’93 6.5TD Radiator Replacement

Yesterday, I lost the radiator on the K2500. I had replaced it about ten years ago just after initially purchasing the truck. It actually took me awhile to figure it out - coolant everywhere but the hoses seemed ok, fins seemed ok, and there was no coolant at the bottom of the radiator. I finally saw the vertical crack in the driver’s side end tank that hosed the whole driver’s side of the engine back to the firewall.

After doing my research here and elsewhere, I settled on OSC as a reputable brand. Unfortunately, everyone seemed to be out of stock for the ’92-’93 radiator. It’s the one with the radiator cap on the radiator - the ’94 and up model has the cap on the remote reservoir. Contacting OSC, it turns out that their mold is broken and is not repairable. They are searching other tank suppliers for these tanks but have no idea when they’d be able to restock the radiators.

I could just throw in whatever I can find with the plans to keep checking back with OSC on availability, but does anyone have any other recommendations for a reputable radiator? RockAuto offers a Spectra Premium/Cooling Depot for $325. I suppose the one I had lasted ten years.

Howdy
I have had several plastic tank split just like you said.

My son's truck got a new one last year. He works at Car Quest and he got his there. It has copper tanks and I think it is a 3 core. It is LARGE and does a great job.

I have no idea how much it cost cause he gets employee pricing.

His truck is a stick with no AC so cooling is maximized.

Good luck!

I went to the CarQuest website, put in my information, included my zip code, and the results transferred me over to the Advance Auto Parts website. :confused:

Anyway… The AA website showed no radiators available for my vehicle. :(

Quote:

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Originally Posted by trbankii

I went to the CarQuest website,
Anyway… The AA website showed no radiators available for my vehicle. :(

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Looks like Advance Autoparts has acquired Car Quest.

CARQUEST Radiator
Part No. 432706
Product Application(s):
1993 Chevrolet K2500
With Engine Oil Cooler

$295.99

I helped my father in law purchase a radiator for his C3500 93 Chevy. He bought it at the local Autozone in Boise ID. Beware, until he begrudgingly asked for my help he went through 3 purchases before I was able to assist. He was buying the light duty, not the HD version. For some reason he mentioned it was made of copper/brass and not plastic.

Have to do your research on size. I do believe i looked at O'reilly's and Autozone and came up with the correct one.

This purchase was last spring.

Just an FYI about CARQUEST. I think that the one my son works for is an independent. Meaning they might have different sources for parts.

The other option that I have used is our local radiator shop will order to specification. meaning....I want a radiator a certain size with certain characteristics and the order it made that way. This is what I did for my K5 blazer as it was a military and "special" :rolleyes:

IMHO....stay away from the plastic tanks if you can.

No luck with AdvanceAuto, CarQuest, or Napa. They all say that the item is not available - even for shipping.

AutoZone has this one (LINK) that says copper core with brass tanks. They want $395 for it, but there there is a coupon code for 20% off ($316). RockAuto has it for $325, but there is a coupon code for 5% off ($310). Shipping is about the same for either of them (AutoZone won’t ship it to the store) so I think I’m going to go with RockAuto on it.

Going back over things, I see that the OSC radiators had plastic tanks. I’m hoping that the copper/bronze is a better choice.

I’ll check back in once I receive it for an update.

Looks like everything will be here by Wednesday. New radiator cap, thermostat, and gasket were dropped off at my porch this morning. Hoses are due Tuesday and radiator is due Wednesday.

I'd find an old copper radiator and have it recored. I had a four row, heavy duty (industrial) core put in mine. An industrial core is heavier metal with fewer fins. A little less cooling surface but lasts longer.

If the fan shroud is still available, you can use the 1994+ shroud and aluminum radiator. It'll all bolt right into your 1993.

Well, the parts are on the way, Nessmuk. But perhaps I should search one out for the “next time” so it is ready.

I’m not sure I follow, MP. Fan shroud is still available? As in buy the setup for the ’94+ setup? I’d also have to change out the remote reservoir and hoses.

I think I'd try one of the local radiator shops. See if they have access to those endcaps. Some of those old guys in the small town shops have access to stuff that we don't know about! Last one I needed to replace, I took it to a guy out in the middle of nowhere and he hooked my up for around half of what a new one would cost.
Good Luck!
Dave