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I have a 1961 vette w/2X4 carbs and radiator 3150916 with stamping 650 or 65D. What dose the stamping meen.Also i talked to a radiator shop about the correct one 3151116 and he said that this radiator has an exspantion tank on top. From the pictures I have seen this is no true. Whats up! 810 790-0479
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Re: 61 Radiator 2X4 270 HP
When was the 61 built? Whats he serial number? This makes a BIG difference!
Varooom -
Re: 61 Radiator 2X4 270 HP
Jeffrey-----
Well, I hate to get involved in these C1 questions, especially those involving "fine nuances", but here goes.
"Early" 1961 Corvettes with high performance engines which were equipped with aluminum radiators used radiator GM #3150916. This radiator does not use a "top tank", but, instead, uses an external aluminum supply tank, GM #3151016.
"Later" 1961 Corvettes used an aluminum radiator with an integral aluminum supply which was GM #3151116. Obviously, NO external supply tank is used with this radiator.
As far as when the change occurred, I won't touch that part of the question. But, I'll offer this: for your particular car, I'd check the supply tank bracket to see if it looks like it is an original installation, including original-type fastners. If it is, chances are that your car was originally equipped with the external supply tank radiator. If the installation looks obviously non-original, that may be a good indication that the supply tank was added later. Also, check the side of the supply tank for a date. If it shows a 1960 or 61 date, it's probably original to the car.
I should also add here that the integral supply tank radiator, GM #3151116, was discontinued in 1975 and replaced IN SERVICE by the external tank-type GM #3150916 radiator. However, when the 3150916 radiator was used as a SERVICE replacement, the external supply tank also had to be added. The 3150916 radiator was also discontinued in 1987.
The stamping on top of your radiator which you mention is probably "65D". This is a date stamping which indicates that your radiator was manufactured in April, 1965. So, it's obviously not the original radiator, but it could still be a "correct" radiator. If it was purchased and installed within 10 years, or so, of it's manufacture, the top tank type radiator would still have been available. So, one would think that whoever replaced it would have installed the same radiator originally installed in the car, especially since the use of the 3150916 radiator for a car originally using the 3151116 radiator would have required the purchase and installation of a supply tank.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: 61 Radiator 2X4 270 HP
I agree with Joe completely, except I believe he has his early and late mixed up. The top tank was a carryover from '60 and therefore was an early '61 item. I've prrsonally verified a '61 fuel car with a S/N in the 900's that used this tank. The '62 Judging manual cites Factory documentation that 1700 '61 cars were equipped with carryover '60 radiators, both copper on base engines and Aluminum top tank on hi-perf.Comment
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Re: 61 Radiator 2X4 270 HP
Bill------
You are absolutely correct; I did have the "early" and "late" radiator styles and part numbers reversed. The top tank, GM #3151116, was the "early" style. The external tank type, GM #3150916, was the "late" style.
That's what happens when I get too many notes going and can't read my own writing.
Very sorry for the confusion; I detest making stupid errors like that.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: 61 Radiator 2X4 270 HP
Jeffrey: Dale is correct about the serial number of your car being important; generally if your car is later than something in the 1700 range, you have the correct radiator ALTHOUGH the one you have is a service replacement apparently built in April of 1965 = "65D". I agree Bill that the prior post has his "early" and "late" reversed. I would also caution, though, that #3151116 was NOT, in early 1961, used ONLY on high performance. Bill McClean's #1500 base motor/PG car is a Dunov/Gold winner and the original radiator is a top tank 3151116. I would refer you also to the article on these radiators in volume 21, #2 of the Corvette Restorer, an excellent effort by Paul Erdman. I would question this article in only one are; he repeatedly says that radiators before 11/21/60 were NOT painted black; he does so because that is the date on the blueprint that the note "Entire unit to be painted black" was ADDED to the print. I would note that just because the blueprint did not say "Paint Black" is NOT the same as saying they were unpainted - it might just mean that no one had called it out before. I have movie footage of my early 1960 with a top tank being serviced in the pits and the top tank and the radiator are painted black. Sorry to be so long.Comment
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Re: 61 Radiator 2X4 270 HP
The early 61 Corvettes were built using random radiators. We've documented FI cars with copper-brass, base cars with top tank, and the 916 interspersed with these two. There were three versions of the top tank. Without/with sight plug, with/without ribs, and when they added the extention to the drain, the part number was changed. All top tank radiators were unpainted aluminum. The first 916's were also unpainted. The 916 came two ways. The 1961 version had a square boss on the inlet neck. The 62's didn't. During the first 2200 or so 1961 Corvettes you could see anything for a radiator regardless of horsepower! The assy line paid no attention at all to the directive from management.
DaleComment
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Re: 61 Radiator 2X4 270 HP
Loren: I would think that the race dudes who preped your car for LeMans would have the savy to understand heat transfer properties of the ideal black body radiator. They might have painted it black themselves. I inputed info to Erdman for the article and I've got mucho photos of unpainted top tanks. My hunch is that your radiator got blackened after St.Louis.
Regards, Dale.Comment
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Re: 61 Radiator 2X4 270 HP
And the modified drain top tank was the 316!
Regards DaleComment
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