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by **markl** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 3:42 pm

Hey everyone. My name is Mark, from Tacoma Wa. and I am a first time V-8 vega owner. I bought a 76 Vega with a 350 and I am in need of a radiator. It has a v-8 monza rad now that was munched by the fan from the previous owner who then did a half-ass job of trying to solder it to hold coolant. Anyways, Im finding that new v-8 monza rads are EXTINCT!! Nobody even has a part# for one. So I was wondering what your vega owners use for rads. Other makes/models of GM cars that will fit, custom etc. Im not willing to pay $300+ to have mine recored and I cant find a used one anywhere. I can get an aluminum for a little over $200. Thanks for your input.

by **DjTy** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 9:37 pm

I'm not too experienced with this, but supposedly Griffin radiators has an aluminium model that should be "plug and play", please wait for the input of some vega owners.

I believe this is the part that should fit to give you an indication:

http://www.v8monza.com/catalog/index.htm

maybe check for your size here:
http://www.stockcarproducts.com/rad1.htm

by **monza4me** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 12:10 am

I just experieced the same fate with my Monza and also discovered nobody is making the copper radiater anymore. Even though manufactures like Silla still actively list it, they won't make it anymore. So, I solved this by using the generic Griffin GRI-1-25241-X which is wider and somewhat shorter and instead of notching the frame, I cut a 1/2" X4" away from the lower left tank, welded in a flat piece of aluminum and ended up with a perfect drop in Aluminum rad! Best point about this is the price, $190 delivered direct from summit racing. I'll post pictures of the procedure on an update.

by **v8astregt** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 3:16 am

Please post pics! I drove my Astre for the first time today, and I thought the big 4 core copper radiator would have been adequate... but not so!

by **marco_1978_spyder** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 11:30 am

If it gets hot, just sitting at idle, try running some Vacuum advance off of manifold vacuum.
That keeps things a tad cooler, and keeps the plugs cleaner.

by **markl** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 5:04 am

Thanks for the replys everyone. Would a 19x22 aluminum radiator be enough for a 350? I just want to be sure before buying one.

by **v8astregt** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 1:16 pm

I think you can fit one as wide as 26" without too much modification, but I'm not sure. I was gonna do some measuring today and see what I could fit.

Is it aluminum? I would call up the manufacturer and ask them. I know I'm gonna call up Griffin this week and ask them a few things.

by **Hoonbash** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 5:21 pm

I'm in the market for a good rad also plus I've got the added bonus of the previous owners craftsmanship

He had the whole front assembly hacked up but I've managed to find the stock parts and install them.Look at this poor core support

Thinking about this Rad,anyone try one of these??

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 0002902885

Hoonbash

by **V8VegaMan** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 8:47 pm

Not tried one but 28" is to wide unless you want to cut notches in the frame rails. Try to find one 26" wide. 16" height seems to be good.

I have the Griffin from Summit:
Griffin (GRI-1-25241-X) Size: 27-1/2" x 16"
and I had to notch the frame rails.

Cliff(TX)

by **Buscop** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 7:04 am

V8VegaMan wrote:Not tried one but 28" is to wide unless you want to cut notches in the frame rails. Try to find one 26" wide. 16" height seems to be good.

I have the Griffin from Summit:
Griffin (GRI-1-25241-X) Size: 27-1/2" x 16"
and I had to notch the frame rails.

Cliff(TX)

You should be able to find a "good" rad shop that will custom make a rad to your specs. After all the rad is only a industry standard core soldered onto two tanks. My local rad shop made me one up using a high capacity core for 1/2 the cost of a aluminium rad.

by **markl** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 10:00 am

I talked to 2 rad shops about recoring and they both said over $300. They say its becuase of the price of copper is so high.

by **Buscop** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 10:36 am

markl wrote:I talked to 2 rad shops about recoring and they both said over $300. They say its becuase of the price of copper is so high.

Oops...forgot about the insane price of copper....again.

by **HI WINDING MONZA** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 11:02 pm

Didn't some one say that a 84 Corvette Radiator fits? They are on Ebay new and used from $49-$120. Doug in Az

by **ColinOpseth** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 12:58 am

Seriously? I have one in an 84 I'm parting out..

by **v8astregt** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 1:24 am

Interesting. I know an 84 Vette radiator works when I swap a V8 into my S10.

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