What a nightmare :sad: A previous owner stuck in a very large (and expensive) aluminum radiator. IMo i do not think a stock 350 would require it but it was there and it did cool real well. The car could sit idling with the AC on in 120* AZ heat and be fine. That is until electrolysis ate it up from the inside out.
I pulled out the old only to discover the bottom tray for the stock radiator had been removed to fit in the aluminum. So a used core support was found, sand blasted, primed and then all the extra holes need for trans cooler mounting and the aluminum condensor mounting and hood pins were fitted and drilled. Next was paint and then time to install. Installation went well but the front end of a Chevelle is complicated. I didn't count them but there must have been over 200 bolts. Several support brackets. tie plates just a whole bunch of stuff. About 40 hours of work from start to finish. Well anyway it is back together and I promised Shifty4 that I would post photos to get his approval of the work (yeah right :)). Just need to find some overflow hose, hook up the heater hose, add coolant, clean up the wiring and I'll be on the road again.
Some day I hope to be posting progress pics of the Nova if I can catch up fixing the daily drivers and kids cars.

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/64elcamino/zmeano/P2020003.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/64elcamino/zmeano/P2040004.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/64elcamino/zmeano/P2040005.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/64elcamino/zmeano/P2040006.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/64elcamino/zmeano/P2040003.jpg

Looking Good Masked Man... KeemoSabbe do a good job ;)



JohnnyTonto :D

Nice Job there Philip:thumbsup:

Is that car purple??

AND pink :D

It is actually a GM color called Radar Blue. It has 3 colors of pearl in it and looks different depending on the light. But the simple answer is yes it is purple :D but sometimes blue or red. At night in the dark it looks black :rolleyes:

but mostly PINK :D

You know if you change the anti-freeze every now and then it doesn't get so acidic. It also helps to run an anode (zinc) under the radiator cap so it has something else to eat besides those expensive Griffin radiators. I also know that you know that and I only mention it to inform those new fellers that have been asking about expensive aluminum radiators on the board of late. You can hold up a few pics of the aluminum scrap for show and tell to get the point across.

Big Dave

yeah but Dave it's good to remind Philip of the things you know he knows... he's getting older now ya know and he forgets things :rolleyes:


yuk yuk yuk :D



Johnny (quit stirring up trouble !!!) who me ??? :D

Do you have a side shot of the car in the sunlight? My 74 is pretty close to that color and I'm trying to match it.

You know if you change the anti-freeze every now and then it doesn't get so acidic. It also helps to run an anode (zinc) under the radiator cap so it has something else to eat besides those expensive Griffin radiators. I also know that you know that and I only mention it to inform those new fellers that have been asking about expensive aluminum radiators on the board of late. You can hold up a few pics of the aluminum scrap for show and tell to get the point across.

Big Dave


Yep what Big dave said I wanna see some scrap.....

Also my daughter wants to know if it has pink flames:sad:

Here ya go tim

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/64elcamino/zmeano/Caminoside.jpg

Dave I am learning more about this stuff everyday. I called the previous owner and he had an anode hanging in the radiator from the cap. I never saw it, maybe it fell off. The only reason I can see for using an aluminum radiator is to save weight. I already bought one for the Nova and I will be real careful to change the coolant regularly and maybe I'll use the orange type.

last time i visited Philip he let me drive the El Camino... only mistake i made was not fryin' off the tires ;)

it's a nice ride, cool color in person. i don't think the pics i've seen do it justice.

just a .02'r :D

I wonder how many beer cans it will make when recycled?

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/64elcamino/zmeano/oldradiator.jpg

Hannah Gives it 2 thumbs up :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Hanna has good taste in cars tell we say thanks :)

The difference in weight is a lot. The aluminum weighs maybe 8 lbs and the brass close to 30.

same as me... i'm aluminum ;)

but my right foot is lead :D





Johnny (brass...) :D