1995 - 2000 OBS GM Truck Vortec V8 Radiator Replacement (Chevy & GMC)

This video highlights replacement of the radiator on 1995 96 97 98 and 1999 old body style (OBS) GM Trucks (Chevrolet Cadillac and GMC and Holden brands and models C/K, Silverado, Yukon, Tahoe, Suburban, Sierra, Cheyenne, W/T) with the Vortec V8 gasoline fueled engine option. Also carry over OBS bodies into 2000 as well.
The GM / ACDelco / Delphi / Harrison Division part numbers are included for all parts needed to perform the repair. The particular truck shown is a K2500 Cheyenne from 1998 with the 5.7L Vortec (and the radiator part numbers I give below are only for this engine plus a few 5.0L configurations). But the removal and replacement process would be the same for any of this range of trucks, and similar for earlier model year OBS trucks as well.
The eBay and Amazon search links below are paid links, for which I may be compensated and earn a commission, if you choose to buy the parts and tools shown in this video thru them:
GM 15982188 GM 463015 GM 52481442 (radiator for 5.7L Vortec (and some 5.0L) only): ebay.us/2p0IHX
ACDelco 21033 (radiator for 5.7L Vortec (and some 5.0L) only): ebay.us/NXzVDo or amzn.to/3mGR3uN
Delphi RA20109 (radiator for 5.7L Vortec (and some 5.0L) only): ebay.us/NYBFQH
GM 463015 engine oil cooler line o-rings: ebay.us/qYuORv or amzn.to/34qV8iv
ACDelco DEXCOOL coolant GM part 12346290: ebay.us/EhTAtw or amzn.to/3g9G9et
And if I've saved you some $$ here, consider some coins for the coffee tip-jar! ko-fi.com/drshock
Chapters:
0:00 - Problem overview
0:35 - Remove upper fan shroud
1:10 - Remove upper radiator hose
2:37 - Move battery cable
2:48 - Disconnect axle vent hose bracket
3:10 - Remove upper fan shroud
3:48 - Disconnect cooling lines
6:21 - Remove saddle clamps
6:45 - Remove radiator
7:25 - Replacement part numbers & tips
10:50 - Reinstallation tips
#drshock #vortec #cheyenne #obstruck #obstrucks
Disclaimer: DrShock, the alias for the human content creator for this KZbin channel, is not responsible for any damages, injuries, losses, or liabilities associated with any repairs, upgrades, or maintenance performed on yours, or any other, vehicle whatsoever. No warranty, express or implied, is made as to the accuracy or completeness of any information provided within this channel. Viewing and using the “as-is" information of this channel is totally at your own risk. Always wear personal protection equipment and follow appropriate vehicle manufacturer service manual guidelines with original manufacturer parts only when performing any repairs, upgrades, or maintenance upon any vehicle.

[@gregalt4669]

Thank you very much for this video. I am not a mechanic, I build computers. But ended up having the exact same issue, leak in the same spot, and had to replace it asap couldn't even wait a day because I had to be at work. After watching this video, and having no clue what to do before watching the video. I ended up getting it done in less than 6 hours, including tear down, breaks, getting parts, putting it back together. I know this is probably slow compared to other people. But first time for me and I was still able to make it to work for half the day instead of taking 3 days off for my mechanic to fix it....

[@willg.5168]

Very thorough and informative vid and narration. I contemplated paying $600(give or take) for this fix for my '01 Chevy conversion van. I think you just saved me about 400 bucks!💪🙂

[@bizzy156246]

Thank you for the video saw another video don’t know if it was a 92 but they took off the fan I have a 97 and I couldn’t take off the fan. So thank you for showing me that you don’t need to take off the fan or remove the plastic cover from the bottom fan

[@joejohnson8252]

Had the same problem on my 98

[@MrJOHNEBOB]

Thanks for your tips. My repair manual says to remove the lower fan shroud. Didn't need to do that. Replacing the Water Pump at the same time in 28 degree weather. Lots of fun

[@andyvaldez2830]

A couple extra steps that I did to help me was to remove the front plastic skid plate and then unbolt the lower fan shroud. I was then able to rotate the fan shroud which made it much easier to get to the lower cooler lines and the lower radiator hose. Again these steps weren't necessary but they helped me tremendously.

