RHD Blazer Radiator Obsolete - Solution
This might help someone else with a RHD Blazer and a leaking radiator...
The radiator in my RHD Blazer has been leaking for ages and I decided it was about time I got around to replacing it.
Only it turned out they are more or less obsolete, the aftermarket doesn't make them and Chevy UK want $700 (£500) for one and its an 8 week wait (obviously made to order)
The problem is the top and bottom hoses are switched on the RHD to clear the steering box. I considered buying an aluminium one and re-welding the inlet/outlet back on in the correct places, but that seemed expensive and a bit overkill anyway.
Then I found that the LHD 4 cylinder trucks have the same hose layout as the RHD V6. Only that the core is about 1" narrower and the bottom hose 1/8" smaller.
Part number is 1531
I found one cheap ($50 delivered) and ordered one to see if I could make it fit. I also ordered a 90deg silicone hose reducer and a joiner to make an adapter for the lower hose. Total cost about $70.
Today I fitted it... simple. The bottom locating pegs lined up with the core support no problem. Only issue was I had to trim some of the fan shroud around the bottom hose and also cut some of the top shroud away to clear the cap and move the rubber clamp. Other than that it fitted a treat and seems to work well.
I very much doubt the marginally smaller core is going to cause any cooling problems, especially compared to a 16 year old, probably well clogged original radiator. Time will tell.
Anyway, hopefully that might help another RHD owner out one day...
Just need to find a solution to the pitman arm being obsolete now...
The radiator in my RHD Blazer has been leaking for ages and I decided it was about time I got around to replacing it.
Only it turned out they are more or less obsolete, the aftermarket doesn't make them and Chevy UK want $700 (£500) for one and its an 8 week wait (obviously made to order)
The problem is the top and bottom hoses are switched on the RHD to clear the steering box. I considered buying an aluminium one and re-welding the inlet/outlet back on in the correct places, but that seemed expensive and a bit overkill anyway.
Then I found that the LHD 4 cylinder trucks have the same hose layout as the RHD V6. Only that the core is about 1" narrower and the bottom hose 1/8" smaller.
Part number is 1531
I found one cheap ($50 delivered) and ordered one to see if I could make it fit. I also ordered a 90deg silicone hose reducer and a joiner to make an adapter for the lower hose. Total cost about $70.
Today I fitted it... simple. The bottom locating pegs lined up with the core support no problem. Only issue was I had to trim some of the fan shroud around the bottom hose and also cut some of the top shroud away to clear the cap and move the rubber clamp. Other than that it fitted a treat and seems to work well.
I very much doubt the marginally smaller core is going to cause any cooling problems, especially compared to a 16 year old, probably well clogged original radiator. Time will tell.
Anyway, hopefully that might help another RHD owner out one day...
Just need to find a solution to the pitman arm being obsolete now...
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GreenBlazer2002
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