No more Radiators available ??????? Also have a TTA radiator Question.

[t-typinator]

I was surprised a few months ago when someone said they still had stock radiators out there + any auto store had them + were cheap.
I went + checked auto zone + they had them for $100 + the turbo t/a rads were $110.
I checked yesterday + now they are over $500 at auto zone + advanced auto. found 1 for 450ish at cap.
I called a buick dealer + they are no longer available.
So i looked into a 89 TTA radiator + they are available,for less money so i guess thats the route i may go.
The t/a rad looks a bit different,and it looked like it had an extra fitting towards the top of the tank just above the upper oil cooler fitting hole.
My question's are : Is this radiator a direct bolt in or is there any mods needed to use this radiator?
Also what is the extra fitting,Overflow maybe ?,I should have checked a bit better, but i know it wasn't up on the filler neck where the little overflow tube is.
will the stock oil cooler lines from my t-type fit the t/a rad both in length + fitting size,i noticed the female fittings on the rad were plastic but i didn't check size.

 

[SuperSix]

Go with an FBody radiator.

Info from:
Vortex Buicks F-Body Radiator Installation Procedure

$111.78 at Rock Auto
http://www.rockauto.com/dbphp/prt,2,433918

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=63824

Also - search, there's a ton of threads on the FBody rad install.

 

[t-typinator]

Go with an FBody radiator.

Info from:
Vortex Buicks F-Body Radiator Installation Procedure

$111.78 at Rock Auto
VISTA-PRO Part # 433918

More Information for VISTA-PRO 433918




Also - search, there's a ton of threads on the FBody rad install.

Ok thanks for the info, if it was just an easy drop in ,i would have just done it,mine just weeps a little,so i figured for $125 i would just get a new one, maybe i'll try some of the stop leak,i'll have to look closer may even be a line or something.
I already have a b-cool rad + an aftermarket oil + trans cooler if i decide to modify it.

 

[Red C5]

The F body is definitely the cheap way to go.

Peter

 

[BEATAV8]

looks like autozone has V8 Regal HD cooling radiators available for $119. Wonder how well that would work.

 

[t-typinator]

looks like autozone has V8 Regal HD cooling radiators available for $119. Wonder how well that would work.

probably wouldn't have the oil cooler provisions,+ inlet /oulets may not be in the same places etc.

 

[BEATAV8]

probably wouldn't have the oil cooler provisions,+ inlet /oulets may not be in the same places etc.

definitely no oil cooler, but inlet and oulet appear to in right spot. I was interested by the HD note... but it's not any thicker than the standard version.

I have a regular F-body radiator and it's OK but not great. outlet is not in the right spot but it's still OK.

 

[charlief1]

Ok thanks for the info, if it was just an easy drop in ,i would have just done it,mine just weeps a little,so i figured for $125 i would just get a new one, maybe i'll try some of the stop leak,i'll have to look closer may even be a line or something.
I already have a b-cool rad + an aftermarket oil + trans cooler if i decide to modify it.

If you have a aluminum radiator do not use stop leak unless you want a problem later. It won't work right and it will cause a cooling issue. If you have the stock radiator then use course ground black pepper. It's cheap and doesn't go where you don't want it. I've seen all sort of problems caused bby idiots using stop leak so please don't use it.

 

[Pronto]

Ok thanks for the info, if it was just an easy drop in ,i would have just done it,mine just weeps a little,so i figured for $125 i would just get a new one, maybe i'll try some of the stop leak,i'll have to look closer may even be a line or something.
I already have a b-cool rad + an aftermarket oil + trans cooler if i decide to modify it.

Why not have it recored? There are still radiator shops out there that do recoreing.

 

[t-typinator]

Why not have it recored? There are still radiator shops out there that do recoreing.

It's a possibility if it gets to that point,depending on price ???

If i keep the car i will just start looking for a good used one,for when it really needs it,It just weeps a little, so i'm kind of liking the Pepper idea if it works, has anybody else tried it ??
I'd maybe consider trading my be-cool aluminum one for a good stock one if anybody in the Ma. area has one.

 

[charlief1]

I've been using it in my DD for over a year. Just haven't gotten around to changing the radiator yet.

 

[ttaowner]

the 86-87 turbo buick radiator is unique and unlike any other radiator i have come across,the tranny line fittings are on the front of a stock radiator and the engine oil cooler lines are where tranny lines normally go.

no other g body radiator including the tta has a similar radiator. the tta has a liquid engine oil cooler using the coolant to cool the oil.

hope this helps

 

[Pronto]

And the new stock replacements have extra fittings for the heater. Silly looking.

 

[Nick Micale]

Why not have it recored? There are still radiator shops out there that do recoreing.

We have been re-coreing GN radiators for over 20 years using a much better core than stock.

Our summers are the harshest and hottest of any major metro area, and they have proven to work as well as the best alum radiator in a GN.

 

[t-typinator]

We have been re-coreing GN radiators for over 20 years using a much better core than stock.

Our summers are the harshest and hottest of any major metro area, and they have proven to work as well as the best alum radiator in a GN.

What is the cost to recore 1 ?

 

[Nick Micale]

What is the cost to recore 1 ?

It is shown here:

ArizonaGN - Products

Since I first changed my radiator in 1988 to obtain better cooling, I have tried and used many radiators and cores. We have supplied hundreds of these to GN owners over the years.

Our summer heat is brutal, and there are only 2 radiators I will use for reliable, efficient customer replacements, our 3 row high efficiency, or the Alradco alum.

If someone wants a cheaper radiator, I will not install it and then have to take responsibility.

 

[86brick]

I've been running one of Nick's radiators in my car since 2003. Still works great, hottest temps I see while driving with the stock radiator fan in traffic with the A/C on is mid 170's and that is in the heat of the summer.

 

[Bob Smith]

What is the cost to recore 1 ?

I had one re-cored this week by a local radiator shop, it was $400.00. Seemed like a lot to me, but I wanted to keep the original in place.

 

[aminga]

Last time I had one done it was around $80 or so to recore it with me supplying the core

 

[IrvJr]

I have one of Nicks rads and love it. Hits 170's tops down here in FL in the summer with the a/c on.