[Mr69]

Need some help here from the 70-72 experts.
A friend of mine is just finishing a beautiful 2 year restoration on his 72 El Camino 454 w/AC. He tells me he needs a radiator cover that has an extension on one corner to hold a 4 row radiator. He says that even a BB w/ac would have had a 3 row radiator.
He also says that the H.D. cooling option used a different upper radiator support that had a corner cut off and a stamped sheet metal piece attached to the corner to accomodate the larger 4 row (or core) radiator. This would be on the drivers side of the cover.
Does anyone know about this ?
Anybody have one to sell ?
He says he thinks that this cover might have been used on some Chevy trucks in the 70's also.

Nate

 

[leeds]

well for what it's worth, when I put a 4-core in my 70 (factory BB A/C car) I used the original rad cover (upper). The rubber bumpers they sent were a little bit wider was the only difference, no metal modifications required. I did get the 7-blade fan and clutch kit.

 

[Mr69]

In 1970, there were 303,326 Chevelles with air conditioning. (RPO C60).
There were 7,347 of the 588,022 1970 Chevelles made with the V01 RPO.
This is listed as "Heavy-Duty Radiator".
It's my understanding that a 1970 SS with AC would come with a 3 row radiator as standard equipment. If you wanted a 4 row radiator, you would have to order RPO V01.
I suspect these 7,347 cars with 4 row radiators had a radiator cover with the extension.
Does anybody know ?
Where is Mr70 ? I'll bet he would know about this.

Nate


[This message has been edited by SS3964N8 (edited 05-31-2001).]

 

[richr]

Nate,

Your friend is correct. I have an A/C SS, 1970 with the optional 4 core radiator. On the drivers side of the cover there is what looks to be a stamped added piece. I had no idea what it was for until I read this post.

If you need a pic of it, drop me an e-mail. I'll use the digital camera and snap one for you and e-mail it to you.

Rich

------------------
70 SS - L34
Member # 442
www.chevelles.com/showroom/richr1

http://www.my70ss.com

 

[Alan F]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by SS3964N8:
It's my understanding that a 1970 SS with AC would come with a 3 row radiator as standard equipment.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I ordered several cars new in the 70's, but not in 1970. My recollection was that anytime you put a/c in the car, you got upgraded cooling - not necessarily "H.D. Cooling". However, since the SS396 already came with a heavier duty cooling, it's not a stretch for me to imagine that SS cars with a/c got the heaviest radiator. I don't think the "H.D. Cooling" option was reserved for only those that specified the RPO.

My hypothesis is that the 7,347 1970 Chevelles made with the V01 RPO consisted of cars that were a) specifically ordered with it and b) big block a/c cars. As per usual, I can allow for the fact that I'm also wrong.

With all of that said, I have a '70 SS396 convertible, '71 SS 454 El Camino and '72 402 GMC Sprint; all with a/c. Every one of them has the upper shroud that you are looking for. The convertible makes reference to HD cooling on the build sheet, but I believe it was part of the a/c RPO.

PS. I'm not picking on you with the quote, just trying to make it clear what I'm replying to.

 

[Mr69]

Hey Alan,
well then explain to me how it is that there were 7,347 cars equipped with the V01 option, and then far more BB SS cars built ??
On the cars you have listed here, how many rows on the radiators ? (if they are orig).
Nate

[This message has been edited by SS3964N8 (edited 06-03-2001).]

 

[AJW]

I have owned several 70-72 chevelles/monte carlos with the heavy duty cooling option. Each one had it specified on the build sheet even if it had factory air. I know of a lot of original big block cars with factory A/C that do not have heavy duty cooling. Hope this helps.

 

[DaveC]

You will also find that the radiator support (in a car with HD cooling) is also modified in the same manner as the top cover.. to accomidate the larger radiator.

------------------
Dave C.
70 402 4spd Monte Carlo (factory)
72 350 Monte Carlo
69 427 Corvette roadster
86 Grand National
96 Impala SS

 

[Tom Hendricks]

Just went out and looked at my 70 SS with AC and it has the little extension part you guys have mentioned. Never noticed it before.

 

[Mr69]

AJW THANK YOU VERY MUCH
that is just the exact confirmation that I was looking for.
Dave C My friend spoke of this also. I had forgotten about it. Thank you very much.

