minivan 2nd gen radiator in 1st gen????

[Joe_Van_Duno]

Has anyone tried to put a 2nd gen radiator in a 1st gen van?

I'm looking to increase my cooling (van runs about 220 after a pass) and found on rockauto that the 94-95 radiator is larger (16in wide, vs 25in wide) and would like to try it on my 89.

Curious if anyone else has tried, as it's $175 including the new radiator, fan and hoses and I'd hate to get it, try and install it, only to have to ship it back.

Joe

[Johnny]

If know one knows, spend a little time at the wrecking yard and have a look to compare.
Interesting idea!

[Joe_Van_Duno]

I thought about that but it's -5 outside and much warmer in front of the computer...lol. If no one knows for sure than I think once the weather breaks I'll be headed out to junkyards and aee what I can find.

[83scamp]

Anything is possible with a torch, a welder, and a big hammer...:eyebrows:

I put a Daytona radiator in my Scamp a year ago, it only required moving one bottom mount, and a couple of new holes in the top of the core support. Now it runs nice and cool...:D It didn't hurt that the Daytona radiator was 1/3 the price of the replacement L-body radiator either!!!

[moparman76_69]

You shouldn't have an issue since you have no condenser. The mounts won't be there but it will fit.

[Joe_Van_Duno]

Thanks George, no worries about the mounts that's what self tapping screws and a bunch of washers are for :D

And and I might have to try a daytona radiator I have a couple sitting around, I didn't even think of that..,doh

[A.J.]

I considered a larger radiator but instead put a huge oil-to-air oil cooler in mine. It cooled it down 20 degrees driving around town in an AZ summer with the AC on.

[Vigo]

Yeah, i would recommend an oil cooler as an easier approach that will probably help your actual parts durability more than a few degrees of coolant temp.

[Joe_Van_Duno]

Thanks for the idea guys, I'll look into that.

[BadAssPerformance]

Can you deal with 19" tall? If so, Summit Racing has a universal Aluminum radiator that might work? Wouldn't fit in my car need to be like 18" total including cap.

Oh, I also still have my old Fluidyne aluminum radiator here.. the one the 2.2L rod went into. I could probably TIG glue that one runner up?

[Joe_Van_Duno]

Thanks JT for the idea, I'd have to go out and measure for that 19" radiator, and I'll let you know about tig gluing your old radiator. Right now I'm just going through some things that would be needed before the van could even consider making a "road trip" in September, and cooling is one of the big ones..