Okay fellas, so after losing my SA I sealed the deal on a 82 GS the chassis has no drivetrain. Im in need of a radiator I searched eBay and found Champion Radiators. They have two models the 79-82 model and the 83-85 style. The engine thats going in the chassis is from a 83. Should I order the 83 rad? Any questions or comments would be greatly appreciated

 

thats depends on your oil cooler. If you have the oil cooler below the radiator, then get the short 79-82. now, you can also get the tall radiator (83-85) if your engine has the oil-to-water cooler below the oil filter.

 

The radiator you use will depend on what style oil cooler you end up using. The 83-85 12A radiator is a "tall" radiator, as the oil cooler was the beehive oil/water cooler mounted below the oil filter. The 79-82 cars had "short" (but thicker)radiators as the oil cooler was mounted below the radiator in them.

 

lol. There's an echo in here... in here.... in here

I haven't installed mine, but it appears to be a very solid unit.

 

I have a Champion rad in mine, I was a little skeptical, it being an "ebay" radiator and all , but I have been pleased so far. It fit well and I have had no problems, been running it about 8 months now. I had relocated my oil cooler in front of the radiator so I could run a full length radiator cause I think it would just cool better, (I'm paraniod about engine temps!)

Check to make sure that it has the heater pipe on the bottom tube, seems like they offer one w/o it.

 

I run a champion in my GLC and the only dissapointment I had was I had to use small 10" e fans instead of the 12" I already had...my fault for not measuring first. The other issue I had was the overflow nipple was all stripped out and cross threaded, but that was fixed easily enough.


By cfamilyfix at 2011-06-21

 

My wife bought the Champion radiator for me as a Christmas gift. The issue I have with it is that it hits the front trailing arm mount (long tension bolt) on the passenger side and the battery stand on the drivers side. I'm going to drill new mounting holes and trim a little of the mount off.

Also, the fan shourd does not fit very well and I havn't tested it with the fan on yet. The radiator is thicker than stock so the fan shourd sits futher back toward the engine more. I might have to get an electic fan because of this.

The heater outlet on the radiator is so close to the bottom radiator hose outlet that the hose barley fits.

I also have an custom aftermarket FMOC with external oil thermastat and custom made -10AN oil lines.

 

the heater hose connection is on the wrong side too (short style )

 

I'd go with a rockauto factory replacement radiator. Exact fitment, excellent quality. My 83 was a "tall" from the factory, but I switched to the "short" 3 row SA style with a SA oil cooler underneath. Engine temps stay at a 1/4 with a turbo in the bay.

 

+1 for a RockAuto rad. Worked great for me.

I have a suggestion, but I don't know about 12A stuff so someone can tell me if this is wrong, but you could get a factory rad from RockAuto for a '84-'85 13B car and use that. It accommodates a front mount cooler but if you use the beehive, no-harm-no-foul.

 

the factory 12A radiator is 1 row, and the GSL-SE is 2 rows, i have yet to see an aftermarket 1 row....

i bought a new tall radiator for peepers and it works great, it runs 85c all day.

 

Lucky me. I have a collection of radiators. Instead of buying, i get.them re-core with 3 row for less than new onws

 

Does anyone even make the 1 core anymore? All the listings I've ever seen for the tall rad's are all 2 core. The one I just got from rock auto was 2 core and I believe it was the only listing.

 

i hope not! i've had a few copper/brass 1 cores and they aren't as good

in aluminum its different

 

Yeah 1 core wouldn't really cut it.

I've had such bad luck with aluminum radiators I went back to stock lol

 

I was considering the Champion one for my '79 T2 swap but not anymore . Rock Auto one looks good

You or anyone know how the Rock Auto copper 3 row compares to the mazdatrix 79-82 3-row one ?

http://www.mazdatrix.com/b8.htm

is it copper or aluminum?

 

Since I'm in the soon to buy a new radiator market, what problems did you have with aluminium radiators? This has the posibility of saving me some bucks to find out what you already know.

 

http://shookmotorsports.com/FBProducts this radiator is amazing!!! have the behive with a turbo oil and water cooled..... NEVER come close to running hot!!! you will have to used your upper hose on the lower and get a flex hose tho... they are like 12 buck at autozone... not anything too difficult.. ill get a pic here in a min

 

here are a few pics ... i run the mech fan.... painted black with plasticote... and never had any overheating issues... no shroud either... or lower panel to direct air...

 

if you have the funds, get AFCO or similar brand

 

anyone els use the SHook motorsports one? i really like mine...

 

Running a tall-style custom-built Wizard aluminum radiator myself. I'm going to remove the beehive and then drag out one of the FMOCs I've got stashed away and mount it somewhere up front like a FMIC. Heat is something I always worry about, too. Fan is a 17" electric Derale unit. Fit perfect once I had the local fabrication shop weld some brackets onto the radiator.