[@genofromrenoprospector6940]

That was some good info. about the GM radiator changes. Thanks

[@KhaiVanUSA]

Great video. You do good job.Thank you

[@PacoOtis]

Dude! We owe you a beer! Thanks!!

[@codyantrim8700]

Thank you kindly

[@williamajthompson9166]

Also that extra overflow is used on the earlier 88-91 Chevy trucks where the heater core return line hooks into that port.

[@jdirt1982]

So does the oil cooler lines actually go threw the front of the radiator and hook up to another cooler or is it all in the radiator ?????

[@jdirt1982]

So I was going on a long trip with the rzr out to the dunes. Before I left I noticed my radiator cap was leaking so I replacedit with a ac delco I think rf85 part number. Now my radiator is leaking like crazy. It looks like its coming from drivers side plastic tank area. SON OF A BISCUIT

[@miguelr6989]

Same thing happened to me

[@lepejor45]

Lol my truck has been like this for years at least from the old owner. I am about to instal the all aluminum radiator.

[@timhannon1959]

Thanks for the video! Great info! Where did you get the “O” rings from?

[@DrShock]

Those would be the OG seals from GM. Only the engine oil cooler side has them, the transmission side does not use o-rings. There's a link in the description for the part number on eBay.

[@BusyFingers]

Thanks as always Dr. Shock, great video. What would be your take on different fittings for transmission and oil cooler lines? My 98 5.7 SLT seems to have the adapters on the transmission side (which I believe are the 5/8") but none on the oil cooler side; these are the 20mm straight into the radiator. I'm close to replacing this radiator and I would like to replace the fittings (transmission side) and o-rings (oil side). Thanks!

[@DrShock]

Many of these OBS trucks are already members of the quarter century club, so alot of aftermarket and similar modifications could have happened. Aftermarket cooler lines, or similar could have called for adapters to fit over the vehicles long lifespan. My take would be as long as you get either an original GM/ACDelco radiator (still made for the 5.7L engines in both with and w/o oil cooler models) or an OEM tier one supplier (like Delphi or even Denso) everything should line up like factory. I'd hold off replacing any o-rings until the radiator swap unless you have a significant leak going on right now. Mainly because you should be replacing them with the new radiator anyway.

[@BusyFingers]

@@DrShock Thanks for getting back to me! From what I can see, no modifications have been done. A new radiator is definitely coming soon as there is a slow leak coming from the core itself. Here in Canada, the best price point I can find is on a Denso (221-9005). I'm suspecting things will line up as they should, the main concern right now is the bitter cold!

[@diyspeed]

Hey Dr. Shock, my oil cooler line is leaking from the fitting in on the radiator side. What would be a good way to plug the leak? Rtv, jb weld, or solder or can I remove the fitting from the radiator and put a new gasket?

[@DrShock]

I'd go for replacing the o-ring myself, presuming it's not just a case of the male fitting not being at the correct torque value.

[@Ryan-xp6ck]

Great video! I'm taking it that its virtually the same when working on a 94 GMC sierra? Roughly how long did it take from start to finish for this work? Do you by chance know how big of a container is needed to drain the system when changing the radiatior? Thank in advance!

[@DrShock]

Thanks, I used a regular 8qt pan like when doing an oil change. You won't get all of the coolant, but the majority that you can take to recycle. This has been a few years, but I recollect it was around 3 hours or so (alot of that time was fighting aged fasteners). I would imagine it's very similar for a 1994 GMC, though probably not the same part numbers I've shared.

[@Ryan-xp6ck]

@@DrShock Awsome! I appreciate the hasty reply.

[@kirkhustle3718]

Cool thx! Question- Can I use hose clamps for the hoses instead of those radiator clamps?

[@DrShock]

Yep

[@kirkhustle3718]

@@DrShock Sweet, thank you!

[@williamhughes6869]

are there o rings for the transmission side ?

[@DrShock]

Not that I recall

[@spurlock541]

The sizes given for the trans cooler adapter were wrong. At least for my 95 k2500 sub they were. I need a 1/4 to 5/16 adapter.

[@DrShock]

The sizes I gave would only be for the genuine GM radiator and cooler units installed by the factory. If there's anything aftermarket yes it could be different, thanks for sharing the info.

