PLASTIC/ALUMINUM RADIATOR

This is what we feel is the best radiator for the V8 Z (see picture below). It also works very well on the six-cylinder Z car, and it weighs about 9 lbs less than the stock 6-cylinder radiator.

We no longer sell radiators with the automatic transmission cooler in the passenger"s side tank

This radiator is made for Stealth Conversions. It is the base radiator for 1984-1986 V8 Camaro’s, but with a thicker core (1-3/8" thick, compared to 7/8" for a stock radiator). It is light, inexpensive, and does an excellent job of cooling. It has the correct overall dimensions to fit in a Z car. The heavy-duty radiator for a 1984-1986 Camaro has a 1-3/8" thick core, but it has an overall width of about 30" (compared to 25.25" on the radiator shown above) which is too wide to fit between the frame rails in the Z car.

We recommend our complete Stealth Conversions radiator package (DAT-500), which includes our Radiator Mounting Bracket Kit (DAT-125), Radiator Hose Splicers and Reducers (DAT-501), and Hose Kit (DAT-502), together with the Radiator (DAT-121).

All of the items in the DAT-500 package can also be purchased separately.

WEIGHT SAVINGS

The radiator shown below weighs less than 10 lbs pounds (empty). The side tanks do not hold a lot of coolant, and this also saves weight. When the radiator is filled with coolant, it weighs 15 lbs. The brackets which hold the radiator weigh 4 lbs, for a total weight of 19 lbs.

By comparison, a stock 280Z radiator weighs 20 lbs (empty), and 30 lbs full of coolant.

Please note, we no longer sell radiators with the automatic transmission cooler in the passenger"s side tank

RADIATOR MOUNTING BRACKETS

For durability, it is important to completely rubber mount the radiator using Chevrolet radiator pads, and making sure that nothing rubs on the radiator core.

The aluminum radiators need to be rubber mounted to protect from vibration and from electrolytic corrosion. One of the reasons the all-aluminum racing radiators don’t last long on street cars is because they are often mounted metal-to-metal.

The Stealth Conversions brackets shown above, use Chevrolet style rubber mounting pads (from a 1986-1993 S-10 Truck) that isolate the radiator from vibration and electrolytic corrosion. The brackets come with the rubber mounting pads (GM part #12338053).

The brackets have alignment holes which hold the rubber pads in place for installation purposes, but silicone sealant must be used to hold the rubber mounting pads to the radiator brackets.

The brackets are now made from aluminum to save weight. For more information on cooling, ee page 12-10 of our Datsun Z Car V8 Conversion Manual (The Cooling System chapter — you can download a pdf file of it for the 6-cylinder engine, too).

The mounting kit can be purchased separately as part # DAT-125, and includes aluminum flat bar for mounting electric fans. Cost is $55. Shipping weight is 10 lbs.

RADIATOR HOSE SPLICERS AND REDUCERS

The hose splicers and hose reducer bushing shown are required when connecting hoses to the Chevrolet radiator. Assembled hoses are shown on the next page.

If you want to use your existing hose, and you can purchase hoses cheaply, Stealth Conversions sells a hose splicer kit for the 6-cylinder application which includes one short 1-3/8" brass hose splicers, one long 1-3/8" hose splicer and one 1-1/2" to 1-1/4" hose reducer bushing as part # DAT-501. Cost is $18. Shipping weight is 3 lbs.

The 1-1/2" to 1-1/4" hose reducer bushing will stretch onto the 1-3/8" hose splicer.

The reducer bushing should be trimmed so that it overhangs the splicer by less than 1/4" so that it will not obstruct coolant flow.

The splicer kit is available separately as part # DAT-501.

HOSE KIT

The hose assemblies shown above are made from sections of Datsun replacement hoses, hose splicers, a hose reducer a 90° elbow and eight hose clamps.

The 90° elbow is from a lower radiator hose from a 1998 Chevrolet Full size truck with a 350 V-8 and heavy-duty cooling.

The kit includes eight high-quality linered hose clamps. Linered hose clamps have a steel liner which protects the rubber hose from being cut by the serrations in the hose clamp. An advantage of linered hose clamps is that the hose can removed and retightened repeatedly without damaging the hose.

The hose kit is available separately as part # DAT-502.

last edited 08/23/2010