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Old 06-28-2017, 12:48 PM   #1
Carl Spangler
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Need larger radiator for 71 C10 with L6

Greetings

My 71 C10 with 250 needs a new radiator.

It has the original size (2 core?) thin radiator. If I'm going to replace this radiator I'd like to add some capacity. What size would fit in this truck? Would be nice to replace with a 3-4 core radiator.

Here's the radiator that's currently in the truck. I'm assuming it's either the original or an original-replacement.



The two top tank hold down clamps are spaced 26.5" center-center.

thanks

Last edited by Carl Spangler; 06-28-2017 at 12:59 PM.
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Old 06-28-2017, 02:27 PM   #2
Carl Spangler
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Re: Need larger radiator for 71 C10 with L6

Are the plastic tank and aluminum core radiators decent or junk?

Edit: Did a quick search and it looks like plastic tank radiators are pretty much standard now.

I'll probably order an NPD radiator.

Last edited by Carl Spangler; 06-28-2017 at 04:44 PM.
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Old 06-14-2019, 06:49 AM   #3
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Re: Need larger radiator for 71 C10 with L6

Hey Carl,
I know this is a year old post but what did you end up doing to solve your radiator issue. I am now in the same boat you were a year ago and looking for a radiator.
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Old 06-14-2019, 07:54 AM   #4
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Re: Need larger radiator for 71 C10 with L6

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Hey Carl,
I know this is a year old post but what did you end up doing to solve your radiator issue. I am now in the same boat you were a year ago and looking for a radiator.

He hasn't been on since 10/22/18 but you never know when someone will pop back in......

Just a heads up.

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Old 06-14-2019, 08:14 AM   #5
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Re: Need larger radiator for 71 C10 with L6

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Hey Carl,
I know this is a year old post but what did you end up doing to solve your radiator issue. I am now in the same boat you were a year ago and looking for a radiator.
Just get a 3 or 4 core radiator for this year truck. You will need the corresponding hold downs and lower saddles. They are found on the parts board pretty regularly
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Old 06-14-2019, 09:20 AM   #6
Carl Spangler
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Re: Need larger radiator for 71 C10 with L6

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Hey Carl,
I know this is a year old post but what did you end up doing to solve your radiator issue. I am now in the same boat you were a year ago and looking for a radiator.
I bought a 3 core all metal radiator. I can't remember the vendor name but the tag on the top indicates VCCS H201-2. It was just under $200 including shipping.

I also installed an overflow tank and a 10# cap. The "low pressure" cap allows the coolant to partially fill the overflow tank every time the engine is run warm-hot. When the engine cools the fluid is sucked back into the radiator/engine. This discharge-refill process eventually fills all of the air voids in the engine. At that point there is maximum heat transfer from the hot parts of the head into the coolant system. The whole coolant system works fabulous now and the low pressure (10#) cap means the system isn't being stressed with high pressure. Works GREAT!

Last edited by Carl Spangler; 06-14-2019 at 09:39 AM.
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Old 07-04-2019, 04:55 PM   #7
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Re: Need larger radiator for 71 C10 with L6

Quick update after another minor mod:

I switched out the 10# radiator cap to a 7 pound Stant 10328 Lev-R-Vent cap. With the new 3 core radiator this truck rarely hits 190 degrees and the 7 pound cap with overflow tank works perfecto!

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Old 07-04-2019, 10:51 PM   #8
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Re: Need larger radiator for 71 C10 with L6

Glad to see it all worked out!
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Old 07-05-2019, 01:10 AM   #9
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Re: Need larger radiator for 71 C10 with L6

Thank You Carl Spangler for the reply. Great to hear its working out good for you.
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Old 07-05-2019, 08:51 AM   #10
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Re: Need larger radiator for 71 C10 with L6

Carl,
Glad this all worked out for you. I'm also in the same boat, I need a radiator for my 6 cyc. I'm adding Air to the truck, mine has a radiator shroud, I see yours didn't. Do you know what the over flow tank came off from, looks like it belongs there.
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Old 09-16-2020, 11:46 PM   #11
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Re: Need larger radiator for 71 C10 with L6

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Carl,
Glad this all worked out for you. I'm also in the same boat, I need a radiator for my 6 cyc. I'm adding Air to the truck, mine has a radiator shroud, I see yours didn't. Do you know what the over flow tank came off from, looks like it belongs there.
Here's an eBay link to the overflow tank I used:
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...85692&_sacat=0
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Old 09-17-2020, 02:41 AM   #12
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Re: Need larger radiator for 71 C10 with L6

From reading up some aluminum rads can cool better from being able to have larger wider tubes then old 4 core copper rads

Stock caps are 15 psi with overflow tank i would be inclined to look for a cap at 15 psi with overflow capability

Places like rock auto list all aluminium rads for our trucks
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Old 09-17-2020, 08:54 AM   #13
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Thumbs up Re: Need larger radiator for 71 C10 with L6

Best radiator you can buy for the money and it's all aluminum no plastic. I have one in my 71 C-10, 67 Ramp truck, 64 SS Impala and had one in the 56 Bel Air. Not one problem out of them and they run cooler than the stock ones.


https://picclick.com/68mm-Aluminum-R...850583294.html
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Old 09-17-2020, 09:06 PM   #14
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Re: Need larger radiator for 71 C10 with L6

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From reading up some aluminum rads can cool better from being able to have larger wider tubes then old 4 core copper rads

Stock caps are 15 psi with overflow tank i would be inclined to look for a cap at 15 psi with overflow capability

