Pontiac LeMans Sport Cooling issues resolved? Recore'd OEM Radiator and ready for some testing!

This '71 Pontiac LeMans Sport has been a trusty steed for years and THOUSANDS of miles. Though it's almost all stock and probably 90% original parts even after 50 years she handles daily driver duty just as well as she does rumbling into car shows. However even good old parts can occasionally have issues as was the case in the previous video you saw on this vehicle. Our 50 year old radiator gave up the ghost and allowed the 350 Pontiac V8 to get somewhere in the neighborhood of 270 degrees!

So with the radiator a known bad point in the system we have a couple of different options, get a new stock replacement, an upgraded lighter better functioning unit, OR get the old original unit rebuilt. Two of these are quick easy and relatively cheap options, one of them isn't. As this car is almost all stock and I intend to keep it that way, the decision was made to go for a rebuild of the 50 year old piece to keep the originality points for car shows. Yes, we understand it doesn't make a lot of sense.

With the old radiator rebuilt and reinstalled and the oil changed out for a brand new belly full of high zinc fluid it was time to get this thing back on the road to see if we have any additional issues OR damage from the overheating. About 4 years ago the factory Pontiac 350 was refreshed getting all new rings, bearings, seals, gaskets, and hardware but still using the factory original crank, rods, pistons, and heads. Fingers crossed we didn't hurt this thing and need to take it apart AGAIN!