I AM GETTING MY RADIATOR REPLACED THIS WEEKEND FOR SURE. I AM GETTING IT REPLACED AT SOME SHOP FOR $212 PARTS,TAX,LABOR...TOTAL. THE PROBLEM IS THAT I DONT KNOW WHAT MAKE THE RADIATOR IS THAT THEY WILL BE INSTALLING OR WHAT TYPE OF RADIATOR. SHOULD I WORRY ABOUT WHAT KIND OF RADIATOR IS GOING TO BE INSTALLED??? OR AM I BETTER OFF GOING WITH A STOCK RADIATOR FROM AC DELCO AND INSTALLING IT MYSELF WHICH WILL BE THE 1st TIME I REPLACE MY OWN RADIATOR....
THANKS A LOT

 

A stock radiator retails for 380, so I'd say stay away from that propasal, get a stocker and do it yourself. Its very easy and requires basic hand tools.
The stock radiators have proven themselvs very well.

 

Do They Sell Plugs For The Lines So The Transmission Fluid Wont Leak Out Or The Fluid That Is In The Block.....????

 

You just need to drain the coolant from the radiator and some from the block. You can use either the knock sensor or the driver's side plug to do that. I'm not positive on the trans lines since I dont have an auto but all things aside, you could do it all by yourself in under 2.5 hours. Oh and if you can get a used one off the board. I got one for $75 shipped back in the spring when my radiator developed a nice crack.

 

Do different radiators provide different cooling methods or quality ??? Do some radiators cools better than others????

 

The trans lines are easy, they will drip a little when you take them off but that's about it.....all the fluid isn't going to come rushing out on you. I know the one is just a steel line, and it's right in front of you.......so use a flare-nut wrench or even a normal wrench will work if it's not on too tight(which it probably isn't) and the other one i belive is just a clamp.....slide the clamp back pull the hose off and let it drip into a cup or something. Then just pop off the other radiator hoses.....and have a bucket to catch the coolant in........or you can drian the radiator at the bottom with the plug that would be less messy.....but sometimes those plugs are really screwed in and they break....but i guess it wouldn't matter in your case because you are getting a whole new one. It's really not that hard. Probably 2 hours for you since you have never done it....probably one or less for someone like me that has done it.

Yea GM parts direct I think a stocker goes for like 190 or something that's just off the top of my head.

 

Well, obviously some of the 500.00 Griffin and Be-Cool radiators are going to "cool" better, but your not going to need it on a daily driven 300 hp Fbody.
I just replaced my radiator with a 175 (i think it was) radiator from O'Reilleys. Just drained the coolant from the radiator, remove hoses, take off fans and fan shroud, un-clip the radiator from the ac condensor, remove and install new one. It is very easy swap. Have a friend or two to help with pulling the old and installing the new radiator.

Good luck

 

the short answer is Yes

 

Thanks For All The Input...
I Think I Am Better Off Going With A Stocker Since Almost Everyone Seems To Be Pointing Me In That Direction....

 

Yup, just go with stock. And for the love of god, please dont have a shop do something as simple as install a radiator.

 

I Love To Work On My Car And If I Have The Knowledge And Tools I Do The Work Myself. If I New How To Rebuild Engines I Think I Would Never Go Partying Again On The Weekends

 

Only need a 10mm socket / flathead / adjustable wrench to get the radiator replaced heh.

 

I Think I Have That...or Ill Ask My Buddy To Lend Me His 400+ Piece Toolset That He Bought At Sears From One Of Them Sales They Had...