Guest jump175 Posted March 19, 2001 Share Posted March 19, 2001 Ok, I've done a little research and am still pulling my hair out trying to figure out which radiator I want. I talk to a tec rep at radiator.com and she said that the 83'-85' or 68' Camaro radiator wouldn't fit in my 78' 280Z. I don't want to go with the Grifin because I didn't want to have to add an additional trans cooler and JTR wants to much for their radiator. Can one of you V8 swap vets please help me? I live in NC now but will be moving to AZ soon. I'm only pushing a mild 305 but just don't want any problems with over heating. Thanks, Justen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted March 19, 2001 Share Posted March 19, 2001 Justen, The 1984-1986 Camaro base radiator will fit the Z. Many of us are running that already in our cars. I bought mine for about $75 from a good wrecking yard--just went in and pulled it. With a good fan, the radiator will work fine and fit fine. As long as she is selling a direct replacement, it has the same dimensions and will fit, period. Hope this helps. David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Drewz Posted March 19, 2001 Share Posted March 19, 2001 I am using a stock 260z rad with a recore and extra core for good measure. My motor is very stout and I am using an electric fan from a supercharged bonneville ffrom a local boneyard. I push the beast really hard and have never run over 205 degrees. Hope this helps! ------------------ The only stupid question is one you wanted to ask but never did!!! http://ca.photos.yahoo.com/andrewzcars Drewz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fl327 Posted March 19, 2001 Share Posted March 19, 2001 hey everybody on this board is going to both ridicule and emabarass me forever, but i have been running the stock 240z radiator for about a year now, and i havent been over 210 in bumper to bumper traffic, and run at 175-180 in regular driving, and my motor is in scarab position with the engine mounted fan and a butchered fan shroud, funny huh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLKMGK Posted March 20, 2001 Share Posted March 20, 2001 Don't laugh man - one of the stock type Z radiators I've got looks plenty stout and I've been looking hard at it. However I think some form of aluminum rad is going to take up residence in my car - for looks if nothing else 24inch Griffin or a Camaro radiator - still debating. BTW - I've got the JTR lower mount and someone told me a neat trick - goto the local home hardware type place and get those rubber cushins that you stick to the wall to prevent doorknob damage - place them under the radiator for cushioning Sounds to me like a darned good idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Juday Posted March 20, 2001 Share Posted March 20, 2001 Hey BLKMGK, better yet, I used the stock rubber rad mounts from the Camaro. They have a nubbie thing on the bottom. If you drill a hole in the right place on the JTR mount they pop right in and will never fall out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jump175 Posted March 20, 2001 Share Posted March 20, 2001 Dave, How many cores does that 83-85 radiator have, also is it plastic and aluminum? The lady at radiator.com has totally confused the crap out of me. Thanks for your help. Justen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RPMS Posted March 20, 2001 Share Posted March 20, 2001 If you try to get a junkyard radiator, be sure to take your tape measure with you. I pulled one out of the same 1984 V8 Camaro that the JTR book recommended, and it was over 30" wide and won't fit between the frame rails. I also pulled one out of a 4-cyl Camaro, and it was just as wide but not as thick. This convinced me I had the right one (but I was, of course, wrong). Anyway, be careful. On my lunch hour the other day, I stopped by Autozone. They sell the aluminum Camaro radiator for less than $140. Check their website for a store near you. That particular part number is in their computer as being both a 2-row and a 3-row, but it is indeed a 2-row. Featherweight, and a good price. Looks like lots of free-flowing surface area to dissipate heat, too. I can see that being the perfect match to an electric fan. Scott Ferguson 19756 260-Z w/ an ever growing circle of engine parts around it... [This message has been edited by RPMS (edited March 20, 2001).] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest kc6wfs Posted March 20, 2001 Share Posted March 20, 2001 I also run a stock 260Z auto trans rad (3 core)and have had no problems so far. I bypassed the trans cooler and running a hayden. Don't want to cook the trans! Temps here in So Cal have been getting hot 90's all this week so far, sitting in trafic the fans kick in and the temp drops fast, 80-90 mph on freeway it stays cool. Dave Booth ------------------ www.geocities.com/kc6wfs/240z.html www.NitroPhotos.