You can type here any text you want

Cold Case Radiator Top Plate

Welcome!

By registering with us, you'll be able to discuss, share and private message with other members of our community.

SignUp Now!

GNRick

Retired member
Joined
Mar 21, 2004
Messages
5,485
I realize this thread is 2 years old. Went to install my CC radiator today. Huge pita! The damn thing is too tall and too thick. Removed rubber bushings under and over the radiator. It's still too tall. Can't bolt down top plate. There is also no room on bottom plate to slip the dual spal fans in. Finally, tranny cooler line fittings hit the condensor.
 
As you found out, it is not a direct fit. You will have to do some reducing the thickness of the rubber pieces and do some cutting of the metal area near where the lines go into the radiator on the passenger side to adjust for the change from the stock unit to the CC unit.
 
20220331_222846[1].jpg

I'll post a couple more pictures if it helps. NOTHING ever fits good in these things so I just accepted that, plus I'm working on a hot air car so I have to adapt everything. However that being said the Cold case rad fit very easy for me. Cut the tab off on the rad support and it dropped right in. the toughest thing was the fittings on the late model turbo regal have the fittings on the front side of the rad where as the earlier models it was on the back. So I had to change over to late model hook ups. the brass was the only thing that fit the gap between the rad and the condenser. Performance world makes a fitting to adapt from inverted flare to AN/JIC which made it a lot easier.
 
I also have a Janis Stg2 trans, Hayden cooler and Magnafine billet filter housing, magnet and filter, with PTFE lines which are thicker. I got it all to fit, function and look excellent.
20220331_223042[1].jpg
 
20220504_220905[1].jpg

Also I would suggest the Gates shrink style clamps. they spread the pressure nicely and don't look ugly. buy two extra when you do so if you ever had to cut them off you have two handy.
 
I realize this thread is 2 years old. Went to install my CC radiator today. Huge pita! The damn thing is too tall and too thick. Removed rubber bushings under and over the radiator. It's still too tall. Can't bolt down top plate. There is also no room on bottom plate to slip the dual spal fans in. Finally, tranny cooler line fittings hit the condensor.
I can post up a couple pictures if you want. All I can say is I found it easy to install. I'd have to search for the pictures, I'm pretty sure I documented the whole thing.
 
IMG_5746.JPG

I made sure to put rubber in places where metal could possibly rub. I bent some tube to fit to the existing 84 style lines. which you won't have to do if you have a late model. I removed a couple pieces that were not really doing anything.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_5786.JPG
    IMG_5786.JPG
    1.2 MB · Views: 141
  • IMG_5783.JPG
    IMG_5783.JPG
    1.7 MB · Views: 171
  • IMG_6011.JPG
    IMG_6011.JPG
    1.9 MB · Views: 120
Here's an update. I jiggled the radiator, picked it up and put it back down. For some reason I was able to bolt down the top plate now. The radiator doesn't fit flush to the top plate like the stock one but it works. The top plate meets the radiator, if that makes sense. The fans still don't have room to slip into the bottom support , but I think I can make a bracket to deal with that.
 
Here's an update. I jiggled the radiator, picked it up and put it back down. For some reason I was able to bolt down the top plate now. The radiator doesn't fit flush to the top plate like the stock one but it works. The top plate meets the radiator, if that makes sense. The fans still don't have room to slip into the bottom support , but I think I can make a bracket to deal with that.
Make sure you freshen up the rubbers under the rad. Anything rubber will work, old hose, floor mats, whatever. As long as metal to metal is mitigated.
 
I just installed a CC unit in a bone stock 40k mile 87 GN. I found the fit to be very much sub-optimal. The lower fan bracket does not fit like it should. Probably the worst thing about the fit is the fact the stock transmission cooler lines do not mate to the stock lines as the front plane of the tank is now about 1 inch forward of the front plane of the stock tank. I was able to trim the support cushions on a band saw to reduce the overall height so the stock top plate fits reasonably OK. There is also a bit of interference between the upper tans cooler brass fitting and the AC condenser bracket which doesn’t please me either.

Has anyone else had the similar problem with their stock trans cooler lines?

The term “OEM fitment” has lost its real meaning and it certainly doesn’t apply with these radiators in my view.
 
It is NOT a direct fit and anyone advertising it as such should be banned! Modifications must be made. There are a number of posts on this subject. We had to trim part of the metal on passenger side to allow space for the lines as well as trimming thickness of rubber pads. This radiator is taller and wider than the original.
 
My F body one just fell in. I don't use the oil cooler so that didn't matter. I have an aftermarket trans cooler and would have had to make up the lines anyway so that's a wash. The lower hose is about 2" higher but it doesn't affect the alinement. Temps stay at 170. Works for me.
 
It is NOT a direct fit and anyone advertising it as such should be banned! Modifications must be made. There are a number of posts on this subject. We had to trim part of the metal on passenger side to allow space for the lines as well as trimming thickness of rubber pads. This radiator is taller and wider than the original.
Thanks Hunter Dog. I thought I was losing it. I'm very disappointed in the fit of this thing and plan on returning it to Summit. I guess I'll have to break down and get the US Radiator unit.
 
My F body one just fell in. I don't use the oil cooler so that didn't matter. I have an aftermarket trans cooler and would have had to make up the lines anyway so that's a wash. The lower hose is about 2" higher but it doesn't affect the alinement. Temps stay at 170. Works for me.
F body as in plastic tanks...
 
Thanks Hunter Dog. I thought I was losing it. I'm very disappointed in the fit of this thing and plan on returning it to Summit. I guess I'll have to break down and get the US Radiator unit.
I replaced my "F" body radiator with a CC unit

As with any aftermarket parts, there will be different experiences. I just bought a Cold Case & had to modify a few things, but the fitment seemed fine. I'm using and Intrepid dual fan set-up. No oil cooler lines. Have trans cooler so I plugged the front holes & ran the trans cooler in series from the oil cooler fitting holes.

I trimmed the metal on the header panel & put a piece of vacuum hose on it due to it hitting the upper frame portion of the radiator(above the fins). I've seen this part(on the radiator) trimmed out on here as well.

I also bought some rubber pads off of the 'Zon, trimmed them, cut a hole for the drain tube, & replaced my old rubber pads. Can still use stock top plate as well.

Plug & play? Not completely. Fitment? Ok. Performance? Too early to say.
 
Back
Top