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  3. The "Group Buy" for the 1967-68 Deluxe Steering wheel recasting is now officially "Open". Now is the time to start sending in the wheels. The latest date that the wheels must be received by Kochs is 31 March 2025 The cost for each wheel is $750. The only "up front cost" is your shipping the wheel. If you send in more than one wheel, each additional wheel will cost $700. Shipping and insurance to Kochs and return shipping will be extra. You will be contacted by Teresa to make payment for the wheel(s) and return shipping and insurance when your wheel(s) is complete. The shipping will be factored on your delivery address and insurance. I will be sending the contact information all of you have sent me to Teresa at Kochs. Send in your wheels, horn pad and hardware and paint color sample if applicable. Please include: First and Last Name Shipping Address Phone number email address V8Buick "Member Name" Wheel Color (SEE THE BOTTOM FOR WHEEL COLOR) Pease read the "shipping to Kochs" below. There are two addresses. One for USPS Mailing One for FedEx and UPS shipping You can use USPS/Mail, UPS or FedEx to send in your core. Use the appropriate address depending on what service you use to ship. If you use USPS/Mail ship to: Koch's P.O. Box 959 Acton, CA 93510 Attn: Teresa If you use UPS or FedEx ship to: Koch's 7650 Soledad Canyon Road Acton CA 93510 Attn: Teresa Kochs Contact: Teresa (661) 268-1341 customerservice@kochs.com Wheel Color If you wheel is Black, you can list that in your information you send in with your wheel. For colored wheels, please contact Teresa about specifics for wheel color if you do not send in a color sample to match. Please contact me if you have any questions. Thank you to everyone for your participation in making this a reality. And "Thank You" Jim Weise, for allowing and facilitating this project! Michael .................... to remove this notice, click the X in the upper RH corner of this message box
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Radiators for Big Block

Discussion in 'The Bench' started by 72 skylark custom, Apr 23, 2024.

  1. 72 skylark custom

    72 skylark custom Well-Known Member

    I know this has been asked many times, and many ways... looking for opinions on a radiator for my '72 skylark. The motor is a 482cui BBB that is partially filled. Wasnt sure what way to go. definitely was thinking of aluminum, just curious what everyone else is running for a motor somewhat similar
     
  2. racenu

    racenu Well-Known Member

    I’ve got a 470 with aluminum rad, and other cars with built 455’s with 4 core rads. No overheating issues, you probably know but a full shroud is important.
     
  3. VET

    VET Navy Vet, Founders Club

    When I bought my GS 455, it's been modified with several power adders, high compression pistons and bored .030 over. All this caused it to over heat and also create detonation problems.
    I asked Larry the Wizard what he recommend I do.
    Here is his answer.

    Buy the baddest 2 row aluminum 2 row radiator with 1 1/4" tubes. That is what I have. It's a Griffin I bought in May of 2000. It is leak free and cools like Day 1, 23 years later.

    His recommendation is right on, I have no high temp problems or detonations either, plus it's American made. Vet
     
    1973gs likes this.
  4. 72 skylark custom

    72 skylark custom Well-Known Member

    I actually did not know that. Glad i picked up a big block fan shroud in that case then.

    What are the size dimensions for a '72 radiator? When i go to Griffins website it gives me 4 different dimensions for a radiator
     
  5. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    Call them.
     
    VET and 72 skylark custom like this.
  6. Briz

    Briz Founders Club Member

    I purchased a big Dewitt Rad a few yrs ago for the Riv. Liked it so much that I purchased another for the Wildcat. They are pricy but do what you need them to. Another addition that really helped with the cooling was alumn heads. Made a huge diff.
     
  7. kiwidave

    kiwidave Well-Known Member

    Question: How many rows in a 1968 big car stock radiator and what size tubes?
     
  8. VET

    VET Navy Vet, Founders Club

    Larry70GS, can you help answer this question. VET
     
  9. GSXER

    GSXER Well-Known Member

    Spectra CU161 fits right in cools 450hp no problem cost under $100
     
  10. bostoncat68

    bostoncat68 Platinum Level Contributor

    Mine original factory rad was 2 and barely cooled the car. Likely 5/8 tubes? I now have an aluminum Champion AE161 radiator that is 2 rows, with 1 inch tubes. Keeps it cool on the hottest day.
     
  11. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    2 or possibly 3 rows. Brass/Copper tubes are limited to 5/8", any bigger and they would balloon from the pressure due to the softness of the metal. That is the advantage of aluminum, it is much stiffer, and tube size can be up to 1 1/2". More fin to tube contact, more cooling capacity. Brass/Copper actually conducts heat better than aluminum, but aluminum radiators will out cool a Brass/Copper radiator.
     
  12. richopp

    richopp Well-Known Member

    Almost all C-2 owners who actually DRIVE their cars have a DeWitts radiator. When I put mine in, the car went into a 180 degree max no matter how hot it was in SO FL or even when I run the factory A/C.

    FYI, in a C-2, there is NO space under the hood and the grill is minuscule for such a hot engine in a small space. We do everything possible to keep the heat down. I had my exhaust manifolds ceramic coated--5% heat reduction. The late '66 GM cars came with a 7-blade fan and an extra strip of plastic around the bottom of the shroud for A/C cars since these cars were overheating regularly even though they came with an aluminium radiator. The top of the shroud has rubber "flaps" that separate the fan area from the engine compartment--VERY important that they be set properly.

    SO, I can totally recommend a DeWitts radiator. If you do get a 4-core (of any brand), you realize you have to purchase the wider rubber supports.

    Cheers!
     
  13. TheSilverBuick

    TheSilverBuick In the Middle of No Where

    I've had a 2 1" row BeCool in mine since 2009 or so. Never an issue. Handled stop and go Vegas traffic in 115ºF like a champ, towing a trailer across the country in triple digits, etc. Most people I believe have air flow issues more than radiator issues. Good shroud for slow speed, and good air dam for high speed. I wouldn't get a core over 2.5" thick (ideally closer to 2") because it'll have a harder time passing air through at lower speeds.
     

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