Options for 61 LeSabre radiator?hey

Options for 61 LeSabre radiator?

Hey guys I'm finally back to working on the 61 trying to get ready for Kool April Nights. Been looking on EBay and still looking US radiator brand either aluminum or OE style. US radiator has a lot of options. Reading the archives sounds like two row one inch tube is the way to go. However I don't see any eBay radiators with this configuration for my year. So the only option I see is US radiator.

 

I believe I went with a 2 row US Radiator for my '61 LeSabre 4 dr flattop, same motor right down to the carb. I didn't go with the OE style and I wish I had of. The aluminum one I got fits okay, but I had to mod one of the bottom mounts (the one by the bottom hose) and the mount that goes over the top of the radiator will also need to be modded. The mount is for the OE rounded top and mine has a squared off top. Also the transmission cooling lines will need adapters as the holes are larger than the original.

Other than that it keeps the car cool enough so far, but I haven't really tested it in traffic in hot weather. I'm told a shroud would be very helpful as mine does not have one. Build quality of the radiator seemed to be very good. If I had it to do over I would call them and get the one that fits with no mods. I just bought one off eBay with the correct dimensions and proper hose outlet locations.

Good luck.

 

Hey thanks! I definitely don't want to mod anything. I still have the OE radiator and it works okay. I could get it re-cored. The aluminum is advertised as direct replacement. I'll try the copper/brass if I go aftermarket.

I saw this yesterday cruising around. A fan shroud for 62-64 149.00 on page 19 http://www.oldbuickparts.com/cart/pdf/cat610/cat610.pdf I don't believe 62 is much different then what we have.

 

As far as I know, 61-64 use the same type radiators. I believe they changed to crossflow in '65.

Only difference I saw was the motor, 401 and 425. Doubt there is a lot of difference there. I know some with a '61 have a shroud, but I'm not certain what the reasons are. Does your fan use a long spacer to get it near the radiator or is it far away?

I should have kept my OEM radiator and had it re-cored. If I were you, that is what I would check into first.

 

I haven't seen any shrouds for 61 in my travels and looking through service manuals. I did hear the AC cars have higher speed pulleys, and maybe a bigger fan if I remember correctly. My fan is very close to the radiator.

 

Probably what I'm going to do. Does anyone know how US radiator get 3 or 4 cores? Are the tanks bigger? If so I guess they wouldn't be direct fit either without changing out the rubber mounting pads.

 

I put this one in my '63 Riviera. Says it fits 61-64 LeSabre, too. Went right in with no issues, and beautiful build quality.

http://www.jegs.com/i/Champion-Cool...10002/-1?ymm=4294829685+4294829225+4294829206

 

How's it working for ya? I've been reading other posts saying you need 1" tube with aluminum. It's hot here in Sacramento. So I'd like something good enough that I don't have to deal with running hot. Thanks for the input.

 

That looks just like the one in my LeSabre. I had to mod the bottom support near the hose connection and with that squared off top, how did you fit your top mount?

 

I haven't run this car with this radiator, but I have the same thing only fitted for the cars in both my Cadillac and my 673 hp 552 cubic inch Mustang. They'll both idle in 100 degree traffic for as long as I want. Drove the Caddy to Vegas and back to Montana last year and cruised around Vegas no problem, so I really have no reservations that it'll cool a 300 hp Nailhead for as long as the car has gas in the tank. I do have dual electric fans rated at 4200 cfm and a high volume aluminum pump on the Mustang, so that definitely helps that car, but the Cadillac is totally stock otherwise. Mine just fit, dropped right in. The top mount went on like stock, the lines and hoses hooked up like stock. It's a custom radiator, so it's not going to go into everything that easily, but that's what owning and building a car are all about.

 

A quality aluminum 2 core radiator with aluminum tanks will cool better than a 3 or 4 core standard. You only run into problems and the cooling horror stories when somebody buys a cheapo aluminum radiator with plastic tanks. Look at anything driving around with 500 hp or more......99% of them will be running an aluminum radiator.

 

Good to know. Maybe I'll try the champion. If I get my stock tanks recored does anyone know if they can increase or improve the core? Are the stock tanks big enough to add another core?

Also, would a larger fan from a later model bolt on? Any ideas on witch one?

 

The old school local radiator shop here in town was going to re-core mine before I decided to buy the Champion. He told me that the new design would cool better, but it was going to be $450 and didn't make financial sense to me, plus I like the look of the aluminum radiator on a custom car like mine. If it was stock, I'd definitely consider the re-core, however. I don't know about a specific model fan that will bolt on, but I believe that pretty much all fans have the same bolt pattern, just so long as its a non-clutch to non-clutch or clutch to clutch swap.

 

That makes sense on the fan. Probably all the same bolt pattern. My car is stock so I'd like to keep the OE look, secondary to functionality. I have to take the car to the shop to get a quote.