Which Radiator?

Revbang · Post by **Revbang** » Wed Jul 02, 2003 11:45 am

I bought a early 67 parts car which is the same as my current roadster. The radiator on the parts car is a bit different. The parts car radiator has a filler opening on the radiator. My "good" Roadster doesn't. I've heard there are 2 and 3 chamber radiators or something like that. How do you tell the difference? Does anyone know the difference between my two radiatiors? Is one better than the other? Thanks, Mark

SLOroadster · Post by **SLOroadster** » Wed Jul 02, 2003 12:07 pm

Go with the larger one. More volume equals less heat. The 3 core one will be thicker. The one in the parts car is out of a 2 liter, I would recomend using that one. It is easier to fill and is larger (I think).

Will

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jul 02, 2003 12:57 pm

SLOroadster wrote:It is easier to fill

Speaking of...I have the one w/o the filler cap and just spent about 5 trips driving up and down the street trying to get the coolant filled to the proper level after draining the radiator. Am I missing something or is that what one has to do on those....?

Minh · Post by **Minh** » Wed Jul 02, 2003 1:24 pm

I remember reading that you had to push down on thermostat and fill it with water. Look at 3/14/01 of Matt Silvey's page.
http://home.comcast.net/~mattsilvey12/datsun.htm

Post by **spl310** » Wed Jul 02, 2003 1:49 pm

It depends. There were 4 different radiator types used on the Roadsters with variations on each. The early 1500s had a cap that was centered, and the radiator looked very thick, but was only two cores if I recall correctly. The 1965 1500 had a unique radiator that was very short but also very wide. It also had a cap. The 1600s had radiators had no cap and a T fitting at the top to allow the air to be purged. The 2000 radiators had caps and an L fitting that connected to the purge tank. All can be swapped around with some work as the inlet and outlet lines are oriented the same. Of course, add to that modified radiators - like 1600 radiators that have caps added for example - and things get weird.

Oh, and the 1600 and 2000 varieties came with one of two types of drains and one of two different widths depending on the year. The width issue was to clear the late steering. This adds to the fun of Radiator ID.....

SLOroadster · Post by **SLOroadster** » Wed Jul 02, 2003 2:06 pm

I have a 68 radiator with the late steering box. Its a tight fit and is a serious pain to install but it does work. I didn't know their was a difference until Mike Young pointed it out.

Will

Post by **spl310** » Wed Jul 02, 2003 2:26 pm

You can avoid having to burp the car as often if you drill a hole in the thermostat to let air out. The 2000 has a relief cast into the thermostat housing and waterneck for this purpose. The original thermostat also had a little rattle valve that let air out. If you put a small hole (1/8" or less) in the thermostat (DON'T DRILL THE RADIATOR!!!! I OOPSED WHEN I WROTE THIS NOTE ORIGINALLY

), it will still work fine, but it will do the burping for you. I guess that would make the car a burpless car?

Post by **spl310** » Thu Jul 03, 2003 9:21 am

DON'T DRILL YOUR RADIATOR!!!! I WAS TYPING IN A HURRY AND MADE A MISTAKE!!!! You drill the thermostat.

Sorry for the error all - now put down the drill and step away from the radiator......

Post by **S Allen** » Thu Jul 03, 2003 9:45 am

Damn Sid, I already did the drill thang!

Nothing a little JB Weld cannot fix though. Just kidding! Happy 4th to everyone!

Steve

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