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dean570z Posted March 20, 2001 Share Posted March 20, 2001 Justin: Since you will moving to a very hot and dry climate, think about going to a larger capacity rad. If you are going conventional, the JTR book recommends an early Nova radiator also and dimensionaly it fits within the 280z framerails. Height also is not a problem. Go to a custom shop, get a 4 core, 16 fins/inch (thats the key) radiator with the proper inlet and outlets and if you are using an auto trans, use an aftermarket cooler. I also live in the desert and have had to wait at a railroad crossing in 112 F heat for over 20 minutes while the train maneuvered for a lumber yard and the temp gauge never left the 180 F mark (I run a 180F thermostat. A custom shop doesn't cost that much, at least not here. Dean Byers 570z Quartz Hill, Ca Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike kZ Posted March 20, 2001 Share Posted March 20, 2001 RPMS, I tried Autozone and ordered the rad for a 6 like JTR recomended. When it came in it was the wide one we can't use, and they didn't have anything else. I tried anouther auto parts place with the same results. Then I found 1-800-radiator, and they had the right one. Tell them the measurements to make sure. Justen, it is aluminum, with plastic tanks.It's a single core that's 1 3/4" wide. ------------------ http://members.tripod.com/~SnowSurfer/mikekz1.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonerevd Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 Hey BLKMGK, no reason to laugh, when I first put my v8 in the z years ago I decided to try the stock z radiator. It was a '72 automatic car and I ran several thousand miles with it and it worked fine. I was in Sacramento at the time so it does get in triple digits there. I did have to use a piece of hose to shim up the difference in the chevy sized radiator hose and the Z. But it DOES work. I was using a Taurus fan at the time. I think peer pressure and piece of mind made me change it over to the aluminum unit (which was even contriversial to the original JTR author at the time) which worked fine. Just thought I'd through that out there. Regards, Lone PS: Here in Phoenix I doubt I would try this experiment, just to hot for to long of the year to chance it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators BRAAP Posted July 22, 2009 Administrators Share Posted July 22, 2009 We have revival! Last post in this thread was only a mere 8 years ago, and it's alive today! Cool... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 Paul, "Lonerevd" is the same "Lonehdrider" from way back when this forum began many moons ago. I don't think he noticed the date on the post since the forum layout has changed somewhat in the past decade. He still plays well with others and will catch on Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators BRAAP Posted July 22, 2009 Administrators Share Posted July 22, 2009 Paul, "Lonerevd" is the same "Lonehdrider" from way back when this forum began many moons ago. I don't think he noticed the date on the post since the forum layout has changed somewhat in the past decade. He still plays well with others and will catch on Davy We like it when they play well with others, unlike that RTz character.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phlebmaster Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 We have revival! Last post in this thread was only a mere 8 years ago, and it's alive today! Cool... Necronomicon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonerevd Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 Heh, thanks for getting my back Davy, yeah I didn't see the date at all, I was replying to a thread and didn't look at the date. Senile in my old age heh... Funny some of the same names still here and lots of great new projects. Accept my apology I did mean well.. Regards and well wishes, Lone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobsZTwins Posted December 25, 2010 Share Posted December 25, 2010 And the thread lives on! It would be nice if someone put together a FAQ on radiators that fit/work on S30's. Trying to find an aftermarket aluminum that fits between the frame rails can be a pain. Has anyone used this one from Summit: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/PLI-433918/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobsZTwins Posted December 25, 2010 Share Posted December 25, 2010 And the thread lives on! It would be nice if someone put together a FAQ on radiators that fit/work on S30's. Trying to find an aftermarket aluminum that fits between the frame rails can be a pain. Has anyone used this one from Summit: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/PLI-433918/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoov100 Posted December 25, 2010 Share Posted December 25, 2010 Another good radiator that fits, is one from a 72 chevelle. I had one in my sbc swapped s30 for a while it fit nice and worked really good with the taurus fan setup. I honestly don't see a valid logical reason to use the v6 IROC camaro, except for the fact that they sell bolt in mount kits. TBH when it comes to radiators for the sbc s30 swap, I really like AFCO's/speedwaymotors, HOWE, c&r, and those cheap 2 core radiators on ebay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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