I think this is a much overlooked option. Most guys/gals probably think that an SS with AC would have had the RPO V01 option and that is just not the case.
More input from other 70-72 owners would be great.
Thanks all, Nate

 

[LS6-M22]

It was my understanding that if you ordered A/C or a solid lifter motor you automatically got the 4 core radiator.The 7,347 V01 HD radiator option total only counts towards the cars that specifically were ordered with that stand alone option and not included in a package deal such as big block A/C or sold lifter HP motors.My literature states that the V01 option was not available with BB A/C or solid lifters meaning because you were automatically getting it.

------------------


Dean Ciampi
Team Chevelle Gold #52
Aces #3094 MY LS6 CHEVELLE
My Z28

[This message has been edited by LS6-M22 (edited 06-03-2001).]

 

[Mr69]

Thank you LS6-M22 !!
It's all starting to make sense now.
So all 1970-72 BB SS cars with AC would have automatically come with what is effectively the V01 RPO and the RPO V01 option could be had on just about any engine/trans combo that the customer ordered. Sound right ?
So......if this is correct, then there should be tons of 4 bolt style top radiator covers and core supports that are fitted to accept 4 row radiators.
I found this top cover on eBay today and won the bidding. Owner says it came from a 1972 Monte Carlo 454 4bbl car. On a little side note here.....wouldn't that have been a very rare SS454 Monte ?? Was the 454 available in a 1972 Monte Carlo without being an SS ?

Here is a pic of the one I bought. www.tcsn.net/ss396/cover/cover.jpg

Rusty but undamaged upper radiator support. Has nice original emmisions label for 454 4bbl. www.tcsn.net/ss396/cover/top.jpg



Thanks to all for the excellent input on this subject.
Nate

[This message has been edited by SS3964N8 (edited 06-04-2001).]

[This message has been edited by SS3964N8 (edited 06-04-2001).]

[This message has been edited by SS3964N8 (edited 06-04-2001).]

 

[Alan F]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by SS3964N8:
Hey Alan,
well then explain to me how it is that there were 7,347 cars equipped with the V01 option, and then far more BB SS cars built ??
On the cars you have listed here, how many rows on the radiators ? (if they are orig).
Nate
[This message has been edited by SS3964N8 (edited 06-03-2001).]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Nate, if you're still monitoring the thread, I agree with Dean. Since we are using RPO numbers, the a/c RPO includes V01 and would be mutually exclusive in the tally.

In response to your first demand of me, the inference is that my reply suggested that all BB SS cars had V01. That is not the case. All of my cars have 4 row radiators. BTW, do we know how many SS cars had a/c?

Maybe the issue is not which cars had V01, but which had 4 row radiators. Is RPO V01 automatically synonymous with a 4 core radiator? I understood that "HD Cooling" was a relative term. When ordered, you received an upgraded or larger radiator, rather than the largest. My rationale is that I can't believe GM would install a 4 core radiator when RPO V01 was ordered in every instance. For example, would they put it in a 6-cylinder, non a/c Chevelle? Anyone else know?

We're leaving for Chevellabration in the morning. I'll try to do some research there. However, it's doubtful that I'll get back to this thread for a week.

 

[DaveC]

("wouldn't that have been a very rare SS454 Monte ?? Was the 454 available in a 1972 Monte Carlo without being an SS ?")

There was no SS 454 option in 72 for monte carlo's. Although you could still order one with all of the makings.
There was a Monte Carlo "custom" option in 72, and most of the ones I've ever seen or heard of were 402's of 454's, the 454's being the rarer.

------------------
Dave C.
70 402 4spd Monte Carlo (factory)
71 SS454 Monte Carlo
72 350 Monte Carlo
69 427 Corvette roadster
86 Grand National
96 Impala SS

 

[Mr69]

Thanks to you guys, this whole topic has become a lot clearer to me. I am basically doing this research for a good friend.
To Alan F---Everything said on your last post makes more sense to me.
I would say that when the V01 RPO was ordered, it was most likely put on a car with AC and a BB. Possibly on a BB w/O AC and maybe even on a SB W/AC car, but most likely not on a 6 cyl car.
DaveC--thanks for the good info. When I tried to think of a 1972 SS454 Monte, my brain shorted out. I couldn't remember weather that was avialable or not. You cleared that up well. Thanks.

Nate