joiner, all school districts have school buses and therefore a maintenance shop. I'd suggest driving by one of them one day and talk to the oldest looking mechanic you can find. I'm sure someone will have experience and can help. A 5 minute conversation may be well worth the time.....and/or find out what company made the chassis. Freightliner or some other and go from there......just some ideas that may pay some dividends.
.....Joe Hand, you reading this?? I think Joe works on the big buses but not sure.
My chassis is a Chevrolet. It's a 1966 C-69 (60 series) to be exact. I just don't have it near me to look for myself.
Question.........is the radiator the same for a certain year range? The radiator was the only thing missing in this bus when we got it and i am looking for a replacement in the junk yards first. I found a generic aluminum one on eBay for $125 but I would rather use the original for fitment issues ...............if I can find a good used one
Hy Joiner Transit, I found some more numbers for you, brake hoses, front Napa p/n UP36697 $16.99, rear p/n UP36563 $12.99, master cylinder p/n NMC P34956 $114.00. Hope that helps.
When I looked up the front brake hose part number on Napa's website, it listed it as a "Front Left". Is this also the brake hose on the right front too? If not, do you have a part number for it?
If you are looking for an original radiator, look at several, some might be thicker and fit your needs better, I found a very thick radiator on a fuel truck once.
Ed
'37 GMC T-18 w/ DD 4-53T, RTO-610, 6231 aux., '95 GMC running gear, full disc brakes, power steering, 22.5 wheels and tires. '47 GMC 1 ton w/ 302, NP-540, 4wd, full width Blazer front axle. '54 GMC 630 w/ 503 gasser, 5 speed, ex fire truck, shortened WB 4', install 8' bed. '55 GMC 370 w/270, 420 4 speed, grain, dump bed truck from ND. Works OK.
If you are looking for an original radiator, look at several, some might be thicker and fit your needs better, I found a very thick radiator on a fuel truck once.
Ed
right now I'm just looking for something to get it running and analyze it further. Original would be best so I know it will bolt up with no issues.
A pickup radiator will work for your 327 Small Block...
Mike B
how would I mount it? Are the mounting brackets, fan shroud, etc. the same on a pick up with that engine? Even if I got one of those new $125 aluminum radiators on eBay, how do you mount them up? I don't think I have the mounting bracket's
Last edited by Joiner Transit; 11/15/201710:29 PM.
Hy Joiner Transit, the front brake hose number I gave you (Napa p/n UP36697) crosses to the GM p/n 3910728 which the GM parts books specifies two per vehicle, right and left are the same, hope that helps.
Hy Joiner Transit, the front brake hose number I gave you (Napa p/n UP36697) crosses to the GM p/n 3910728 which the GM parts books specifies two per vehicle, right and left are the same, hope that helps.
Sure does. Thank you. I picked 2 up today.
What about the radiator issue I'm having? Do you have any input for that?
If your object is just to get it running why are you stressing about how the Radiator mounts? Place any radiator you want in the location and wrap some baling wire through the mounting holes in both the radiator and the bracket to hold it in place while you do your thing. You can then concentrate on finding the proper radiator later after it's running/stopping to suit you. Just an idea.
Martin '62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress) '47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project) ‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily) ‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence) “I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one! Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop! USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
If your object is just to get it running why are you stressing about how the Radiator mounts? Place any radiator you want in the location and wrap some baling wire through the mounting holes in both the radiator and the bracket to hold it in place while you do your thing. You can then concentrate on finding the proper radiator later after it's running/stopping to suit you. Just an idea.
That is a good point, but I was trying my best to find what would actually fit like it should if I could find it. I do have some old random radiators laying around but was worried about them fitting in there and me trying to tie it up without hitting the fan since those are mostly big and for tractors. I did think of that though.
If I went to a junk yard, what would you recommend getting that should fit in there and work ok if I tied it up with wire?
You’re going to have a tough time with a salvage yard radiator being good. I don’t know if they would pressure test it for you or not. I’ve never bought a salvage yard radiator. If you want to go that route find a Truck Salvage and ask about a 2 ton or larger mid 60’s radiator. Since these buses were shipped from GM as a front clip and chassis w/o a body, they would have had the radiator installed at the factory. Hope this helps.ðŸ›
Martin '62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress) '47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project) ‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily) ‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence) “I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one! Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop! USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
You’re going to have a tough time with a salvage yard radiator being good. I don’t know if they would pressure test it for you or not. I’ve never bought a salvage yard radiator. If you want to go that route find a Truck Salvage and ask about a 2 ton or larger mid 60’s radiator. Since these buses were shipped from GM as a front clip and chassis w/o a body, they would have had the radiator installed at the factory. Hope this helps.ðŸ›
My comment about looking in a salvage yard came from you saying to just stick something in there that would get me by and tie it to the front end to stay out of the way from the fan. I was asking what I should look for in that sense.....like what make/model should fit and work ok?? I do realize they came from the factory with the radiator which is why I have been trying to find an old original one to just bolt in place.
