When the temps are low, my '63 LeSabre with a 425 runs nice and cool. As the temps rise, or paticularly when sitting in traffic, it starts to heat up rather quickly. That goofy stock fan is just flopping around in the open air, with no shroud, it doesn't do a helluva lot. A shroud would help, but. Looks like I'll be installing AC so I'm leaning toward buying a radiator that has the condensor already in it. Aluminum? Electric fan or fans or an efficient belt driven fan replacement? Definitely shrouded. Has anybody got a product that they can recommend? I know I'm not the first guy to need some help here. Friend of mine's dad has been buying new Buicks since the early 50's and swears they ALL ran hot Got to get some cooling capacity. Thanks Gents. Hunter
I'm running a universal 26x19 aluminum radiator from Jegs. It's the largest width that will fit in the stock core support. Works pretty well, and was cheap. I'm also running a single 16" electric fan that pulls about 2200cfm. If I had to do it over, I'd go with a radiator from Griffen, with 1.25" tubes.
I bought an aluminum universal fit unit from Southwest Speed for my Corvette. Bye Bye overheating problems!
I'm running an alumitech radiator in mine. Unfortunately they've gone out of business since I bought mine. Fantastic radiator though.
I found a couple things with my 63 Wildcat. Adding a stock 1963 five blade fan (with clutch) and factory fan shroud helped a lot. Find both on an 1963 A/C equipped car. CARS may have a repop shroud available. Originals are EXTREMELY fragile. The thing that made the motor never overheat again was having the motor rebuilt. It never ran hot again. I can only assume 50+ years of crud sitting at the bottom of the water jacket has an impact on the water flow. Even factory A/C equipped 1963 full size Buick radiators were only three core. Buick engineers knew what they were doing. These are my experiences, I'm not saying they are right or wrong. Chris
Good advice, thanks. I found a '62 LeSabre four door with AC and the owner (friend of mine) said I could have the radiator, fan and shroud for free. Will the radiator, fan and shroud from a '62 four door fit my '63 2 door? I hope so, 'cause I'm pulling it tomorrow morning. Hunter
