22 replies to this topic

[Ando]

Radiator Questions; 

I have 2 (I believe original) radiators I've pulled from my SS cars.

My 4.2 Litre manual SS had a 2 core installed & all the indicators lead to it being original. My car is a 6/76 build & date (F6) on the radiator matches as well so I'm 99% confident it's original.

However, my 5.0 litre manual SS had a 3 core in it. The radiator date (J6) also matches the car build 9/76. It sits flush with the radiator support panel & has the provision for the clutch fan shroud. It's a non factory AC car but it did have AC fitted at some stage..

Is this 3 core what is described in the GMH parts book as heavy duty?

I thought all V8 Toranas were fitted with the smaller 2 core for Manual, Non factory AC cars & only Automatic cars got the Heavy Duty radiator or cars with factory AC.

Any clues why a 3 core would be factory fitted to a L31 M21?? No factory AC. 

Cheers Ando

 

 IMG_3942.jpg   62.18K   32 downloads  3 core & 2 core 

 

 IMG_3905.jpg   57.25K   22 downloads  3 core date

 

 IMG_3907.jpg   58.34K   26 downloads  2 core date

 

 IMG_3946.jpg   67.19K   21 downloads  Supplier branding

 

 IMG_3945.jpg   40.39K   22 downloads  Flush mounts to support panel

 

 IMG_3944.jpg   39.22K   20 downloads  Same as GMH parts Illustration except for extra drill holes

 

 IMG_3943.jpg   60.45K   26 downloads  Definitely Torana Radiators

 

 15056233_10209750409490325_8395536557239601740_n.jpg   45.11K   19 downloads  My SS 5.0 litre with 3 core & shroud.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by Ando, 08 March 2018 - 03:37 PM.

[StephenSLR]

http://www.gmh-toran...0-v8-radiators/

 

http://www.gmh-toran...al-v8-radiator/

 

s

[Bazza]

Hi

 

Heavy duty radiators were always an option.

 

Cheers

 

Bazza

[StephenSLR]

Heavy duty radiators were always an option.

 

They were still 2 core though weren't they?

 

s

[Dr Terry]

I think radiator type differed pre & post ADR27A.

 

From memory all pre ADR27A V8 non-A/C cars got the 2 core, but ADR27A V8 non-A/C autos got the 3 core.

 

Basically ADR27A cars were designed to have the engine run at around 10 degrees hotter than the earlier cars, so the cooling system was uprated accordingly.

 

Dr Terry

[Ando]

Replying to Posts 2,3 & 4...

 

Yes, I would agree but the date code matches the car & the radiator strap suits Torana support panel.

 

Is the matching date a coincidence or Holden Dealer order on behalf of the customer?

 

It's different to a HQ - Hz radiator

 

Previous 3rd owner has confirmed there was AC but removed. Unable to trace back any further than the late nineties atm.

 

Holden Historical report states 'Standard Heating & Ventilation System' 

 

So I'm wondering if it was possible to order the 3 core instead of the standard 2 core back in the day? 

Edited by Ando, 08 March 2018 - 07:44 PM.

[Ando]

I think radiator type differed pre & post ADR27A.

 

From memory all pre ADR27A V8 non-A/C cars got the 2 core, but ADR27A V8 non-A/C autos got the 3 core.

 

Basically ADR27A cars were designed to have the engine run at around 10 degrees hotter than the earlier cars, so the cooling system was uprated accordingly.

 

Dr Terry

 

 

Thanks Dr Terry, 

 

That makes sense to me!

 

I'm trying to get to the bottom of this before I go & spend money on restoring & re-coring the right or wrong radiator.

 

cheers

Edited by Ando, 08 March 2018 - 07:43 PM.

[tuxedoss]

What is the shroud made of? If its an original Torana one it will be fibreglass.  The only cars to get the shroud were factory air V8s. So maybe your car had dealer fitted aftermarket air but they ordered a V8 radiator and shroud from spares and installed after it left the factory. Or it had factory air which someone ripped out but unlikely as that would be a big job

.

[ZUSE]

Radiator Questions; 

I have 2 (I believe original) radiators I've pulled from my SS cars.

My 4.2 Litre manual SS had a 2 core installed & all the indicators lead to it being original. My car is a 6/76 build & date (F6) on the radiator matches as well so I'm 99% confident it's original.

However, my 5.0 litre manual SS had a 3 core in it. The radiator date (J6) also matches the car build 9/76. It sits flush with the radiator support panel & has the provision for the clutch fan shroud. It's a non factory AC car but it did have AC fitted at some stage..

Is this 3 core what is described in the GMH parts book as heavy duty?

I thought all V8 Toranas were fitted with the smaller 2 core for Manual, Non factory AC cars & only Automatic cars got the Heavy Duty radiator or cars with factory AC.

Any clues why a 3 core would be factory fitted to a L31 M21?? No factory AC. 

