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70FormulaCA · 11-09-2009, 02:58 AM

Need some help identifying if my radiator and fan shroud are original that are from my 1970 Formula.

What should I look for? I noticed the radiator has a metal tag with codes attached to the pass. side of the radiator about half way down.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

GETRIDAONE · 11-09-2009, 08:27 AM

The reproduction shroud is open on the bottom and has a square 1/2" hole on the top of passenger side. I'm not sure if there is a part number on OEM's anywhere. I think the tanks on Harrison raditors are a little unique but I don't know how to identify one. Maybe someone with more cooling knowledge will respond.

keith k · 11-09-2009, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70FormulaCA

Need some help identifying if my radiator and fan shroud are original that are from my 1970 Formula.

What should I look for? I noticed the radiator has a metal tag with codes attached to the pass. side of the radiator about half way down.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

If the radiator is still wearing that tag, chances are its original.

Look for the two most prominent letters on the tag (the two smaller sets of letters identify the end tank codes... the larger two letters the entire radiator), and look for a match with the chart GETRIDAONE posted.

Norwood · 11-09-2009, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GETRIDAONE

The reproduction shroud is open on the bottom and has a square 1/2" hole on the top of passenger side. I'm not sure if there is a part number on OEM's anywhere. I think the tanks on Harrison raditors are a little unique but I don't know how to identify one. Maybe someone with more cooling knowledge will respond.

Not a reproduction...But a later GM replacment. Still avalible I think.....

RAFormulas · 11-09-2009, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norwood

Not a reproduction...But a later GM replacment. Still avalible I think.....

Yes, they are still available from GM.

But for those of you thinking of buying one... DON'T, the GM replacement is easy to spot as a non-original part.

RicksGTO · 11-09-2009, 04:57 PM

my '72's shroud doesn't have the square hole in the upper passenger side so it leads me to believe it's an original shroud but I'm not sure I know what is meant by the reproduction shrouds being open at the bottom. Here is a pic of it off the car if someone can say if it's an original shroud or not, I would assume the '70 shrouds would be basically the same as for my year:

Tellyshavilli · 11-09-2009, 05:28 PM

That is a original . On the gm replacement ( don't call it a repro ) the bottom 1/3 of the round opening is cut out about 1'' into it .Some one should post a picture soon .

Quote:

Originally Posted by RicksGTO

my '72's shroud doesn't have the square hole in the upper passenger side so it leads me to believe it's an original shroud but I'm not sure I know what is meant by the reproduction shrouds being open at the bottom. Here is a pic of it off the car if someone can say if it's an original shroud or not, I would assume the '70 shrouds would be basically the same as for my year:

Lloyd-TX · 11-09-2009, 05:46 PM

Yep - yours is an original shroud, Rick.

Sorry, but I don't have a pic of the GM replacement shroud.

Norwood · 11-09-2009, 07:16 PM

RicksGTO, did you refinish that or is that the original finish? It looks very nice..

RicksGTO · 11-09-2009, 08:27 PM

thanks, I stripped the paint off of it and used the SEM landua black again, good to know its an original shroud too. Kind of like the GTO shroud's in '69-'72, the GM replacements all have a missing chunk on the driver's corner from a bad mold so they just keep making them with the flaw.

70FormulaCA · 11-10-2009, 02:26 AM

Yes, it's a very nice finish. Did you have to scuff/sand it before spraying the SEM paint? Did you use primer?

Based on the replies and the picture you provided, my shroud appears to be original but just not as nice looking as yours at the moment!

Quote:

Originally Posted by RicksGTO

thanks, I stripped the paint off of it and used the SEM landua black again, good to know its an original shroud too. Kind of like the GTO shroud's in '69-'72, the GM replacements all have a missing chunk on the driver's corner from a bad mold so they just keep making them with the flaw.

GETRIDAONE · 11-10-2009, 08:00 AM

Poor picture of "GM replacement" shroud with cut out at bottom. The finish on the replacement is very poor. I thought when I looked at one, my almost 40 year old one looked as good or better with just a good cleaning. SEM products will do wonders on old plastic items.

Norwood · 11-10-2009, 08:21 AM

I am positive that there is a filler panel that goes in that cut out....Anybody have a pic ?

Tellyshavilli · 11-10-2009, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70FormulaCA

Need some help identifying if my radiator and fan shroud are original that are from my 1970 Formula.

What should I look for? I noticed the radiator has a metal tag with codes attached to the pass. side of the radiator about half way down.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

The codes on the radiator tanks themselves are CV on the passenger side for a 4 speed 4 core ( ram air car ) and IF on the driver side of the same radiator . These are the important codes to look for as the tags are reproed and easily replaced . You can also look inside the radiator at the cap opening to see if its a 4 core but the codes on the side of tank facing to the rear are the most important identifications .

RicksGTO · 11-10-2009, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70FormulaCA

Yes, it's a very nice finish. Did you have to scuff/sand it before spraying the SEM paint? Did you use primer?

I started with easy-off and then used 00 steel wool soaked with paint thinner to get it back to bare plastic all over. I used Bulldog adhesion promoter all over it as a primer and then a few light coats of SEM landau black

70FormulaCA · 11-11-2009, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tellyshavilli

The codes on the radiator tanks themselves are CV on the passenger side for a 4 speed 4 core ( ram air car ) and IF on the driver side of the same radiator . These are the important codes to look for as the tags are reproed and easily replaced . You can also look inside the radiator at the cap opening to see if its a 4 core but the codes on the side of tank facing to the rear are the most important identifications .

So I went out to the garage and checked the radiator for the codes. I found the IF pretty quickly and the CV was a little harder to spot as it was a flatter marking compared to the IF code. Also, here's what the metal tag reads:

IF FP
CV
91 (or 81 not sure)

Do these codes mean anything?

Tellyshavilli · 11-11-2009, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70FormulaCA

So I went out to the garage and checked the radiator for the codes. I found the IF pretty quickly and the CV was a little harder to spot as it was a flatter marking compared to the IF code. Also, here's what the metal tag reads:

IF FP
CV
91 (or 81 not sure)

Do these codes mean anything?

Looks like you got the correct radiator . Those codes mean your lucky .

70FormulaCA · 11-12-2009, 02:49 AM

Were 4 core radiators only available with the ram air cars? Or was the 4 core just the heavy duty radiator option that could be ordered with any Formula/Firebird?

Norwood · 11-12-2009, 07:09 AM

Loyd, I like that Formy...someday I'm gonna get me one of those....

keith k · 11-12-2009, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70FormulaCA

Were 4 core radiators only available with the ram air cars? Or was the 4 core just the heavy duty radiator option that could be ordered with any Formula/Firebird?

See the chart Getridaone posted above. FP radiators came with all manual trans cars that were equipped with HD radiator option (typically all cars with 3.73 gears), and all manual trans cars that had A/C (even a base Firebird).

But you won't find many FP radiators still around, that's for sure.

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