aftermarket radiator

[umair]

I just bought an aftermarket radiator for my caprice v8. The old one 's sidetank had a pinhole and the oil coolers were in bad shape. The aftermarket is 3/4 the original one if you measure the width of the aluminum core. Otherwise it is exactly the same. Will this radiator with 75 percent capacity of the original one overheat my car or cool less. Can I put it in my car. Other option is to put the old core in the new one because old core is in good shape. What should I do?

[BlackVXGTS]

Personally, I wouldn't risk it, especially where you are located. Buy and install the correct size radiator and try to sell the one you already purchased.

[umair]

Thanks, I asked a few people here and they said the same thing. I am going to return it and try to find another one.
The original radiator's core is good and I got it serviced for cleaning so its like new, but there is a pinhole in one side tank and the oil cooler seal that connects to the radiator are worn out. I found a side from the junkyard and I am thinking of replacing the pinhole side and putting new seals on the oil coolers. Oil coolers have no leak, just the seals. Otherwise a new original radiator is 240 dollars, that will be my last option.

[wraith]

Do it right or do it cheap and have issues. Your call.

[umair]

Today I went to the city to look for a new radiator and found one the exact same size as the original. It is made in china but is good quality and it is 100 dollars. While I was looking I also found a shop that has radiator tanks and coolers. One side tank was 10 dollars and one oil cooler was 16 dollars. But I still buy the new one. I have fitted the radiator into the car but how do I bleed air out of it.

[accentstencil]

I think because the surge tank is higher than the engine it is not necessary to bleed the cooling system in an LS1. Air rises to the highest point, the surge tank.

[walesy]

just do it right the first time, my original radiator was stuffed so 3 years ago i got a new 4 core radiator that was much thicker than standard, paid $400 for it, but even after a full 3 mins on the burnout pad and hard driving on a racetrack it never went over half, worth every cent

[umair]

Well put some water in it till it filled up and started the car and there was a loud "hiss" sound coming from the engine for 6 to 7 minutes. It bleeded itself. There are bleeders on the engine. After the air passed I toped it off. It was night here so I am going to run her up in the morning for a test drive.

[accentstencil]

............There are bleeders on the engine..........

Where are they, I've never seen any?

[VTS5]

There are bleeders on the engine..

And that bleeder,knows the diff between water and air.Holds the water and lets the air go :-S

As they say; You learn something new everyday !...........Yeah,right..

[umair]

Well put the radiator in and the car runs a lot cooler now, never goes beyond half. No leaks, no loss of coolant.

[MrSirWantalot]

If there are bleeders on a LS1 to bleed air from radiator/cooling system, well Ive never seen one. accentstencil is right as far as not having to bleed system on an LS1 as the header tank is the highest point

[umair]

See the attachment its from the service manual.