The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Replacement Radiator

I need to replace the original radiator in my 53 chevy 3100 with the 216. I want to keep the original look with a stamped upper and lower tank and have found a variety of prices on-line. Unfortunately, most listings are for 8 cylinder trucks. I would consider an aluminum replacement if it looked original . I found a brass replacement at LMC for $279.00. The low price sounds too low for brass. I was hoping someone on this site has used a LMC replacement and could advise me. thanks.

I would think the V8 model would have better cooling as we need that. What are the radiator specs other than materials?
The question is ... Brass or aluminum? Which cools better while retaining the stock top and bottom?

From what I have gathered, both the inlet and outlet are both 1/4 inch larger in diameter on the V/8 radiators. I was advised by both Auto City Classic and Engineered Cooling Products that the V8 and 6 cylinder radiators were different. Was disappointed that neither offered a 6 cylinder version because their V8 versions were very close copies of originals. I know companies like Champion offer cheaper alternatives , but they seem to me to resemble street rod radiators with tanks made of welded together flat stock aluminum.

You might be able to use the V8 radiator with larger hoses if it's configured otherwise like the 6 cyl one. Just use a liner inside the hose at the engine connections (a short piece of smaller hose inside the larger one). It would look very close to stock, and only the most eagle-eyed inspector could tell if you did a good job of finishing the ends of the hose with the liner inside.

Why don't you just put an original one in. I would think it would be fine for a 216?

Gates makes hose I.D. reducers, they slip inside a hose to reduce the I.D. by 1/4". Gates 26390 goes from 1.5 to 1.25, 26391 goes from 1.75 to .15, 26392 goes from 2 to 1.75, 26393 goes from 2.25 to 2. I used one in another application where the water pump was smaller than the radiator outlet, they work well.

Any chance the car version is close to the truck version?

https://www.lmperformance.com/834404/gmt568a-cold-case-radiators-chevy-pickup-aluminum-radiator.html

In Tulsa your summers are going to be worse than winters. I've found the aluminum radiator (which looks different from the original) to cool incredibly better in the hellish summers we have here. There's no way I'd go back to the original after using the aluminum one. Good luck. You can buy hoses with different size ends, you know...those are general fit and not formed, but they work fine.