Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

Champion used my radiator as a pattern, sent me the prototype to try. It fit my 69, spl311-11300 late steering box. I thought the issue was using a Champion in early cars, unless something changed. The double fitting and no cap sounds like they sent a 1600 rad to jayedeluxe

jayedeluxe wrote: Mon May 17, 2021 6:26 pm I'm curious as to why someone (Champion included) would sell a radiator that is supposed to be a replacement fit, yet has to have all kinds of modifications to get it to work. Doesn't seem all that difficult to get the original specs and copy them..... I'm going to call them and ask if I can bring my old one to them to verify fit, I see they are in Lake Elsinore, I'm in San Diego

Radiators are not all that simple as they appear. This is off the top of my head as far as variances - I am sure that there are more:

single carb 1500
dual carb 3 seat 1500
2 seat 1500
65-67.5 1600
68-69 cam and lever steering 1600
69-70 recirculating ball steering 1600
67 2000
68-69 cam and lever steering 2000
69-70 recirculating ball steering 2000

Someone please correct me if I am wrong, but these are as I recall the different variations on the radiators. 9 different ones over the course of 9 years.

Does Champion have a three row radiator that will fit a '68 with a U20 without any modification? I contacted Champion and they could not answer that question but said that they can provide measurements of the radiators that they have.

Sooooo, I've received my radiator from Champion, and it doesn't fit either !!! The mounting bracket holes on my car are 16 in. across, the Champion radiator is 17 in. across. It also has two over nipples coming out of the top tank. I'm starting to think that maybe, decades ago, after a front end crash, it was rebuilt with parts off a 1600 ??? My steering box is the B type, which is early than A type, correct ? Anybody out there have radiator bracket holes at 16 in. ????

jayedeluxe wrote: Wed May 19, 2021 5:51 pm Sooooo, I've received my radiator from Champion, and it doesn't fit either !!! The mounting bracket holes on my car are 16 in. across, the Champion radiator is 17 in. across. It also has two over nipples coming out of the top tank. I'm starting to think that maybe, decades ago, after a front end crash, it was rebuilt with parts off a 1600 ??? My steering box is the B type, which is early than A type, correct ? Anybody out there have radiator bracket holes at 16 in. ????

No "A" type steering box is early used up until mid 1969 per Rallye Website. Two nipples coming out of the top is 1600 only, ARE you saying your old Radiator had two Nipples or the new Champion Radiator has two Nipples? Bottom line two Nipples = 1600 radiator.

AHA !!!!! Thanks DAC21 !!! I have a 1600 radiator and bracket bar, in my SRL311. I know it had a front end wreck before I got it 30 years ago. They must have rebuilt it with 1600 stuff. What is the double nipple for ?

jayedeluxe wrote: Wed May 19, 2021 6:59 pm AHA !!!!! Thanks DAC21 !!! I have a 1600 radiator and bracket bar, in my SRL311. I know it had a front end wreck before I got it 30 years ago. They must have rebuilt it with 1600 stuff. What is the double nipple for ?

Short 6 inch run to Thermostat housing, and 2+ ft. run to overflow / reserve tank. Once again 1600 only. See photo of my 1600 below. Disregard the lower right red arrow pointing to a rust colored hose that was from another thread and not part of this discussion.

Thanks for the photo. I'm getting more confused, though. It looks as if the double nipple off the top tank is for the motor with thermostat housing in front. My thermostat housing is on the side of the motor. I've included a photo of my current (bad) radiator, and the one I bought from Champion that is, according to them, for a 1970 SRL311 I think the power hose bend is incorrect as well.

lower, not power. hahaha

So I went back and found the old posts. Looks like Sid was the one to figure it out....Seems I had sent them an early steering box 2000 radiator, my spare from the pile, so explains my fit issues. Others chimed in as well. Search the forums for Champion radiator and author dbrick.
Mine has the double hose fitting, I capped it. Photo of it installed with fan on the front. there was also something about the rubber body mount for the radiator support being flattened and the metal mushroomed up, which I had to fix, that helped the clearance at the idler box.

Brian at SinCity may be the best one to speak to as far as what fits what.

As far as steering box, if the u joint caps are smaller than a dime, it's a late, about the size of a nickle, early. Visible in the photo, mine was the late small ujoint

Hey Jayedelux, here's some more confusion. Your pic looks just like the radiator Champion sent me for my 69 SRL, except...mine has a single nipple at the top. I have the larger steering box and this thing doesn't fit between the steering and idler boxes (the mounting holes and passenger side flange are off too). The lower hose bend contacts the fan shroud which could be bent to clear, but the other issues convinced me that I just need to return it.

Thanks, Roysuecan, I'm now thinking the double nipple is for 1600's as they have the thermostat housing at the front of the motor and one of the overflow lines run to it as well as the 1 3/8 top tank hose. What is the distance between your mounting bracket holes ? Please tell me it's 16 in. !!! I haven't found one yet that is 16 in. That's what I need. I'm going to send this one back to Champion and have them send another after hopefully verifying size. What did you end up doing ?

devauxmidwest wrote: Wed May 19, 2021 5:06 pm Does Champion have a three row radiator that will fit a '68 with a U20 without any modification? I contacted Champion and they could not answer that question but said that they can provide measurements of the radiators that they have.

so far I have struck out with Champion in trying to get a radiator for my 1970 SRL311. Their sizing is not correct. More to follow, I am in talks with them.....

Here is the info I sent them, as well as a photo.
1970 Datsun Roadster SRL311 original radiator

Overall height 18 ½ in to top of filler tube
Overall width 18 ¼ in engine side fan shroud bracket, front side mounting bracket 17 in, to
allow for 16 in. mounting hole width (critical)
Core height 14 ¼ in
Core width 14 ½ in.
This size will clear steering box and steering idler box by ¼ in. each
Top tank has only one overflow nipple
Bottom tube extends 1 ¼ in. and is straight, does not bend

Radiator delivered says AE2000

It has 2 overflow nipples on top tank, not one like in photo
Bottom tube has a bend in it, unlike photo, or mine
Critical measurement is core width at 15 ½ in WILL NOT allow for radiator bracket holes to be 16 in across, which is a stock measurement.
Please not that stock core width is 14 ½ in., which allows for bracket holes to be at 16 in.

dbrick wrote: Tue May 18, 2021 10:20 pm Champion used my radiator as a pattern, sent me the prototype to try. It fit my 69, spl311-11300 late steering box. I thought the issue was using a Champion in early cars, unless something changed. The double fitting and no cap sounds like they sent a 1600 rad to jayedeluxe

And was your bracket hole distance 16 inches ?