How To Replace the Radiator on a Silverado or Suburban, 2500 Series (2000-2006)

[@benzoil0453]

Really glad i stumbled upon this! Not many 8.1 vids and this one was definitely helpful! Liked and subscribed

[@dabanditz28]

Great video! This will make my next radiator install a breeze 🍃

[@tylerdoherty9081]

So nice to see it all cleaned up in the end!

[@robertcourtney6913]

Whoa that's the Vortech 8100 motor you got there, that's pretty awesome! That sucker is like 494 cubic inches!

[@MotorsandMischief]

Yeah it is, its 496 according to Chevy. It is the second largest production engine Chevy ever made. The first is the 500 cubic inch Cadillac 500 made between 1970 and 1976. Chevy makes two larger motors, a 502 and a 572 but they're both crate motors and were never used in production vehicles.

[@wildbrosNW]

That new radiator is shiny, I like it.

[@billbeurkens2271]

Thank you for making this video. I was struggling with getting mine out, decided to take the battery out but helpful to know that the air filter box and bracket also have to go. My lower hose is slightly different, having a 3 way tap for the heater and overflow tank. The new lower hose I have is a pain to get clipped on. Someone needs to do a video on that!

[@MotorsandMischief]

So glad it was helpful! And yeah that lower hose can be a pistol for sure. We've got some more repair videos on that Suburban coming as well as, hopefully starting this summer, a major overland project build for it, so stay tuned! Thanks for commenting!

[@sheiladoherty919]

Yay for new radiator. Next do the AC! *hint hint*

[@doorguru168888]

Does anyone know what size fittings the radiator has that is for the Allison 5 speed? I think it is 5/8 but i'm not sure.

[@MotorsandMischief]

We're not sure about that hopefully another viewer can answer, but we did want to say the radiator we got came with multiple fittings for the transmission cooler, and we just matched up what we needed for our 4L80E, we'd assume the Allison would match up to one of the adapters as well. Thanks for the question!

[@joelvillarreal8955]

Which RockAuto Part # did you use?

[@MotorsandMischief]

That is a TYC 2538 {#89018316} (Standard Replacement) w/ 3/8" Cooler Fittings. Has been working great, quite happy with it.

[@joelvillarreal8955]

​@@MotorsandMischief I have the 6.0LT 2500 Suburban, I'm having difficulty finding anything wider than 1&1/8" thickness. Most are 1" thickness with Oil and Transmission cooler

[@MotorsandMischief]

Yeah that's why we went with this radiator, we wanted something a lot thicker than the inch and an eighth most of them are. This one is 2.2" at the core and 3" on the tanks, and as you can see in the video it is definitely thicker than the factory one that came out of it. We've been using it now for about 6 months and the truck stays rock steady at 210 whether its idling with the A/C on or towing our Project F-250. Here's the link to it on RockAuto: www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=10038448&cc=1380350&jsn=1

[@joelvillarreal8955]

@@MotorsandMischief The 8.1LT TYC 2539 (#89010326) is 3.8" Wider and 2" taller. Not sure that will fit in my 6.0lt location

[@MotorsandMischief]

Interesting. I can't imagine the location would be any smaller even if Chevy made the actual radiator smaller to save costs. If you want to measure your space available I'd be happy to measure ours and see if they match. Or I can send some photos of ours so you can compare to yours and see what Chevy did to make the 6.0 radiator fit and how big a deal it would be to modify to match the 8.1

[@semperparatus3188]

Never seen someone remove the fan off this type of model truck to get to the radiator

[@MotorsandMischief]

Really? The factory procedure includes removing the fan and in our experience it won’t come out otherwise. But flat rate mechanics are a resourceful lot so it they’ve figured out a way to get it out without pulling the fan, more power to them.

[@semperparatus3188]

@@MotorsandMischief yep, not sure man. I have a chevy 2500HD and once you remove the shroud, air box, hoses and lines and all that, it has at least a foot of clearance to slide to the side and out. I was looking for videos about the clips on the metal lines , this happens to be the first video of 20 ive watched that removed the fan

[@MotorsandMischief]

Interesting! Well there’s for sure not that much clearance on our setup but that’s good info for anyone who does have enough room. Ours for sure won’t come out without removing the fan, but good to know some will. Thanks!

[@semperparatus3188]

@@MotorsandMischief is your engine stock? What size is it?

[@MotorsandMischief]

It is, yes, it’s the 8.1