Radiator Shop for 70LT1 Re-core

[Fred S.]

Can anyone recommend a good radiator shop in Connecticut preferably the south western part since I live in Danbury. Need a shop that has a good reputation working on classics. Thanks, Fred S. 11358

[Keith B.]

Re: Radiator Shop for 70LT1 Re-core

I don't think you can rebuild a stack plate original radiator Call Tom Dewitt he will set you straight

[Fred S.]

Re: Radiator Shop for 70LT1 Re-core

Keith,
Dewitt makes a copper replacement core which is correct for a 70LT1....I just need someone to remove the old tanks and put them on the new core.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Radiator Shop for 70LT1 Re-core

I don't think you can rebuild a stack plate original radiator Call Tom Dewitt he will set you straight

I believe you can use the side tanks as the LT-1 uses the copper BB radiator.

[Keith B.]

Re: Radiator Shop for 70LT1 Re-core

Thanks I did not know LT-1 used a BB rad

[Mike E.]

Re: Radiator Shop for 70LT1 Re-core

Thanks I did not know LT-1 used a BB rad

Don't feel bad Keith...I made the same mistake in another thread...It seams like C3 LT1 radiators are a hot topic right now. From what I understand the 1970-72 ZR1 (LT1) did have an aluminum stack plate radiator. Does anyone know why that was?

And for the purist are they LT-1 or LT1, ZL1 or ZL-1?

Mike

[Terry M.]

Re: Radiator Shop for 70LT1 Re-core

Don't feel bad Keith...I made the same mistake in another thread...It seams like C3 LT1 radiators are a hot topic right now. From what I understand the 1970-72 ZR1 (LT1) did have an aluminum stack plate radiator. Does anyone know why that was?

And for the purist are they LT-1 or LT1, ZL1 or ZL-1?

Mike

Mike,

My considered opinion (worth about what you are paying for it) is that the 1970-72 ZR1 used the aluminum stacked plate radiator for weight savings and their superior cooling ability. They used what is commonly referred to as the big block aluminum radiator -- as in the 396. This is a more robust unit than is found in the base motor 4-speed C3s.

"And for the purist are they LT-1 or LT1, ZL1 or ZL-1?" You're kidding right? This is such a can of worms. Chevrolet tried to make this distinction when they came out with the 1992 Gen II LT1 (or LT-1, take your choice). I think they wanted the 1970-72 to be called LT-1 (like on the hood) and the Gen II (1992-1996) to be called LT1. The problem was that people were already calling the 1970-72 LT1 or LT-1 interchangeably since until 1992 it obviously meant nothing but the 1970-72 version. No one seemed to care which form they used until 1992, so the toothpaste was already out of the tube.

For the 1970-72 the form was LT-1 on the hood, but the window sticker and other computer generated build documents contained no dash, so one could make a strong argument that the form without the hyphen (or dash, take your pick) is the more proper. 1970-72 ZR1 or 1971 ZR2 never was an emblem on the car and the computer generated build documents are without the hyphen. So until 1990 and the Lotus designed dual overhead cam engine, the form didn’t matter either.

And then there is the LS based version of the LT1 and ZR1, and I am not sure which form(s) Chevrolet prefers for those engines. I have heard little of that, so perhaps they have given up the fight, or I have just tuned them out. I recommend the latter for all of us.

Clear now?