Places like rock auto list all aluminium rads for our trucks
I have heard that 13 PSI is normal for trucks w/o A/C and 16 PSI for trucks with A/C, but I ain't the Pope, so I could be wrong. The higher pressure cap raises the temp needed to boil over.
I put a wider V8-type radiator in front of the 292 L6 in my '68 C/10, when I found the L6 width was NLA.
Mine's still a copper/brass type. Do you have to use the Orange antifreeze in an aluminum radiator?
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Old 09-17-2020, 11:52 PM   #15
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Re: Need larger radiator for 71 C10 with L6

In my continuing cooling fine tuning I just swapped out the 195 degree F thermostat for a 180 degree. The cooling system is working GREAT with the 180 degree thermostat, 7 lb radiator cap, and reservoir.
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Old 09-17-2020, 11:59 PM   #16
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Re: Need larger radiator for 71 C10 with L6

Might try a body shop that restores vintage vehicles...

By chance my friend (body man at a resto shop) got me a new rad for free. he had 3 of them from resto jobs done in the past 6 mos. to year...


Mine was a 1970 HD brass $250 retail, $100 used easy. Free...


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Old 09-18-2020, 12:38 AM   #17
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Re: Need larger radiator for 71 C10 with L6

I just installed a reservoir of the '78 Nova type in my '68 Stepside. Looks great. However, the overflow outlet on the radiator neck points hard right, and with a new battery tray bracket, there's not enough room to hook up a a hose to the reservoir, the battery's in the way.
[Sorry now ''After'' picture yet.]
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Old 09-18-2020, 08:09 AM   #18
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Re: Need larger radiator for 71 C10 with L6

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Here's an eBay link to the overflow tank I used:
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...85692&_sacat=0
I'm also liking your overflow, except the ebay link brings me to their homepage?, Anymore info is greatly appreciated
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Old 09-18-2020, 01:20 PM   #19
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I'm also liking your overflow, except the ebay link brings me to their homepage?, Anymore info is greatly appreciated

Here's one vendor (multiple to choose from for the same part):
Note: This is not an EXACT fit as I had to gently bend the tabs at the bottom to conform to the inner fender well. It's also a fairly tight fit/clearance to the battery (see pic above).
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1978-1988-M...AAAOSw2S1fXpMw

You will need a cap also:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Genuine...sAAOSw3Q9db9vY

I finally found the vendor for my replacement radiator. This link is for a 3-row for a 1971 with a 6 cylinder engine:
https://www.nationalpartsdepot.com/r...s-12786-1.html

Last edited by Carl Spangler; 09-18-2020 at 02:34 PM.
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Old 01-28-2021, 11:13 AM   #20
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Re: Need larger radiator for 71 C10 with L6

Is there any benefit to having the original radiator fixed? I called a local radiator shop in town and they said they would do a full clean and then pressure test to fix any leaks. They said it will be like new when they are done with it.
I think it would look better than a shiny aluminum radiator in a 50 year old truck. I guess my logic is, if it worked for this many years shouldn't it be okay for the same stock motor in the truck?
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Old 01-28-2021, 11:49 AM   #21
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Re: Need larger radiator for 71 C10 with L6

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Is there any benefit to having the original radiator fixed? I called a local radiator shop in town and they said they would do a full clean and then pressure test to fix any leaks. They said it will be like new when they are done with it.
I think it would look better than a shiny aluminum radiator in a 50 year old truck. I guess my logic is, if it worked for this many years shouldn't it be okay for the same stock motor in the truck?
Don't know about Texas but here in Kalifornia the EPA has basically put the old style radiator repair out of business. No more acid baths to properly clean the cores, tanks, etc.

That's why all my classics are running Champion Aluminum Radiators, zero problems including one that's been in for 20 years now.

Otis my avatar has a Champion Radiator w/electric fans guaranteed to cool up to 1000 HP, I have no where near 1000 HP, but I got lots of cooling. 100+ degree days with A/C on in town/slow traffic no problems whatsoever.
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Old 01-28-2021, 12:16 PM   #22
Carl Spangler
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Re: Need larger radiator for 71 C10 with L6

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dad's72 View Post
Is there any benefit to having the original radiator fixed? I called a local radiator shop in town and they said they would do a full clean and then pressure test to fix any leaks. They said it will be like new when they are done with it.
I think it would look better than a shiny aluminum radiator in a 50 year old truck. I guess my logic is, if it worked for this many years shouldn't it be okay for the same stock motor in the truck?
The copper 3-row I put in my L6 truck looks virtually identical to the original 2-row. When hauling heaving loads up long hills the 2 row couldn't keep the engine temp stable. The new 3-row keeps the engine temp very stable under similar heavy loads.
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Old 01-28-2021, 12:52 PM   #23
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Re: Need larger radiator for 71 C10 with L6

[QUOTE=Carl Spangler;8810044]Here's one vendor (multiple to choose from for the same part):
Note: This is not an EXACT fit as I had to gently bend the tabs at the bottom to conform to the inner fender well. It's also a fairly tight fit/clearance to the battery (see pic above).
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1978-1988-M...AAAOSw2S1fXpMw

You will need a cap also:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Genuine...sAAOSw3Q9db9vY

I finally found the vendor for my replacement radiator. This link is for a 3-row for a 1971 with a 6 cylinder engine:
https://www.nationalpartsdepot.com/r...s-12786-1.html[/

Thank you Carl for the links, I was not receiving any emails for this thread for some reason?,... Until today? Strange
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