6SENSE.. F-bod radiator works great!

[cool 84]

We used the part# for the F-bod radiator you gave and installed it in my dad's daily driver 86 T-type. What a difference. Temps would creep to 170 degrees at idle but the fan is mounted with about a 2" gap so that problem will be solved. It was about 94 degrees today and in normal stop and go traffic the hottest it ever got was 170 degrees and sat on 165 90% of the time. I guess the thermostat is a little off because 165 is as low as it goes in the winter also. I think it would've gone lower if the thermostat allowed it to. This is with an AC condensor and tranny/ engine oil cooler in front of the radiator.

I can't wait to get one for my car mainly becuase it's 1.5" narrower than the current one and my intercooler piping rubs. An extra 3/4" on both sides would be plenty. Plus my intercooler is probably much less restrictive to airflow than an AC condensor so I'm looking forward to 160 degree temps in the summer with a front mount. For $117 you can't beat it.

 

[6SENSE]

IMO, it definately goes on the "best bang for the buck" list.
I showed it to some of the 86/87 guys at our local GSCA meeting last Sunday. They seemed to think it was pretty cool. Especially paired up with the RC fans. Aluminum rad for $117 doesnt even sound right.
Note, I mentioned they were 86/87 guys because, well basically my car is the only non-intercooled one they are used to seeing. So, they kind of get a kick looking under my hood anyway............."wow, look at all that space in front of the engine" . I know Im getting off the subject but...... Im still waiting to see another hotair at the track. As far as I know, I am the only one that has raced at Gateway International for at least the last 3-4 years (maybe even since Dan Smith had converted his car to '87 parts?). The other day at the track I mentioned that if I ever get traction to lay down some decent 60 fts and get over 100mph that I would cut a high 12 second run. The reply (86/87 guys) was if I get my car to run a 12 second run I would be buying beer. Well later that night I ran three triple digit mph runs including the run listed in my sig.......12's are commin' . Hey read the sig! I like being the underdog! Its just that since Im the only one, I dont think they will really believe it till they see it. Oh, the pressure .

We, were talking about radiators werent we? Sorry, guess Im tired and ranting again. Thought you guys would get a kick out of the little story though. How many hotairs racing around your area?

 

[6SENSE]

Oops, I do know of ONE hotair that raced ONE day a year or so ago. Sorry Steve .

 

[cool 84]

When me and a friend of mine show up at the track we get more than a few weird looks from the IC crowd. We've usually put up a good showing though. At a BGNRA meet my dad's car put up a 14.0@100mph through stock exhaust and convertor, pump gas, 19psi boost, AFPR, K&N, and chip and that's it. It should've hit the 13s if it had good tires. Mine went 13.9@101mph with only the addition of an intercooler and 13psi. A friend of mine who has a very nice hotair (GN1 heads, ported intake, TA62, KB headers and downpipe, 210-205 cam, etc) showed up too but unfortunately he was in smog form. He had to pull the heads off. So on a stock hotair with the exceptions being a TA62, 210-205 cam, and 2.5" DP he went 14.5@106mph. Couldn't get off the line because a tranny shop put the wrong convertor in and it stalled at 1,800rpm. I was very surprised at the mph for stock heads and intake and headers.

It was funny that in a long line of GNs people would gather around the hotairs. Some didn't know they existed lol.

 

[irockwithdirt]

I've been looking into this. Are you guys using the 1 5/8" core one like this? http://www.radiatorbarn.com/s7.asp?...AMARO&submodel=NONE&engine_size=V8,5.7L,350ci Everywhere I have found them for $115-117 they are the 1 3/8" ones .

Thanks, Kevin

 

[6SENSE]

irockwithdirt, here is the exact radiator:http://webbase.transpro.com/lookup.php?partnum=433918&acctname=icarz&acctpw=smartlinkIt is a GDI unit which is actually a division of Transpro. Get it at AutoZone with a lifetime warranty for $117.99. They keep them in stock.

cool 84, Im going to max out this TA33, but I think I really need a bigger turbo for my combo [to utilize the head porting]. When you think about it, yeah the 33 is a step up from the pea-shooter stocker, but its still a bit of a step down from the smallest turbo upgrade anyone puts on a 86/87 car : a TA49. Its all about combination to have these cars perform right, bad enough Im running on a stock cam now. Not sure what turbo size to have John Craig put together for me, but I guess it dont matter right now, cause I dont have any turbomoney .

 

[49-blues]

The radiator with 1.5/8" tubes has twenty fins per inch-will this cool better or worse than the rad with 1.3/8" and 15 fins per inch or are they about equal?

 

[irockwithdirt]

I would think more cooling surface would = better cooling along with the larger capacity of 1/4" of the core? Just a guess though

 

[Rob_85Ttype]

What year F-body do you ask for?

 

[cool 84]

I used the PN 6SENSE gave me but I think it's a 1990 IROC. I currently have a high density 3 core radiator. I used to have a big 4 core but the fin count was lower. By going with the high fin count 3 core, my temps were substantially lower. With an electric fan, the low fin count radiators just don't work, no matter how big. My current one will sit near 165 in the middle of summer where the old 4 core would run near 210.

I guess what I'm trying to say is the efficiency is more important than the size especially in low airflow situations.

 

[cool 84]

Originally posted by 6SENSE


cool 84, Im going to max out this TA33, but I think I really need a bigger turbo for my combo [to utilize the head porting]. When you think about it, yeah the 33 is a step up from the pea-shooter stocker, but its still a bit of a step down from the smallest turbo upgrade anyone puts on a 86/87 car : a TA49. Its all about combination to have these cars perform right, bad enough Im running on a stock cam now. Not sure what turbo size to have John Craig put together for me, but I guess it dont matter right now, cause I dont have any turbomoney .

I've never really understood why they would offer a turbo smaller than a 49 given the way a 49 spools. That was an awesome turbo, I kind of missed it when I upgraded, it came in handy when I got caught off guard. I'm going to be selling my 64 in a couple months to get a new GT series turbo if you're interested.

 

[6SENSE]

Originally posted by cool 84
.....I'm going to be selling my 64 in a couple months to get a new GT series turbo if you're interested.

Hmmm...get back to me on that when your ready. Definately an option.