The other day I sold my 6.2L diesel radiator.(without really thinking I might need it again)http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley26.gif But I guess there would be waisted space since I won't need the built-in trany oil cooler because I am going with a standard trany.


I was wondering if I could use a gasser rad for a 454 or something and run a remote engine oil cooler? Would the rad have enough cooling capacity for the diesel engine. Should I get a cross-flow or vertical flow rad? I heard somewhere that cross-flow rads are better. Is this true?


I think going with a larger remote oil cooler will be better anyways. Keep the engine oil a little cooler.


Any info or ideas would be great. Thanks.

I'm a student in automotive technlogy. My instructors tell me that a cross flow radiator is better. I forget why. Each application is different though.

Should have run the stock unit with out the tranny cooler being used or convert it to WVO and use the tranny cooler to heat the fuel oil.


There should be an oil cooler on the right infront of the radiator.

www.musclemotorsports.com (http://www.musclemotorsports.com) a $1500 radiator can be had for $195. they come in all sizes but usually have 4 1" cores, for a total thickness of about 5-6 inches.

I am doing just what you are thinking of. I recently put a 6.5 n/a in my '75 pickup. The radiator that came with the 6.5 (which I got out of an '84 suburban) would not fit in my truck w/o major modifications. So I just used the radiator from the 350 gasser that was previously in the truck. I mounted an ATF cooler to the grill in front of the radiator and use that to cool the engine oil.


So far the truck runs fine. Right now I commute up hill at least 1,000 vertical ft. every day to my job. I figure that this may be a temporary set up that will get me through the winter and then I may have to figure out something better next summer. Perhaps your idea of a bigger radiator (for a big block engine) that still fits my truck would work.


Given where you live, I think that you could easily do what I've done and at least get through the next 6-8 months. Keep us posted, I'd like to know how it turns out for you.

Quantum Mechanic- The rad I sold had an engine oil cooler built into the passenger side core/tank and there was a trany cooler built into the drivers side core/tank. Not huge coolers so I can't think that they cooled a lot.


grape- Thanks, I'll have to check them out


thumbsmasher- I will do that, any usefull info I get during the prosess I'll post.

I installed a 1984 6.2L engine in my 1970 Chev C20 truck when I blew my 350 engine (intake manifold gasket failed) in 1984. I never had a heating problem with the two row radiator. I put a air oil cooler in front of the radiator. I don't know which cools the oil better, but the radiator oil cooler is in the hot water that just passed thru the radiator and the oil cooler tubes pass in the middle of the back side of the radiator and that air is definitely hot!!!