Maybe someone will give you a measurement of the width of the radiator bracket. Then you can at least have an idea what width you need. My Motors Manual doesn’t give the measurements for the bracket. It does show the 327 in a bus takes 18 1/2 quarts to fill. I measured my 1/2 ton and it is 21 1/2 inches wide, I’m sure yours would be much wider. Good luck on your quest.
Martin '62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress) '47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project) ‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily) ‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence) “I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one! Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop! USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
Maybe someone will give you a measurement of the width of the radiator bracket. Then you can at least have an idea what width you need. My Motors Manual doesn’t give the measurements for the bracket. It does show the 327 in a bus takes 18 1/2 quarts to fill. I measured my 1/2 ton and it is 21 1/2 inches wide, I’m sure yours would be much wider. Good luck on your quest.
I think I have found one locally. The guy sent me pictures of it and he said he is pretty sure he took it out of a Chevrolet C-50 with a 283 V8 engine. He said his had a plastic fan shroud, which mine does too. He will allow me to take it and try it and if it fits, and is good I can purchase it for $50.00. If it is not good or if it doesn't fit I can return it to him. I'm going to take him up on the offer and see what happens. Even if it fits and leaks, maybe it will hold water good enough to run the engine some. Look at the pictures and tell me what yall think.......if it should fit or be the correct radiator. Looks like its definitely leaked and had some repair in the past.
Last edited by Joiner Transit; 11/16/201710:23 PM.
You can’t beat a deal like that. Looks like it may be seeping in a couple of places but should be repairable.ðŸ›
Martin '62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress) '47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project) ‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily) ‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence) “I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one! Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop! USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
Oh yeah! Who knows.... it could be a good one and not leak. Looks like the repairs have already been made in the past. It could also be bad but we won't know until we try it. It should at leaSt get me by for running it around the farm
Hy Joiner Transit, an excellent radiator repair man once told me "If you bring me a radiator which is old and not damaged but leaking from the core or core tank connection, I'll try to repair it for up to an hour, if I do get it to stop leaking, I will not guarantee it." I asked him why, he said "If it is not damaged but leaking, the core is rotten and leaks can occur anywhere at anytime."
Hy Joiner Transit, an excellent radiator repair man once told me "If you bring me a radiator which is old and not damaged but leaking from the core or core tank connection, I'll try to repair it for up to an hour, if I do get it to stop leaking, I will not guarantee it." I asked him why, he said "If it is not damaged but leaking, the core is rotten and leaks can occur anywhere at anytime."
That is correct. When they get old they get thin and brittle. I have that with old tractor radiators. As long as their not leaking you should be good but if they do it's a 90% chance it can't be fixed.
This one will at least give me deminsions to get a new one too if I need to.....and of course if it's the right one.
Would any of you happen to know the diameters & approximate length of upper and lower radiator hose I will need for this bus? I plan on just buying the universal flex hose from Napa, but want to make sure they'll have it in stock as I've been before and they only had very limited selection of flex hose., if any.
Well......the guy measured both hose outlets and they are 1 3/4 inches OD. All I need to know is the approximate length of the hoses and if the other end of the hose inlets on the engine are the same diameter. I'm gonna do my best to search the internet today for it, but it would be nice if anyone knew.
Well......the guy measured both hose outlets and they are 1 3/4 inches OD. All I need to know is the approximate length of the hoses and if the other end of the hose inlets on the engine are the same diameter. I'm gonna do my best to search the internet today for it, but it would be nice if anyone knew.
We are headed up to the farm tonight after work!!
I ended up buying an 18 inch long 1 3/4" flex hose and found the bottom elbow hose per Gates part book (1 3/4" also). I also got some 1 3/4 inch to 1 1/2 inch hose reducers just in case one side is different being that the used radiator I got conflicts with outlet sizes from the internet. Just to be on the safe side. Hopefully I'm covered and it'll work!
