2.8 radiator too small?

[S10HD]

i decided not to run a/c, I have a 305 with mild cam has anyone used the 2.8 rad, i\'m planning on installing the rad in the forward position. i will be doing the swap within a coupe of weeks. maybe this question has been asked before, but i couldn\'t find the post



thanks

[fasrnur]

Yes too small and the hose connections are on the wrong sides.



Jeff....

[IceQueen]

if your running a 305 get the rad from here or going with a 4.3L rad should work out fine. in either case use lots of cooling get a double fan and hook one fan upto a thermastate and the other upto the fan connection off the A/C supply.

[PursuitS10]

There is a guy on s-series.org that runs a 3 core 2.8 radiator with the inlets/outlets moved on his 350.

http://members.shaw.ca/s15/1435.jpg

[JayDee]

I ran a non a/c 305 two years with the 2.8 radiator and the only time it over heated was when I threw a fan belt.

I bought 2 feet of copper pipe and an elbow at Home Depot and made a little crossover below the fan to accomodate the inlet on the other side. Just double clamp

the hose connections to the copper pipe so it can\'t slip off.

With the radiator in the forward position you can fit an oem fan on the front of the waterpump with a 1\" spacer. The trick is finding one without a clutch. (Won\'t fit). The one I found had a seven blade fan and you could feel the air moving if you held your hand in front of the radiator. I\'m sure it used 3-5hp, but if your doing a budget swap you gotta be a little flexible.

[mommasboy]

You would probably be ok with the 2.8 radiator. But you will always have the risk that you may get stuck in traffic, or just be plain hot out that day and it may blow a head gasket, or worse crack a head of block. http://www.s10v8.com/images/smilies/icon_frown.gif



If it were me i would just save the money and buy the one here in the parts section. Cheap now will cost you later. http://www.s10v8.com/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif

[S10HD]

thanks for all the info . I\'ll go with the vette or the 4.3 rad. better be safe than sorry.

[skiman]

I have a 305 in my truck, with a mild cam and I used the rad from an 85 Monte Carlo, new costs about $90 since installation the temp runs about 195 in trafic and 180 on the road. <A HREF="mailto:null">null</A>

[mommasboy]

What are you running for a fan? Mechanical i would guess. Alot of it is going to depend on what fan and shroud you use. Big fan no shroud, usually wont cool for crap. Small fan with full shroud will do just as good. Big fan full shroud will do great.