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Thread: ’93 6.5TD Radiator Replacement

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2000
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    Default ’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.
    '94 GMC 6.5TD K1500 4L80E 2-Door Yukon SLE 221K
    '93 Chevrolet 6.5TD K2500HD NV4500 Std. Cab Longbed 187K
    '85 Toyota 22R RN60 4x4 Std. Cab Shortbed 178K (Currently retired for rebuild)
    Diesel Page Member #2423

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Grand Rapids MN 55744
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    1,648

    Default

    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!
    1996 Chvy 3500 CCDWLB 6.5 Heathed, NO vac, marine injctrs, ARB bumper, BIG pipe, 3" lift, bright lights, bypass oil system.
    1986 Chvy 6.2 M1009 blazer RAM AIR, Headers, Custom interior
    2001 Chinook RV, V10 gas
    1974 John Deere 1530 diesel tractor
    1993 John Deere 455 Diesel lawn mower
    1967 GTO, 1989 Honda Transalp
    2009 VW Jetta TDI, flashed and piped, 6speed, fun car!
    1998 6.5 suburban, stock, daughter's
    1993 6.5 3500 CCSWLB GM8, Heathed, big exhaust, gauges, Son's

    1984 6.2 ATS turbo 3500, SCDWLB - Son's
    3 kids, 1 wife, 1 dog
    Gunsmith, Tactics Instructor, Fabricator USMC 87-93 Semper Fi!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2000
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    South Central Pennsylvania, USA
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    Default

    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.

    Anyway… The AA website showed no radiators available for my vehicle.
    '94 GMC 6.5TD K1500 4L80E 2-Door Yukon SLE 221K
    '93 Chevrolet 6.5TD K2500HD NV4500 Std. Cab Longbed 187K
    '85 Toyota 22R RN60 4x4 Std. Cab Shortbed 178K (Currently retired for rebuild)
    Diesel Page Member #2423

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2001
    Location
    New Hampshire - Live Free or Die
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    6,057

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by trbankii View Post
    I went to the CarQuest website,
    Anyway… The AA website showed no radiators available for my vehicle.
    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
    The Constitution needs to be re-read, not re-written!

    If you can't handle Dr. Seuss, how will you handle real life?

    Current oil burners: MB GLK250 BlueTEC, John Deere X758
    New ride: MB GLS450 - most stately
    Gone but not forgotten: '87 F350 7.3, '93 C2500 6.5, '95 K2500 6.5, '06 K2500HD 6.6, '90 MB 350SDL, Kubota 7510

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2000
    Location
    Walla Walla WA
    Posts
    69

    Default

    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.
    1994 K2500 ext cab. Recently repowered with; Non-cracked 599 block, factory compression, used old DSG girdle for main caps. Factory for what remains. Changed diffs to 3.42. Fuel economy Hwy 22.5 mpg US, in town without lcokup in 2nd/3rd - 18 mpg US.
    1994 K3500 CC LB Silverado. Next project. Built for endurance, power and gearing. Plan on opened up intake and exhaust sytem, best cooling mods, 4.11 gearing 4L80E, followed by Gear Vendors OD. Need to be able to split all gears and have lockup in 2nd/3rd/4th. Tan interior cloth, Bad ass dark blue (coming) aluminum wheels and air ride (coming)

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Grand Rapids MN 55744
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    Default

    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"

    IMHO....stay away from the plastic tanks if you can.
    1996 Chvy 3500 CCDWLB 6.5 Heathed, NO vac, marine injctrs, ARB bumper, BIG pipe, 3" lift, bright lights, bypass oil system.
    1986 Chvy 6.2 M1009 blazer RAM AIR, Headers, Custom interior
    2001 Chinook RV, V10 gas
    1974 John Deere 1530 diesel tractor
    1993 John Deere 455 Diesel lawn mower
    1967 GTO, 1989 Honda Transalp
    2009 VW Jetta TDI, flashed and piped, 6speed, fun car!
    1998 6.5 suburban, stock, daughter's
    1993 6.5 3500 CCSWLB GM8, Heathed, big exhaust, gauges, Son's

    1984 6.2 ATS turbo 3500, SCDWLB - Son's
    3 kids, 1 wife, 1 dog
    Gunsmith, Tactics Instructor, Fabricator USMC 87-93 Semper Fi!

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2000
    Location
    South Central Pennsylvania, USA
    Posts
    2,697

    Default

    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.
    Last edited by trbankii; 03-09-2017 at 10:36.
    '94 GMC 6.5TD K1500 4L80E 2-Door Yukon SLE 221K
    '93 Chevrolet 6.5TD K2500HD NV4500 Std. Cab Longbed 187K
    '85 Toyota 22R RN60 4x4 Std. Cab Shortbed 178K (Currently retired for rebuild)
    Diesel Page Member #2423

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2000
    Location
    South Central Pennsylvania, USA
    Posts
    2,697

    Default

    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.
    '94 GMC 6.5TD K1500 4L80E 2-Door Yukon SLE 221K
    '93 Chevrolet 6.5TD K2500HD NV4500 Std. Cab Longbed 187K
    '85 Toyota 22R RN60 4x4 Std. Cab Shortbed 178K (Currently retired for rebuild)
    Diesel Page Member #2423

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    Buskirk, NY, US of A
    Posts
    15

    Default

    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.

  10. #10
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    Location
    Montana
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  11. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2000
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    South Central Pennsylvania, USA
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    Default

    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.
    '94 GMC 6.5TD K1500 4L80E 2-Door Yukon SLE 221K
    '93 Chevrolet 6.5TD K2500HD NV4500 Std. Cab Longbed 187K
    '85 Toyota 22R RN60 4x4 Std. Cab Shortbed 178K (Currently retired for rebuild)
    Diesel Page Member #2423

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    Ft. Wayne, In.
    Posts
    535

    Default

    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
    Dave, N9LOV
    Member #242
    Dave's Diesels:
    Sold June, 07 '82 1/2 ton 4X4;340k miles
    '97 2 Dr Tahoe, Intercooled,
    Kennedy ECM, 4" Exhaust
    '02 GMC

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