[@peyton6863]

is this the 1/2' or the 3/4'? ik they have 2 different sizes.

[@antoniomarquina2451]

How many gallons we have to put on the radiator?

[@803.Matttt]

Will a radiator out a 2000 Silverado fit a 96 suburban c1500

[@mikeydejon2148]

R there supposed to be rubber seals with new radiator ? Or does it just go in with nothing

[@DrShock]

You need those rubber saddles, but they would have to be purchased separately from GM if the originals are missing or no longer usable.

[@truckie6740]

hey guys one question, did you have to add any transmission fluid or oil back into the truck??

[@DrShock]

You may lose a small amount of each, what ever runs out of the lines and the side tanks of the radiator, depending on if your have both an oil cooler and transmission cooler in your truck. Some do not have an oil cooler built into the radiator.

[@truckie6740]

@@DrShock tyvm

[@americanman911]

Pulled my whole truck apart now I’m trying to figure out what the cooler in front of the ac condenser is? Any idea

[@DrShock]

You'll have an engine oil cooler in that area, in addition to AC components.

[@americanman911]

DrShock figured it out it was the transmission cooler

[@JoseContreras-mv5yz]

@@americanman911 so its cooled thru both the radiator and a seperate cooler?

[@joeroe2839]

@@JoseContreras-mv5yz radiator cools both transmission and engine oil and then u got another one in front of that one also as a trans cooler separate tho

[@johnflowers7595]

Is there a different part number for a truck with ac

[@DrShock]

My truck has AC so that one shown is the exact match for a 1998 pickup w/5.7L vortec V8 with AC and automatic. Did you mean to type something else instead of ac here?

[@humbleoutdoorsman6817]

the o rings. on all 4 sides correct . ?

[@timhaley6454]

Getting ready to do this job and appreciate your great video. Still unsure about the O-rings. Do I need 2 for engine oil cooler lines only or do I need 4 to do the transmission lines as well? Are they the same o-ring? RockAuto shows the O-rings listed under Transmission, but not under Engine. When you loosen the connector from the radiator, do you need to remove the clip, pull the connector apart, and install a new o-ring for each?

[@timhaley6454]

Changed radiator yesterday. Both my engine and transmission lines had flared connections. New radiator came with 2 sets of quick connect fittings, but I did not use them. Apparently some trucks have flared fittings and some have quick connects with o-rings.

[@84montecarlonazi]

5249551 was my number dated 7/97 lasted 20 some years but I think it's to small to cool oil trans and antifreeze the shroud held it in and was not as long as yours it's a 2500 5.7 from 1996 idk you know any info on that part number just seems so small

[@DrShock]

That's not a good GM part number (missing a digit) but there is a 52489551 but that's for Chevy and GMC vans, not trucks. If you have a 1996 2500 pickup with the 5.7L Vortec V8 then it takes a GM 52481442 just like my 98 did. BTW, I noticed I had a typo on this part number in the video description and just now fixed that.

[@84montecarlonazi]

@@DrShock 52479551 sorry thanks for reply

[@DrShock]

Ah ok yeah that is a good number for a 2500 truck, discontinued in 2009 though.

[@84montecarlonazi]

@@DrShock it just seems small the two holders on top that bolt to rad support are missing the shroud holds it in it's not as long as yours weird it would be on a 2500 it's listed for 4.3 5.0l not 5.7 I had to add a trans cooler was getting hot oh well thanks bud!

[@DrShock]

I use either oemcats.com or gmpartsgiant.com to see what a part number goes with, that 52479551 showed as "Fitting Vehicle Options: CK1,2(L30,M30,C60,GT4,GT5,K60)(2ND DES)". So yeah L30 would be the 5.0L V8. You can check your options sticker in the glove box for what engine your truck originally had - the L31 (5.7L) or the L30 (5.0L). The other important number is the transmission, different radiators for automatic or manual for the cooler. Those start with an "M", so the 9551 was for an automatic 4L60E. More common on a 2500 would be the MT1 trans, the 4L80E. Hope this info helps.

[@samanthachelon4607]

Will this not fit the 7.4l? Just wondering.

