Factory Hot Air V-8 Radiator Pix And Tech

[turbofish38]

With all of threads lately about radiator hoses and cooling fans I thought I would take the time to point out that not all hot air cooling systems are the same. On some 85 HA's you could have gotten the larger V-8 sized radiator. I've posted two pictures of 1985 TR's. Notice that both have the powermaster brake booster so you really cant say all of the later build TR's recieved the larger radiator. The 84 used the smaller radiator. If you'll notice on the larger radiator that the shroud is different and the top mounting part runs the entire length of the radiator. The fan blades are the same between the two versions. Also the upper hose has an extra bend in it. And the lower hose is different but that is no big deal as the larger radiator uses the same hose that was used on the 86-87 IC cars. On the same note there are 2 different sets of heater hoses used on the 84 HA's. The difference is the number of bends on the hoses themselves so you may need to replace them as an entire set which may be on the impossible side as there aren't any preformed heater hoses on the market for the hot airs. This only applies to the 84's. The 85 uses the later design set. Sorry I dont have any pictures showing the two different heater hose designs.

 

[84GNGary]

Interesting. Nice work Eric.

 

[tb3]

Caution! long post! I'm bored at work waiting for a plane to get back.

I am in the process of getting together everything I need for a f-body rad. and electric fan conversion to my 84 gn. Current cooling system is all stock. I've got a 86/87 upper hold down plate for the radiator, and I will be installing the dual fans from g-bodyparts.com. I've already got the relays installed in the car and wired up to the ECM. I've met a turbobuick mechanic here in st. louis (he has a full time job working only on turbobuicks, apperantly people from all over the state and surrounding states send him their turbobuicks to work on) He told me the only coolant he'll put in these cars is the zerex G-05 coolant, and that I should jack the rear of the car up to get as much of the old coolant out of the block. I will also be installing a new water pump, 160 thermostat, new overflow tank and replacing all the hoses. I haven't bought any hoses yet. I was going to buy a lower hose for a 87 gn, and a upper for a 84 gn. (Will the hose fit to the neck on the radiator?) I've contacted kirbans to see if they make a hose kit that consist of all the heater hoses for the 84, and they don't. So I was just going to wait till I take the old ones off and head up to the auto parts store and see if they can match up anything with what I've got.
Turbofish38, (or anybody else), am I on the right track with the hoses? Do you have any suggestions as far as part #s or other hoses that I can cross referance from other cars when I go to the parts store? And any other good pointers when doing the conversion? This guy in st. louis who only works on turbobuicks will not go anywhere near the hot-airs and has never worked on them, and doesn't need to because he's so busy with 86/87's. Kind of funny actually, when I pulled into his driveway, his first reaction was, "if you want to go faster... sell it! and buy a intercooled buick". I explained to him I do have a 87 gn too, and I think the 84 is just a cooler car, and no, it will never be as fast as their intercooled brothers, but it won't ever be a racer or abused, and if I did take it to the track one day after I get everything done to it that I plan on doing,... I would like to think I'll be able to do a low 13 sec. quarter mile.

I've also attached a pic I just snapped of my babies a couple days ago. Hopefully the picture isn't fuzzy from downsizing it so much.

 

[tb3]

yep! fuzzy as hell, oh well. One day I'm going to learn how to host pictures somewhere so I can just link them.

 

[Jerryl]

..... and replacing all the hoses. I haven't bought any hoses yet. I was going to buy a lower hose for a 87 gn, and a upper for a 84 gn. (Will the hose fit to the neck on the radiator?) ..........

See attached link. Thanks again Turbofish!
http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/showthread.php?t=107564

 

[84GNGary]

Is the F body rad longer than the stocker? If so then a upper hose from a 84 would be too short anyway. Would the upper hose from an86/87 work?

 

[BRAD_PADGETT]

The stock upper radiator hose will fit with the F-body radiator. You simply take the hose out of the tray attached to the coil bracket. I did it and it worked for me. Brad

 

[forcefed3.8's]

I have a late 85 that had the small radiator. A friend of mine had an 85 (I don't know the production date), that had the V8 radiator.