am going to use a set of 16" slim fans, I will move my liquid intercooler between the bumper and the radiator and will move the radiator aft about an inch and a half to get more airflow. I have the room with my homemade powerlog style headers. Right now the intercooler is blocking the airflow pretty bad and the pusher fan in front of the radiator isn't doing much. Thanks for all the replies guys! I hope that we can find out all the mysteries aroudn these radiators . Edited July 16, 2010 by Miko K typo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kuntzie Posted July 16, 2010 Report Share Posted July 16, 2010 im using a 96 3.4 gtp rad is 1 3/8"..... im using fans setup from a intrigue with a 3.5 dohc, the fans are slimmer, the drivers side fan is over 1/2 " thinner then the stocker, i have more clearance going from 5/8 to 1 3/8" rad, by swapping them in, you wont have any more or less clearance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miko K Posted July 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2010 I am going to the local yard tomorrow to see what I can find there. Hopefully one of these, I know that there is an LQ1 GTP there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GnatGoSplat Posted July 16, 2010 Report Share Posted July 16, 2010 There is really no mystery. 1-1/4" or 1-3/8", they are about the same and it's what the 3.4 DOHC cars got. Spectra Premium CU1518 that I mentioned before is between 1-1/4" and 1-3/8" and is the thickest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miko K Posted July 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2010 Cool, thanks for the pic. I will order one of these today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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