6.2l Radiator to 5.7l Block

[justaburke]

Hey there, I have an '87 Chevy 3/4 ton with the 350 TBI. I am replacing my stock radiator with a mid-80's Chevy diesel radiator. I am having some issues with hose sizes. The stock smallblock hoses are an I.D. of 2.5". The inlet/outlet of the diesel radiator is O.D. of 2.75". Has anyone done this swap? Would a 454ci thermostat housing be a larger diameter and fit a smallblock manifold? Any help would be lots of help.

 

[bucket]

The 454 thermostat outlet size is the same as a 350 (at least on my '86). My upper hose needed replacing in a hurry and I needed something quick, but no parts stores had a hose for a 454 w/AC, so I bought a hose for a 350 truck. It fit fine on the thermostat housing, but needed a good stretching on the radiator side of it. Long story short, a 454 hose may work, but you will more than likely need to order it... or grease it up (the stock hose) and make it fit like I did, lol.