I have a 70 malibu that had a 307and i"m putting in a 454 with around 510 h.p. Automatic . no air.From reading the posts I'm gonna use a stewart water pump and derale fan.I'm just wondering what shroud to use, I've read to use the 71-72 cause it covered the whole radiator. Can i use a 70 shroud for a bb, local guy has one for $70.I'm a rookie at this and dont know if I need a short or long water pump.Any part numbers would be great. Also what is the biggest radiator I can fit in my car. been looking at the summit brand aluminum ones. Thought it was a good price. And finally can I just use a tranny cooler. I bought a high performance one, and heard I didnt need to go thru the radiator.. Thanks for all the help again!!!

Alot to swallow.......but here goes.

First, use the shroud that will definitely cover the WHOLE radiator....not the partial ones. I know the 68 BB with air is a good one for this, but I am not sure if it fits the 70, but should come close. Also, the 68 can get an 18" Derale 17XXX series fan in! This is a huge improvement on stock situations.

The water pump situation does not matter as long as your pulleys line up and you can use spacers to place the fan. What pulley system are you using? There are differences in pulley systems and cooling. I have a coupon for a discount on a Concept One system if you want it.

The radiator situation is basically you get what you pay for. I suggest an aluminum PRC radiator that is custom made for your situation at www.streetrodstuff.com/Products/157. email DickZ@streetrodstuff.com for more information.

You can use a tranny cooler in or out of the radiator system. Externals are fine and put them in front of the radiator.

I HAVE NO PULLEYS RIGHT NOW, JUST LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT WORKS GOOD WITHOUT THE EXPENSE OF THE BILLET STUFF. SO THE 70 SHROUD WOULD WORK ,THE GUY SAID IT COVERED THE WHOLE RADIATOR.
tHANKS FOR THE HELP!! ALSO i JUST LOOKED AT THE RADIATOR WE SITE AND THEY ARE VERY NICE BUT I,M WAY OVER BUDGET ALREADY AND WASNT LOOKING TOWARDS SPENDING $450 ON THE RADIATOR. aNY OTHERS AROUND $200 OR SO

YOu've heard the term you get what you pay for right? You can probably find a generic radiator at Summit or whatever, but these generics are NOT the same as some of the high quality stuff you can buy at let's say PRC, Becool or Griffin or Fluidyne for examples. I will admit that some of these names here are marketing their pricing on their name and reputation, well earned I am sure. Here is some of my finding with these.

The construction of the generic cores is different. Usually the fins per inch is less and the finnal material itself is thinner, making for bug splashes on the fins themselves that hender good cooling and become uncorrectable due to the poor elasticity of the fins. The fin material is usually a cheaper/softer material as well. Also, the generic cores have absolutely no baffles inside to aid the important turbulence of the cooling stream. Also, the welds of these generic radiators are not as professional (usually because they have some 14year old in china doing it) and moreover are not welded on both sides as most high quality units like professional welders here in country (after tearing into some of these.....you WILL see the difference).

So, while any of the brandlabels that I have mentioned and I am sure others that I have not..... are great high quality products.... my opinion is that the less priced ones are cheap and risky at best.

Just my two sense.

I bought a 4 core radiator from autozone and it has lasted 2 years with no problems so far and no corrosion. My car was a 307 at one time and is now a 454.

You get what you pay for but my car is not a race car or high power 454 so the aluminum and be cool radiators was a little too much for me.

Tom

Depending on your budget and wants, you can go nuts just looking at radiator choices.

However, I just purchased an all-aluminum radiator from Alumitech reproductions, Don has some recent posts here about his radiator. I'd take a serious look at it, it's a top quality unit. And, it's a drop-in fit(read: no additional install headaches), and will cool whatever you can throw at it. It looks stock if you paint it black, it looks trick if you polish it up a bit. I've posted some pics of it myself here in an earlier thread about a month ago.