Something not right about this 1971 GTX?

[YellowBird70]

I was looking at a 1971 Plymouth GTX the other day and I noticed something odd and I was wondering if someone could be of assistance. This car had a 1970 OEM 22 inch radiator attached to a factory radiator support. I was always under the impression that all 440 HP engines had a 26-inch radiator. Am I incorrect? I appreciate the help guys!

 

[Big Bad Dad]

I had a 69 Coronet R/T, 440 automatic car. No AC, and it had the 22" radiator.

 

[YellowBird70]

Well, I have to admit - I had not seen that before either. My 70 Coronet R/T had a 26 and it was also non a/c automatic.

This 71 GTX car is also an automatic w/o a/c.

 

[dieseldazzle]

I have a charger rt at the shop that has a 22 inch radiator in it

 

[Cranky]

I'm thinking if it was ordered for a northern dealer sales bank and had little to no options, it got the minimum cooling package......but I may be wrong. A buddy that's been in the auto sales industry told me that kind of stuff happened pretty regularly. If whoever ordered the units for the dealership didn't know squat, then the right boxes on the orders didn't get checked off. Also, some dealerships ordered the cars as cheap as possible knowing that they would sell anyways. It was buyer beware....

 

[kiwigtx]

I thought that the 22-inch radiator was standard for automatic trans cars - even if they are HP or R/T type cars. Same as the 8-3/4" rear end - standard on automatic big block cars.

 

[YellowBird70]

I'm thinking if it was ordered for a northern dealer sales bank and had little to no options, it got the minimum cooling package......but I may be wrong. A buddy that's been in the auto sales industry told me that kind of stuff happened pretty regularly. If whoever ordered the units for the dealership didn't know squat, then the right boxes on the orders didn't get checked off. Also, some dealerships ordered the cars as cheap as possible knowing that they would sell anyways. It was buyer beware....

Well this appears to be a bare-bones car. No disc brakes, no power steering, no power brakes, no AC.

When I think of GTX I usually think of something beyond Bare Bones. I was just making sure that this was not a fake GTX before I started seriously thinking about buying it and the wrong Radiator on it kind of set off a red flag.

 

[Car Nut]

Well this appears to be a bare-bones car. No disc brakes, no power steering, no power brakes, no AC.

When I think of GTX I usually think of something beyond Bare Bones. I was just making sure that this was not a fake GTX before I started seriously thinking about buying it and the wrong Radiator on it kind of set off a red flag.

Post a picture of the fender tag.

 

[YellowBird70]

Post a picture of the fender tag.

 

[69Coronetrt]

I thought that the 22-inch radiator was standard for automatic trans cars - even if they are HP or R/T type cars. Same as the 8-3/4" rear end - standard on automatic big block cars.

I agree.

An axle package, which includes 426 or 440 cars with a four speed, A/C or the towing package came with a 26" radiator. A standard '67-'71 GTX or R/T 440 automatic came with a 22".

 

[kiwigtx]

This car had a 1970 OEM 22 inch radiator attached to a factory radiator support.

The likelihood of a 1970 radiator in a 1971 model car would be high IF the car was an early production model, as in one of the first ones actually built - to use up any parts from the previous year. However, after seeing the Fender Tag picture, I suspect this is a case of just being a swap-out for a better condition radiator that fitted as a direct replacement.

 

[69Coronetrt]

View attachment 375381

Not coded for 26" radiator.

No axle package, no a/C, no trailer towing so a 22" would be correct.

 

[dieseldazzle]

Don't see 26 inch radiator on the fender tag. I have a real rt 69 charger 440 car with auto that has 22 inch radiator

 

[69Coronetrt]

I'm thinking if it was ordered for a northern dealer sales bank and had little to no options, it got the minimum cooling package......but I may be wrong. A buddy that's been in the auto sales industry told me that kind of stuff happened pretty regularly. If whoever ordered the units for the dealership didn't know squat, then the right boxes on the orders didn't get checked off. Also, some dealerships ordered the cars as cheap as possible knowing that they would sell anyways. It was buyer beware....

The size of the radiator was not an option that could be ordered. It was part of a pre determined package of items. Plus, the wrong size radiator could affect warranty work. I doubt dealers has any decision on the size of a radiator.

 

[Dennis H]

69 Coronet R/T here. A833. Dana. 26".

 

[YellowBird70]

The likelihood of a 1970 radiator in a 1971 model car would be high IF the car was an early production model, as in one of the first ones actually built - to use up any parts from the previous year. However, after seeing the Fender Tag picture, I suspect this is a case of just being a swap-out for a better condition radiator that fitted as a direct replacement.

The swap is what I was hoping, it was just the size thing that was throwing me off, since it was unlikely that they changed the support also. There were several detail items like this that were off and I was feeling a little uneasy. I guess I was wrong about the 440 HP/26 radiator and it was just a coincidence with all HP cars I had owned and studied in the past.

 

[texas69bee]

I thought it was dependent on what gears you have in the rear end. I had bought one redone from Bob at Glen Ray, told him that I have a 4 spd with 3.23 gears and he knew right away that I had a 22 inch.

 

[69Coronetrt]

I thought it was dependent on what gears you have in the rear end. I had bought one redone from Bob at Glen Ray, told him that I have a 4 spd with 3.23 gears and he knew right away that I had a 22 inch.

For a 383 four speed with 3.23, a 22" would be correct. We're talking a 440.

Any axle package, regardless of CID, got you the 26" radiator.

A four speed is not a separate stand alone option behind a Hemi or 440 like it is with a 383. It is part of an axle package. Therefore a 440 four speed got a 26" radiator.

 

[YellowBird70]

Well I think that puts the radiator question to rest. If you don't mind I would like to ask another question. If you look at the fender tag in the bottom left-hand corner there is V code. V86? The V88? None of those codes makes sense. The car has what I believe to be an inaccurate v8w code stripe going from the hood center wrapping around the front fender since I don't see that on the tag but as you can see it has a V21 code. I believe V21 + V8W was not possible.

 

[WileE]

You mean, E86 ? That's the engine code for 440 4bbl.