Cheers Ando

 

IMG_3942.jpg  3 core & 2 core 

 

IMG_3905.jpg  3 core date

 

IMG_3907.jpg  2 core date

 

IMG_3946.jpg  Supplier branding

 

IMG_3945.jpg  Flush mounts to support panel

 

IMG_3944.jpg  Same as GMH parts Illustration except for extra drill holes

 

IMG_3943.jpg  Definitely Torana Radiators

 

15056233_10209750409490325_8395536557239601740_n.jpg  My SS 5.0 litre with 3 core & shroud.

 

 

 

 

 

 

the three core radiator i believe not to be original ,the strap that is fitted is also suited to the ht g k holden,the only differance were the holes for the shroud ?yours appear to be re-drilled ?,  the emblem n for natrad appears to be later model 96 not 76 

the two core would be suited , the heavy duty core was 38mm with 14 f.p.i using the smaller tanks 

my thoughts 

back in the day 

[S pack]

The brand logos on the top tanks tells us the 3 core unit is an aftermarket item for an LX Torana.

The Natrad name and logo did not exist until the mid 1980's.

 

 

[tuxedoss]

The straps you have on the larger radiator appear to be genuine V8 aircon ones but the 2 large holes have been redrilled so your shroud is probably not original Torana. While the core I have is not standard I'm quite positive the strap on it is original as my original Torana shroud mates up with the small top hole and bottom cutout

[Ando]

Thanks Guys,

 

I came to the same conclusion & decided to re-core the thin tank 'Torana' radiator.

 

What threw me was the date code on the larger 3 core radiator.

It matched the car's build date & the car did have a non-factory AC.

 

The small Torana radiator is correct for my manual SS cars.

The date code is a few months before my 9/76 SS (from my 6/76 SS) but the fan guard will fit.

It wont be going back in my 6/76 car as it's a modified SS - A9X replica.

 

There's probably not many original 'Torana' radiators out there anyway with the date stamp. So I'm lucky I have one.

 

Cheers Ando

Edited by Ando, 21 March 2018 - 05:57 AM.

[Shiney005]

Have you got a close up pic of the core Ando?

 

L34 and A9X had this style, but I'm not sure of the other Toranas.

 

 L34 A9X core (2)small.jpg   377.18K   8 downloads

[Ando]

Have you got a close up pic of the core Ando?

 

L34 and A9X had this style, but I'm not sure of the other Toranas.

 

Sorry Laurie,

 

I took the Torana radiator to the repair shop for re-coring etc.

 

I didn't think to take a photo of the tubes & fins..bugger!

 

You could save my image above to your desktop & zoom in..that might work.

 

The other was re-cored in 96 going by the tag on the core. 

 

Ando

[S pack]

Sorry Laurie,

 

I took the Torana radiator to the repair shop for re-coring etc.

 

I didn't think to take a photo of the tubes & fins..bugger!

 

You could save my image above to your desktop & zoom in..that might work.

 

The other was re-cored in 96 going by the tag on the core. 

 

Ando

If the tag on the cooling fins of the 3 core rad is dated 1996 and the top tank is dated J6 then I would expect that NATRAD radiator is not a re-core but was a completely brand new unit assembled in 1996.

Edited by S pack, 21 March 2018 - 11:42 PM.

[TerrA LX]

I could be wrong, but working as a radiator repairer some time ago I was under the impression 3 row radiator was a after market pack supplied thru radiator repairers, all factory HD radiators (ie A/C opted cars) were 2 row but had extra tubes in the core with closer spaced fins...

[Shiney005]

In the LH parts book there are 4 HD radiators for V8. HD V8 with and without air con, and HD L34 with and without air con. The L34 ones were definately 2 row.

[Ando]

I did count the number of tubes in both radiators. 

 

The Torana radiator had 180 tubes (3 rows) & the larger 3 core rad had 150 tubes.

 

I'm thinking the Torana rad was re-cored at some stage in it's life.

[Shiney005]

So both the factory radiator and the aftermarket one with the bigger tanks have 3 rows of tubes? When looking at a "narrow" radiator I always assumed they were two row, and the "wide" ones 3 row. I will have to have a better look now.

[hanra]

A 3 row radiator will not work with the standard metal curved finger guard, unless its cut and shut and lengthened.

[Ando]

I added about 50mm to my fan guard on the white hatch.

 

 

 IMG_2610.JPG   221.4K   8 downloads 

 

It wont be necessary for the Gold SS.

 

Cheers Ando

 

 

 

[Shiney005]

Standard factory heavy duty radiator for L34 and A9X is two rows of 73 tubes. (146 in total) Thanks to Dave Mac.

Edited by Shiney005, 30 March 2018 - 10:05 PM.

[Shiney005]

HD 2 row A9X.

 

 30516653_1766837396713779_8901269706703720349_n.jpg   86.16K   7 downloads