Hey all. Looking for suggestions on radiators to use w my 261 in my 1951 1/2 ton.
The 261 is mildly hopped up w/a Delta cam, dual Strombergs, Thickstun intake, Fenton headers. It'll have a T5 and a Camaro 10 bolt posi behind it.
I'm leaning toward but not set on, aluminum, 2 or 3 row, w/a stockish look. Definitely black. Having trouble finding reviews on any of them and it'll probably sit in the box for a while before I have a chance to swap in the new engine, so I want to be sure I have it all as correct as possible. Don't want to get stuck w something I can't return because I waited too long.
Also, pic of my '56 261 because, who doesn't like pictures and it's been a minute (years) since I've posted here.
You can find a very original looking aluminum radiator on eBay for a little over $200 last time I bought one pre COVID. I primed the top tank, bottom tank and the sides with Rustoleum self etching primer then Rustoleum gloss black. Looks great 10 years later. I did not paint the fin area. No need to because its hard to see anyway. I bought the standard size radiator and they do a great job of keeping a 350 in a '49 3100 cool with a flex fan.
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
BLUEMEANIE - Its only been a few minutes (4 years - lol) since last seeing you in the forums. Welcome back!
52Carl has a good suggestion on a radiator, but I would add a note that your later 261 has the low mount water pump which is gong to put the fan low on the radiator in your '51 and not pulling air through where its most needed to provide optimum cooling. You also may have an interference problem between the fan and crank damper and belt pulley due to the low location of the pump.
I would suggest you purchase and install one of Bolter Pre '68 Dave's water pump relocation adapters to get your water pump up to the sweet spot on your radiator and you can enjoy trouble free cooling. Look up his moniker in the member list and you can reach out to him via PM.
Unfortunately this will require disturbing your very nice looking engine package, but I think its important enough to mention to prevent possible lack of cooling or overheating issues when you get your engine installed.
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100 Follow this story in the DITY Gallery "My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine" 1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
Man, that's a bizarre looking intake manifold. Is it a modern custom intake or one from the old days?
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy)
1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe |1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1969 Pontiac GTO (The Dishpit) I 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
You can find a very original looking aluminum radiator on eBay for a little over $200 last time I bought one pre COVID. I primed the top tank, bottom tank and the sides with Rustoleum self etching primer then Rustoleum gloss black. Looks great 10 years later. I did not paint the fin area. No need to because its hard to see anyway. I bought the standard size radiator and they do a great job of keeping a 350 in a '49 3100 cool with a flex fan.
If it keeps a V8 cool it should work for the big sixer for sure! Any chance you still have a link?
Originally Posted by Gdads51
BLUEMEANIE - Its only been a few minutes (4 years - lol) since last seeing you in the forums. Welcome back!
52Carl has a good suggestion on a radiator, but I would add a note that your later 261 has the low mount water pump which is gong to put the fan low on the radiator in your '51 and not pulling air through where its most needed to provide optimum cooling. You also may have an interference problem between the fan and crank damper and belt pulley due to the low location of the pump.
I would suggest you purchase and install one of Bolter Pre '68 Dave's water pump relocation adapters to get your water pump up to the sweet spot on your radiator and you can enjoy trouble free cooling. Look up his moniker in the member list and you can reach out to him via PM.
Unfortunately this will require disturbing your very nice looking engine package, but I think its important enough to mention to prevent possible lack of cooling or overheating issues when you get your engine installed.
Haha. Yeah. Went through a big job change, bought a camper, spent most of covid thru 2023 in the camper working remotely from various locations w the wife and dogs, worked on the 261 periodically, restored a '74 Honda CB750 I wrecked back in 2001, yada, yada, yada. Now that the bike is done and on the road I'm getting back to the Chev.
Good call on the adapter. I've got a coupe notched fans for it so I know it'll clear the pulley but I wasn't sure about how it'd locate on the radiator. I'll contact him for sure. Pulling the pump is a non issue. It's still dry so at worst it's a gasket or two w the adapter.
Originally Posted by Otto Skorzeny
Man, that's a bizarre looking intake manifold. Is it a modern custom intake or one from the old days?
Heh. It looks amazing w the polished Strombergs and Thickstun cleaners.
It is an old school style but this one is a Tony Baron (Frank Baron's son) repop of the intake Tommy Thickstun made back in the early '50s for the 216. However, the repop is made specifically for the 235/261 so it fits my 848 head and has the wider carb spacing.
BLUEMEANIE - there is a listing on FB somewhere local-ish to us for a 47-53 rad with a custom shroud. Not sure if you’d like the look with your other period goodies, but I suspect a shroud would be a huge upgrade for one of these old rigs.
I will see if I can find it and send to you.
Edit: No luck. It might have sold. Or maybe not….the search result repeatability on FB marketplace isn’t always great. If it pops back up again I will share. Pretty good price, IIRC.
BLUEMEANIE - there is a listing on FB somewhere local-ish to us for a 47-53 rad with a custom shroud. Not sure if you’d like the look with your other period goodies, but I suspect a shroud would be a huge upgrade for one of these old rigs.
I will see if I can find it and send to you.
Edit: No luck. It might have sold. Or maybe not….the search result repeatability on FB marketplace isn’t always great. If it pops back up again I will share. Pretty good price, IIRC.
Bummer. A shroud is definitely on my list. Thanks for lookin out!
Nice looking engine. I came across one of those Thickstun intakes at Hershey two years ago. Was marked for 235 Chevy and at first I thought the vendor must be wrong until I looked at it a bit closer. Hadn't seen one before.
Welcome back! 