[@DrShock]

GM had 13 different radiator part numbers for a K2500 in 1998 alone! For a 7.4L engine it would be different than what I gave for the 5.7L I had here, it would instead be 52491621

[@jimktcm4621]

7.4 L takes a radiator with 1696 as the part #. Just a FYI, I replaced my OEM 5 months ago with OSC 1696 and it failed last week. Has a 4 inch crack in the plastic tank.

[@juanwelding4545]

Can the work on chevy Silverado 3500

[@DrShock]

Well the actual radiator I show does fit some 3500 models as I mention in the vid. Double check your part number by calling your local Chevy dealer or using an online parts site to verify. But the installation process should be largely the same as long as you have a gasoline engine. For diesel very different. There might be some differences here and there of course as this was a 2500 truck. That 3500 of yours likely has a 4L80E transmission, for example, so the cooling lines might be routed differently, idk haven't ever worked on a 3500.

[@MrAngelscene]

dex cool da fuq my engine and my gramps truck as far as i knew uses green coolant...?

[@jacobbrooks6985]

What was the total cost of this project?

[@DrShock]

That was a few years ago, but I think the radiator, o-rings and coolant all ran around $350

[@kennerd2116]

Can we get a tool list?

[@deangelobey2068]

No dex but thanks

[@haydenb8853]

Get the dexcool out!!!

[@stefandwoodham]

Hayden B why?

[@steveyulenburg129]

Hayden B...Dex-cool does not turn to brown sludge and is excellent extended use antifreeze if you don't sabotage yourself by mixing it tap water! Use distilled water only, and you won't have a problem.

[@keithbartlett7679]

@@stefandwoodham Its the worst coolant ever! Eats away at your intake gaskets! Unless you have already changed them out to the rubber & metal gaskets then no worries. Felpro 98000T

[@abelperez5179]

What’s it cost. ? The new radiator

[@DrShock]

There are links in the description where you can check that. Though the Delphi model I used in this older video was discontinued many years ago.

[@jerryhubbard4461]

While I was that close and as cheap as a fan clutch is, I would have replaced the clutch.

[@IMKINDOFABIGDEAL13]

I have a 99 sierra 2500 with a 6.0 it's a bit different.

[@DrShock]

Yeah that would be a new body style truck, not an old body style one that this video covers. OBS trucks extended into 2002 actually, for the Suburban/Tahoe (thru 1999) and 2500/3500 chassis cabs (thru 2002).

[@johnvandenburgh8771]

This was posted a while back but maybe someone can clear this up for me. I have a 1996 K1500 4x4 that has an external trans cooler (not attached to the radiator) I have ordered 2 radiators and both have the fittings for trans cooler. Do I just block those off? and continue to use the external (trans) oil cooler? Thanks

[@johnvandenburgh8771]

Thanks, I have confirmed that the trans cooler lines do not have to be connected

[@zanebiz462]

What about the engine oil cooler lines, they have to be connected?

[@DrShock]

@@zanebiz462 The GM engine oil cooler can also be an external unit, rather than built into radiator like the transmission cooler. But either way your truck has it yes, the oil cooler should be connected for best operating performance under load. But its not required to run the vehicle.

[@JoseContreras-mv5yz]

@@DrShock im about to replace my trans lines and i see both of them connected to radiator but i also see a smaller cooler behind the grill. Does it get cooled twice?

[@DrShock]

@@JoseContreras-mv5yz There's a few components in this area besides the engine radiator. You may have an engine oil cooler, a power steering fluid cooler, and you will have the air conditioning condenser. The former two are the smaller ones, the latter is almost as large as the radiator itself.

[@84montecarlonazi]

My rad is 29 inches long 18 high and only one core it cools oil cooler transmission cooler and rad fluid it's a 96 k2500 why is this so small truck has 5.7 it's factory engine and date on rad is 97 it's a Delco gm it seems so small

[@wcedgar]

I thought it was pretty good except that you didn't catch and dispose of the anti freeze on the spot. I've seen it kill dogs, cats and other animals that drink it and are attracted to the sweetness of the fluid.

[@DrShock]

I believe I mentioned there was a catch pan underneath of course. And yes you would hose it off, can't really burn video on that sort of stuff but yeah you wanna recycle what you can and hose off what you can't.