1970 LT-1 Radiator

[Joe L.]

Another recent thread prompts this question: does anyone out there have a 1970 LT-1 originally equipped with a GM #3155316 ALUMINUM radiator?

[Jim T.]

Re: 1970 LT-1 Radiator

Joe a frequent poster Terry M. Is original owner of a 70 LT-1. He may very well have the original radiator.

[Terry M.]

Re: 1970 LT-1 Radiator

Joe a frequent poster Terry M. Is original owner of a 70 LT-1. He may very well have the original radiator.

I do, and it is copper brass. There is a photo of part of the radiator in the thread about upper radiator hoses for 1970 LT1s.
https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...-radiator-hose

I have judged a lot of 1970 LT1s, and seen a lot more. Bring one near me and I am like a moth to a flame. I have never seen one (unless ZR1) with an aluminum radiator - original or restored. In spite of my claims of having seen a lot of them, I know I have not seen all of them - yet. I am still working on that.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1970 LT-1 Radiator

I do, and it is copper brass. There is a photo of part of the radiator in the thread about upper radiator hoses for 1970 LT1s. I have judged a lot of 1970 LT1s, and seen a lot more. Bring one near me and I am like a moth to a flame. I have never seen one (unless ZR1) with an aluminum radiator - original or restored. In spite of my claims of having seen a lot of them, I know I have not seen all of them - yet. I am still working on that.

Terry-----


You've probably seen enough to say that it's extremely unlikely, if not certain, that any were ever built.

Something that I could never figure out, though, is why the aluminum radiator was used on 1968-72 base engine cars (without C-60 or M-40) but not most L-46 or, most likely, any LT-1. The 26" small block copper/brass radiator had just about the same heat rejection capacity as the 3155316 aluminum radiator. Also, no L-46 or LT-1 were ever equipped with M-40 so no integral oil cooler (which the 3155316 did not have) was necessary.

Yes, the 3155316 was a lot more costly than the 3018803 copper/brass, especially considering that the former had to be also equipped with the aluminum supply tank and that's why it seems so incongruous that it was used on base engines but not optional, higher performance engines.

[Terry M.]

Re: 1970 LT-1 Radiator

I have noted your past statements that some few LT1s might have been equipped with the aluminum radiator, and I have been looking for that. Of course, if I saw that you would be the first to know. I don't know where the NCRS LT1 survey is currently, but the last report I saw had 321 1970 LT1s on the survey out of 1287 produced. That is not a statically significant percentage. Oh, and I have not seen all of those 321 either.

[Scott S.]

Re: 1970 LT-1 Radiator

Something that I could never figure out, though, is why the aluminum radiator was used on 1968-72 base engine cars (without C-60 or M-40) but not most L-46 or, most likely, any LT-1. The 26" small block copper/brass radiator had just about the same heat rejection capacity as the 3155316 aluminum radiator. Also, no L-46 or LT-1 were ever equipped with M-40 so no integral oil cooler (which the 3155316 did not have) was necessary.

Yes, the 3155316 was a lot more costly than the 3018803 copper/brass, especially considering that the former had to be also equipped with the aluminum supply tank and that's why it seems so incongruous that it was used on base engines but not optional, higher performance engines.

Joe,

FWIW, my '69 Corvette (L46, M21) had the overflow tank, so it must have been equipped with the aluminum radiator. VIN was near 21000.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1970 LT-1 Radiator

Joe,

FWIW, my '69 Corvette (L46, M21) had the overflow tank, so it must have been equipped with the aluminum radiator. VIN was near 21000.

Scott------


Yes, many 1969 L-46 were equipped with the aluminum radiator. I have a friend who is the original owner of his 1969 L-46 and it was so-equipped.