Has any one out there ever run a rear mounted radiator on a big block chevy???? I don't have room for a suitable size radiator in the front of my rig so I am mounting it behind the cab. Just wondering if there are any snags that are going to foil my plans. I have been told that there is a danger of water pump cavitations if the pipes are too long?

Any suggestions

down here there is a guy rinning an old dodge power wagon. He as his mounted between his rollbar in the bed. He uses 2 electric fans from a caddy and runs 44's and is always full throttle... so guess it works for him fine... I dont know if he has a high volume water pump... but you could always get one from jegs.....

My friend has the radeator in the bed of his toy that has a small block in it another thing that helps that setup is a csi electric water pump they flow a lot of water which you will need with all of that plumbing. also stainless steel muffler tubing works well as water lines to the back.

To put it in the rear or not to put it in the rear?

I ask all the time but she always says maybe next time. :D

What year body style are you working with that won't let you fit a radiator in?

At the risk of repeating, I gotta ask too, what could you have done that won't allow a radiator in the front. There is usually tons of room to spare for 4 core and over size radiators, even with a big block. I ran a huge 4 core diesel radiator (wider than a gas radiator) in my old 75 K5 with a 454.

hmmmm... true... he does say he doesnt have room... not that he is afraid of the fan putting mud or water through his radiator?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Yeah, that's what I was wondering! I just put a 4-row in my 87 so the installation routine is still fresh in my head. There's room enough there for at least 2 of my radiators in there! I've got a 93 sitting at a friend's house two doors down I could look at to see what was different. Can't imagine there not being room there unless he's got a blower and its huge belt up front on it. :)

I don't think he is talking about a fullsize.Sounds like a jeep or something.

Well, it's kinda like this..... I started with an 84 Toyota pickup cab, a Chevy Big block, an SM465, an Atlas II 4 coil over shocks and a big pile of tube. I bolted the motor, trany and transfer case together and then bent tube around it hugging it tightly. Next I lowered the body down over the top, cut the front clip off and cut the hood to profile the tube hugging the motor. This left me with a space up front that was about 16" wide and 15" tall. I could have a custom radiator made but even if it was one of those fancy aluminum ones it wouldn't cool enough "Had a radiator shop look into it for me". Even if I did use the custom too small fancy aluminum radiator most of the air flow would be blocked by the winch I need to pull my broken ass out after some silliness with the long skinny peddle. I'm doubtful that my stock 60 axles are going to hold up to a big block and 42"s......

But it seem that the general consensus is that putting the radiator in the rear is just down right silly but, will work with the use of some shiny tube and an electric pump???

Ahh, makes sense then. Sounds like you're in a possition with no options but to "take it in the rear". :D Err, I mean "put"... :rasta:

Anyway, it works and many people have done it. Just that much more to fool with. To bad you couldn't/didn't leave enough room for one of those narrow, thick 2 core aluminum with 1" flues. Those things rock from what I hear, and work great with small size radiators. Maybe a removable winch? Anyway, I have nothing else to offer, never really looked hard at a rear radiator setup. Good luck...

There is a guy out at azusa running a 10 core aluminum radiator up front(the thing is like 8 inches wide) and the standard 4 core in the bed, or where the bed was. I think he said it still runs hot, hehe. If you have any cooling problems you could think about running a real thin one up front and a fatty in the back.

I tried mounting it in the rear last night. Plumbing wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be... Radiator leaked like a thing with lots of holes in it... Guess I have to get a new one after all:confused:

For the guys with the diesel wide model 4 cores... I've got one, and a big (BIG) block chevy... What hoses did you use? I'm not sure if it's just MY water pump and intake, but the hoses are a mile off from fitting the rad.. the bottom would be the right distance but wrong diameter, while the top is about another 6 inches from where the hose will reach plus it's the wrong diameter. The diesel rad is like another 1/2 inch in diameter... What did you guys use?

A standard formed top hose hits the radiator about 6" inboard of the Diesel tube. Cut the 4" section of hose that is horizontal to the radiator right in the center. Take a 10" piece of tube (1.5" IIRC) and clamp into the hose to extend it. The bottom hose needs no mods.