Just want feedback it any SE and only SE owners are using the 79-82 radiator in their cars.

Did you use the 79-82 lower hose?
Any other issues noted?

Thanks.

Doc.

 

there was a 79-82 radiator in my car when i bought it, when i put the 84-85 radiator in (79-82 was leaking coolant everywhere so needed to be replaced) i had to replace the lower hose, which means they had the 79-82 hose in there. the top hose was fine.

other wise there was no other issues or problems

 

i think Doc's talking about the lower oil cooler hose, which is the longer of the two that extends to the rear iron..

Doc, i can mount the 79-82 cooler i have and use the lower line from that cooler on my SE project temporarily just to see if it bolts up if you'd like.

 

Dave,

Happy New Year!

No, I am referring to the Radiator.

 

I have an aftermarket replacement that I bought in 2001, but it's the same layout as the original... and I had to cut a "standard" replacement hose special to get it to fit.

 

Your profile states that you have a Sa. Do you have a SE that you are using the 79-82 radiator in?

 

No... apparently, I have a reading disability: E's look like A's to me.

Guess that makes me an A-hoe, huh?

 

I-hoe not a-hoe this is the internet isn't it?

Doc, this seems an odd question for you to ask. I'm guessing you're thinking of doing such an install? What differences have noticed between the 2 radiators? If the lower outlet tube is off, a competent radiator shop should be able to swap the tubes between the 2 rads.

I watched an old guy build a radiator from scratch with used/salvaged parts for my van after I hit a deer near Russel KS. When it came to installing the upper radiator hose spout in the top tank, he desoldered/removed the one from my smashed rad, grabbed a huge punch and punched a new hole, then lead soldered the spout in.

 

Scott,

How you doing?

The Radiator in the SE came apart and the only local pick a part has a 81. If the radiator does not look good then I will just order a new one.

For those that may be looking for a new radiator, I came across this site that states that they will beat any other advertised price by 10%.

https://www.radiator.com/checkout/cart.php

They sell the radiator for $183.00. rock Auto sell it for $152.79. That means that they would have to sell it for $137.51.

 

To update this-

Yes the radiator fits and yes you use the bottom hose from the 79-82 models.

Bought the radiator from the local yard for $15.00.
Radiator shop cleaned the radiator, flow tested it, pressure tested it and re-soldered the radiator mounts back on the tanks for $40.00.

 

Wow, just resoldering the mounts is a nice touch. The SE I just picked up is about to drop the radiator between the frame rails - nice score.

 

Doc,

Sorry I did not answer before I have acutally done this with several different SEs, the main reason I did it was i did not like the crappy look of the small 2 core radiators that were in the SEs when i got them and i had a local shop that was cheaply making me really good High eff cored 79-82 types, they told me they couldn't get the later tanks to stretch well, the other reason I used them was so i could use a the earlier oil cooler because SE oil coolers many times had cracked fittings and were hard to find. I just made sure to use the hoses from which ever radiator oil cooler combination I was using.