The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot '60-'66 Trucks radiator 1960 apache 20

Good Day all!

I Have a 1961 Apache 20 longbox. 283 with auto trans. Yesterday the radiator puked all over the garage floor. I have it out and am looking for another working radiator (rather than $pending on a rebuild - for now) The stamp on the top tank is R 65 and G O M. It is the 23 1/2 wide. What year(s) will interchange and direct bolt? + if any one has a servicable unit they want to sell...

Thanks - Jerry in Frisco TX

US RADIATOR has one to match around $300 total with shipping, maybe a little less. Since the truck's cooling is SO important, it just did not seem logical to me when I had to replace vs. rebuild. I'd rather new when at all possible.

Jerry:
I went through this in a panic a few months ago. Radiator shop couldn't get
new core to fix my old one. Radiator shop wanted $500 for a "custom"
manufactured replacement radiator. No thanks. Radiators on E bay were $225,
but were aluminum from China. No thanks. I found a new copper/brass three
row radiator for $186.79 from Rock Auto (www.rockauto.com) supplied by
Proliance, made in Mexico. Ended up $207 with shipping. The radiator has
connections for auto tranny cooler that I didn't need and was slightly larger on
the outlet then my original (1.75" vs. 1.5"). I am well satisfied. One note
on measurements that I learned is that they don't include the tank. You need
to add the tanks to get overall dimensions. Here is the info from the
Proliance site and the part number for it:

Regards,
Steve
New Orleans

Part Number - 433284
Make - GM
Construction Copper - Brass
Core Size - 17 3/8 x 24 3/4 x 2
Number Of Rows - 3
Mount Type - Channel
Inlet Location - Top Left
Outlet - 1 3/4
Outlet Location - Bottom Right
Tank Inlet Size - 2 1/2 x 25 7/8
Tank Outlet Size - 2 1/2 x 25 7/16
Hose Inlet Size - 1 3/4
Transmission Oil Cooler - 1

Steve - thanks for the info...I have had the same issues. I found a hole in the wall shop with an old timer who is not afraid to repair it - fairly cheap. If it does not work, now I know what to do. This old guy even recognized it when I opened my trunk!! Again, much thanks -

Jerry in Frisco TX

I went with a 3/4-ton radiator from US Radiator for my 1/2-ton '62 Suburban. The 3/4 ton rad is a little taller, and a little wider, so it gives more cooling. Since I drive the beejeezus out of my truck, and HATE heating problems with a white-hot passion, the bigger radiator was worth it. It bolts right into the same spot as the smaller 1/2-ton radiator. Don't remember the price, but it wasn't bad.
The one down side is that the stock 1/2-ton fan shrouds don't work with the wider radiator.
With a lot of research, I found that the bigger radiator was also used with automatic trans 1/2 tons, and that shroud works.
Still have to get mine on, but even without a shroud, the big radiator keeps my 350 engine cool in Atlanta's summers.
-Brad

Thanks Brad - I just got it back from repair...looks good -- after I put her back together we shall see!!!!

I had the 4 row radiator in my 66 C20. In 1975 I install a 396ci big block in the 66. In 1979 I went to the 454. I built a 6 core radiator out of two 3 core radiator to save me from the engine heat. The gearbox was a turbo 400. I still have the 6 core radiator hanging out. Good Luck

The raditors for these trucks are fit to the engine (six cylinder or V8) not the GVW. The narrower width, typically the six cylinder radiators, fit between the frame rails on the lower flange of the radiator cross member, in the factory saddles/cushions. The wider width, typically the V8 radiators, fit on the top flange of the radiator cross member, in the factory saddles/cushions. The radiator cross member has factory holes in the top flange and bottom flange, to accept the saddles, in either location, depending on how the truck was equipped at the factory.

Additionally, the wider radiators were available in 2-core, 3-core and 4-core, most commonly known as a Swamp Cooler or a Desert Cooler. To determine the number of cores, remove the radiator cap and count the number of rows of cores, visible in the top tank. All radiators were vertical-flow with the top & bottom tanks situated horizontal and the cores situated vertically. Harrison was the original equipment manufacturer of radiators in the '60-'66 Chevy trucks and HARRISON will be stamped on the top tank, near the driver side end of the tank.

All factory radiators in the '60-'66 Chevy light-duty trucks have a top-right inlet and a bottom-left outlet with the overflow tube at the 10 o'clock position. The overflow hose runs down the passenger side of the radiator, between the radiator & the shroud and is secured with two friction-fit spring keepers. The overflow hose daylights just below the radiator cross member...not considered environmentally conscience, but acceptable at the time. Overflow bottles, although adviseable, were not standard equipment.

The V8 fan shrouds fit all of the wider factory radiators, regardless of whether the truck is a C10, C20, C30, K10 or K20. I hope this information is helpful.

WOW COOL IDEA Two radiators. I would do something like that to save money. I found one out of a 2 ton maybe for mine. I had to notch my frame both sides so it would slide in. It hangs lower but bolts up fine.