I have been doing some research on this for better cooling.
Some may like what I have found and may want to try a swap.

Our radiators come in a 28 and 34 inch long core.
It stands 17.25 high, water connections are 1 5/16 and 1 9/16.
the bad part is it is a single core.
since 99 for our types of radiator has no upgrade to a duel core,
not unless you get the high priced after market stuff like from
Summit for over $750.00.

What I have found for better cooling you just mit like.

the GM ck series has a radiator size is.
core 34 inches long.
17.25 Inches high.
water connections 1 5/16 and 1 9/16
oil cooler connections.
trans cooler connections.
heater hose return connection that can be mod for a steam line connection
and it is a duel core.
Depending on place of purchase, price can range from 50.00 used to 207.00+ new.
as far as i can tell it will take very little to mod our trucks to use this radiator and
it will be far cheaper then any of the after market available while giving the same
Performance cooling.

now if someone does not beat me to it, i am going to pick up one used and
See just what it will take to make it work.
From what I can tell it is very close to just plug and play.

 

Is the stock 34" radiator not good enough cooling? I am interested in the results on how well it fits, but I'm just curious if anyone is really having a problem cooling their truck. Even in 90º weather mine will run 180º or less with the fans on full speed.

 

I put the dual core radiator in my 99 C1500 classic and noticed no change over the stock one. Granted I don't have an actual temp gauge to actually measure temps. Just seems no different than the other one and the needle stays in the same range on the temp gauge as well.

What size are the HDs with the 6.0L, 8.1L, or even D-max? Wouldn't they work better?

 

the stock gauges are notoriously inaccurate. When logging with HP Tuners I can see a 5-10* change in temperature without seeing any change on the dash gauge. Today's gauges are nothing more than glorified dummy lights to twart complaints from the uneducated that can't fathom why their truck get 5* warmer while climbing a hill.

very good question!

 

8.1 maybe better but whipple496 try a d-max rad and he had coolant problems. seems that since the diesel doesn't get as hot as the gas burner it doesn't need as bad *** of a radiator. from what i gather

 

I had a 91 ck and remember having problems with the plastic side tanks on the radiator...not sure if the 96 and later were different,but its something to consider

 

now that I think about it more, it's probably a whole different ball game considering the rpm's that a diesel turns vs. a gas motor, along with the difference in fuel type and the tolerances of both

 

I used to have a 1985 6.2 diesel Suburban. The radiator was definitely bigger than the gasoline model and a LOT more expensive!

 

i'm interested in your reasoning for this??

 

in my old 92 and 96 I took out the stock single core, and put a 2 row/2 core radiator in. It made a difference in the hotter temps, but didn't run any cooler at all.