Car running hot????

[Randy350]

After warming up the 350 in my Skylark I had a cooling problem. Even at moderate temperatures, any prolonged idle or high speed running (70 mph) resulted in the temp gauge crawling up and eventual overheating. Here in Texas in the summer we are above 95 degrees from early June to mid-September and above 100 a LOT so the car was more or less un-driveable. I had a 4 core radiator and it still wouldn't keep up. I found an aluminum radiator from RockAuto.com for $106 that keeps the gauge nailed to 180 even in traffic on 100+ days.

I couldn't believe a single core light weight (shipping wt. was 13lbs) radiator would even come close to doing the job but it does. If you have the same problem this is the fix. The form factor is identical to the copper radiator so it is a drop in. Check em out.

[r0ckstarr]

Maybe your old radiator needed a good flushing out?

Either way, thanks for the tip. I'm in Texas and feeling the 100+ degree days right along with you.

[V8Sky]

I couldn't believe a single core light weight (shipping wt. was 13lbs) radiator would even come close to doing the job but it does. If you have the same problem this is the fix. The form factor is identical to the copper radiator so it is a drop in. Check em out.[/QUOTE]

>>Sounds like a good deal. What is the part number on the aluminum radiator that you got from Rockauto?

[Randy350]

Part# is 433161. Proliance is the manufacturer.It was $92.79 +shipping which for me was about 10 bucks. I ordered it about 10am one day and it was on the front porch when I went out about 9:30 am the next day. It really works and it's cheaper than getting the old radiator re-cored or repaired.

[LARRY70GS]

The inlet hose size is 1 5/16", and the outlet hose size is 1 9/16", a little smaller and bigger than stock (1 1/2"). How did the hoses fit? How about the petcock. Is it usable with the radiator installed? Any other fit problems? Aluminum radiators really do the job.

[Randy350]

I had no trouble with the hoses. The tanks are plastic as are the hose necks but seems well designed. The petcock is located in the same place as the copper radiator and is plastic also. The vanes on the part that turns are large and I am able to access it without crawling under the car. I know it's new but with the large vanes I was able to open and close it easily. The transmission connections have metal inserts and are located in the same place as the old radiator. All in all it was a drop in.

I talked to the tech rep at Proliance and he said no special antifreeze was needed. They recommend whatever the manufacturer specs so I used plain old green ethylene glycol but I will change it regularly as corrosion seems to be the big problem with aluminum radiators.

The only fit problem is that because it is so much thinner than the old radiator there is about 2 inches between the AC radiator and the Proliance. I don't know if that will be a problem or not as right now the AC doesn't work. I plan to convert to R134 next year.