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radiators

PostPosted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 12:19 pm
by heinz057
www.discountradiators.com look up a 78 buick skyhawk 3.8 with air will work with a v8 and has a trans cooler the upper oulet is straight and it is 3 rows. part # 533 coast $133

PostPosted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 4:04 pm
by acstestinc
Won't a straight upper outlet interfere with power steeering on a V8 H-Body?

Paul

PostPosted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 4:23 pm
by heinz057
wont fit power steering on v8 pump is to close to the inlet

PostPosted: Fri Apr 27, 2007 5:17 pm
by Kev442
I checked them against what I paid for my most recent non h body radiator and the were lower by 2.50 than the best price I could find elsewhere. Good call!

..

PostPosted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 2:35 pm
by 78spyder
I wonder how many people are using the 3.8 AC rad for their v8's. Anyone here? Heres a fun fact, seems the 151 AC rad is the same part number as the 3.8 AC one. Ive heard of some people that overheated with 4cyl rads and some said they worked fine. I wonder if that could be the diffrence in the 140 and 151 radiators? I'm going to try the 151 AC rad with Taurus fan on a mild Vortec 350, mainly because its there now as an experiment. If it runs hot I have a Griffin universal to go in. Be a fun test anyhow, I'll shut it down if she hits 200 degrees.

Re: radiators

PostPosted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 12:57 am
by BillPappy
We need a list of radiators that will work in the H body cars.. I found out today a 1988-93 chevy truck radiators are very close.
28" X 18" at lest thats what was in my sunbird.. What is the stock size of a H body radiators???

Pappy

Re: radiators

PostPosted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 8:04 am
by waybad
BillPappy wrote:We need a list of radiators that will work in the H body cars.. I found out today a 1988-93 chevy truck radiators are very close.
28" X 18" at lest thats what was in my sunbird.. What is the stock size of a H body radiators???

Pappy

Do all these mount in the same spot as the originals?

Re: radiators

PostPosted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 12:15 pm
by SunbirdMan
BillPappy wrote:..
28" X 18" at lest thats what was in my sunbird.. What is the stock size of a H body radiators???

Pappy


Sunbirds were the only h-body to come with 18" tall radiators. The only ones I've seen were on factory v8s. I guess its because of the flat hood it can be taller than the others. Don't know for sure, maybe it would fit in a monza. The radiator I have now has a straight inlet. I spliced in a copper 45 degree plumbing coupler to kick it up and outward to clear the p/s pump.

Re: radiators

PostPosted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 11:36 pm
by clintjohns
WENT TO A LOCAL RAD. SHOP TODAY AND THEY FOUND A 3 CORE RADIATOR THAT HAS THE SAME DIM. AS MY STOCK 2 CORE - OBV. A LITTLE THICKER BUT NO PROB. THEY SAID THEY CAN PUT MY INLET AND OUTLETS ON THIS NEW RADIATOR FOR $20. I WILL LET YOU KNOW HOW IT TURNS OUT AND IF THE NEW THICKNESS IS PROB OR NOT. SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET OUT FOR UNDER 200 FOR A NEW ONE

Re: radiators

PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 8:23 pm
by res0o7eb
Discount Radiators no longer carries the Buick Skyhawk 3-core, V-6 w/AC radiator, Part #CU533.
They list this at $148, but I tried to buy one and I was promptly refunded my money.
[Edit - maybe you can buy one today - call them first]
http://www.discountradiators.com/search ... /index.htm
Manufacturer is Spectra. There is a picture on this web page and it looks like the stock unit I pulled off of my Skyhawk:
http://prod.spectra-ssl.com/PROD/apps/e ... RS=1.07.01
Here are the specs:
1976 BUICK SKYHAWK , V6 3.8L, AC
CoreDepth: 1 7/8";
CoreHeight: 14 5/8";
CoreMaterial: Copper;
CoreWidth: 20 3/8";
InletHeader: 2 3/4" x 16 1/2";
OutletHeader: 2 3/4" x 16 1/2";
RowNo: 3;
TankMaterial: Brass;
Inlet: 1 1/2"
Outlet: 1 1/2"

Overall Dimensions are approximately 25 7/8 x 16 1/2 x 2

USA Radiator price is $182(updated 09May2010). Same 533 part number.
http://www.usaradiator.com/BUICK--SKYHAWK--1976.html
Looks like the inlet is curved upward to clear a V-8 Power Steering Pump.
Image

Rock Auto lists it at $201 + shipping. Same 533 part number.
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/racatal ... ttype=2172
Image

78spyder wrote:Heres a fun fact, seems the 151 AC rad is the same part number as the 3.8 AC one. Ive heard of some people that overheated with 4cyl rads and some said they worked fine. I wonder if that could be the diffrence in the 140 and 151 radiators?
You could be correct. The heavy-duty 140 radiator is smaller and only has 1-core.

Re: radiators

PostPosted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 7:28 am
by marco_1978_spyder
I think the vega 140 radiator (still available) used to have the nickname "postage stamp"

If you see one its really small compared to all the others. Only about half as long.

Re: radiators

PostPosted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 11:49 pm
by res0o7eb
Here is the 26x16x2.5 universal $295(Edit: Now$338.95) Be-Cool aluminum radiator mentioned in this post: viewtopic.php?p=117566:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/BCI-65004/
Core thickness is only 1.25, though.
Image

Here is the 26x16x3 universal $195(Edit: Now$179.95) Griffin aluminum radiator:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/GRI-1-25221-X/
Core thickness is 2.25.
Image
Here is the 23.875x16x1.75 universal $137 Summit aluminum radiator:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-380645/
Single row core with 1" tubes.
Image

Re: radiators

PostPosted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 8:23 pm
by clintjohns
OK SO WHAT WILL FIT A 79 SUNBIRD W/ POWER STEERING THAT IS IN A 3 CORE. i HAVE A TWO CORE NOW AND ON A SIXTEY DEGREE DAY IT STILL RUNS 190 WITH NO THERMOSTAT. SO I KNOW IT WON'T HANDLE A 98 DEG. DAY LIKE WE HAVE IN THE SOUTH. I DON'T CARE IF I HAVE TO PUT ELECTRIC FANS ON IT INSTEAD OF A ENGINE DRIVEN ONE. I ALREADY HAVE ONE ON IT PLUS THE ENGINE FAN.

Re: Spectre CU533 Available on ebay

PostPosted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 12:05 am
by res0o7eb
The Spectra Premium CU533 3-core radiator is listed on ebay for $125.79.
Crap, the seller upped the price to $148.99
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 0385469088
Seller (carparts - http://myworld.ebay.com/ebaymotors/carparts/) claims to have "more than 10 available".
Here's a new link: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 0447328022

Note; I mentioned that Discount Radiators - from the original post in this thread - no longer carries the Spectre CU533 Radiator. That is based on my personal experience last spring submitting an on-line order. I was refunded my money 3-days later after an email explaining that they are not available. But, Discount Radiators still list the CU533 on their web-site for $148.

Re: radiators

PostPosted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 6:51 am
by cjbiagi
From those pics of all the radiators I don't see any that curve up like the V8 power steering needs.