71 LS5 Radiator??

[Sheldon S.]

I have a 71 with a LS5 motor, non air, automatic. This should have a brass radiator and a alumimnum overflow tank with the RC33 rad cap. My question is that there appears to be two different versions of rad, one with a rad cap and the other without. Is this correct? If so was one used on earlier production cars vers later or could they have either. The RC33 would be used on the alum overflow, what is used on the rad with a cap? Could someone please claify this as to what is correct.
Thanks in advance Sheldon

[Joe L.]

Re: 71 LS5 Radiator??

Sheldon-----

The radiator used for your application was GM #3019190. This radiator has NO filler cap; it uses an external supply tank for coolant fill. There are definitely NOT 2 versions of this radiator. ALL GM #3019190 are configured as I described. Also, the RC-33 radiator cap was never used for a 1971 Corvette. The RC-33 was first used for 1973 Corvettes. All 1971 Corvettes with aluminum external supply tank used the RC-26 radiator cap.

The radiator very similar to the 3019190 but with integral filler cap was the GM #3030199. This radiator was also first used for 1973 Corvettes and it was used for ALL 1973 Corvette applications with automatic transmission. It was never used for any 1971 application, though.