Another radiator thread

[Kalums]

Simple as the title says... I need a radiator, the one I have, after pressurizing it, has pin holes from top to bottom and I only got 12lbs of pressure in it before they all showed up(did I mention it is aluminium garbage cheapy). Also it is only a 2 vane?? Not sure whose idea that was... I'd appreciate any help finding a 4 vane (row) with trans cooler, and A/C hook ups (do they even make them or is it a unicorn of rads?),as I'm planning on having A/C in it by next summer. As a bonus I'd love to add electric fan(s) & shroud... The Google overlords inform me that none of these things exist... ( I swear the internet hates me)

I apologize ahead of time for the punctuation errors... I've been up most of the night :/

[72SB]

actually 2 larger core, 1 1/4"-1 1/2", cools better than 4 smaller ones.

I have a Cold Case in one car and a FSR (four seasons radiator). The FSR is considerably more $ and I never had any problem with it.

The Cold Case cooled well but after a few years developed a small leak. It, like FSR, has a lifetime warranty. CC replaced it promptly

If you go EL fans, don't go cheap or you will spend a lot of time on the side of the road. SPAHL brushless fans but they cost $. Also need 2 good relay feeds, likely 30 amps each so you will need a 100 amp ALT

IMHO a 7 blade fan with clutch and stock fan shroud if its a V8 truck is the way to go.

[Kalums]

Originally Posted by 72SB

actually 2 larger core, 1 1/4"-1 1/2", cools better than 4 smaller ones.

I have a Cold Case in one car and a FSR (four seasons radiator). The FSR is considerably more $ and I never had any problem with it.

The Cold Case cooled well but after a few years developed a small leak. It, like FSR, has a lifetime warranty. CC replaced it promptly

If you go EL fans, don't go cheap or you will spend a lot of time on the side of the road. SPAHL brushless fans but they cost $. Also need 2 good relay feeds, likely 30 amps each so you will need a 100 amp ALT

IMHO a 7 blade fan with clutch and stock fan shroud if its a V8 truck is the way to go.

I'm not sure what kind of 2 row this one is... It is just thin(depth) and I only see two narrow rows when I look inside (under the cap)... After putting 12lbs of pressure in it it leaks like Swiss cheese, near all three necks and at almost every solder joint. The fan that I currently have is the 5 blade and the clutch is bad... Because it is siezed (won't spin when engine isn't running and always on) so I was just planning on upgrading while I was swapping parts.

[Steeveedee]

NAPA has a four-row radiator. It's made of aluminum. https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/RNRNR369A

If you upgrade to it, you will need to change out the top and bottom mounts, as the two-row mounts are too small.

[PbFut]

If you must go EF and aluminum Champion has a fairly priced decent kit. That being said, order the better fans. Having said all that, I agree, it is better to use a factory fan setup. Our electrical system is not capable of powering the fans without some mods to alternator and main harness.

[GASoline71]

I replaced the factory 4-row radiator with a cheapy no-name brand ($125 bucks) eBay 2 row aluminum radiator in a 1972 GMC back in 2007. That truck had a pretty rowdy 350 in it, and that radiator worked flawlessly. Now my stepson owns the truck with an even rowdier 400 in it and that same radiator cools it just fine.

It has the larger 4-row style tanks on it so it fit perfectly in the 4-row saddles.

Edit: I also use a 6-blade fan with a clutch and the stock fan shroud.

Gary

[weq92f]

Originally Posted by PbFut

If you must go EF and aluminum Champion has a fairly priced decent kit. That being said, order the better fans. Having said all that, I agree, it is better to use a factory fan setup. Our electrical system is not capable of powering the fans without some mods to alternator and main harness.

.

Back in 2018 I bough the Champion rad and EL fan kit. Didn't use the rad but used the shroud and dual 14" fans I bought from Champion/Ledfoot. They caused me a lot of cooling issues as they were cheap generic fans that I could replace for 40 bucks each Online. They were rated at 12Amps and 1200CFM each which is a massive stretch. I had to replace them with expensive spal units.

Total waste of funds.

-Kevin

[Kalums]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

NAPA has a four-row radiator. It's made of aluminum. https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/RNRNR369A

If you upgrade to it, you will need to change out the top and bottom mounts, as the two-row mounts are too small.

That one says out of stock near me and unable to ship😩

[clay68c10]

Aluminum tanks
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/RNRNR369A

Plastic tanks
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NRCNR369A


The other usual big name parts stores probably have similar.

[CanadianNascar]

I just had my 4 core factory rad re cored, $900 Canadian.
I think if you go electric fans, proper shroud is still very important.

[Already Gone]

Did the same as you Canadian Nascar for my 72 C10 with factory A/C that works. Truck came with a 3 row rad with 4 row tanks and at 90,000 mies still did its job with no issues. When getting the SBC 400 rebuilt I pulled the rad and had the core replaced, yep cost me 900 too, with a new 4 row one and did the heater core replacing the core as well. Factory shroud is there and I used my original fan and it has the factory fan lockup thing too. I sent an original water pump out for a complete rebuild as well. Yesteday driving at 70 mph with the A/C on and temp was 33C or 91 Farenheit this is what the temp gauge showed as I shut it off at home.

[72c20customcamper]

If you want originality then I would suggest U.S.Radiator . All of their radiators are made in the USA with all materials also source from North America

https://usradiator.com/product/chevr...71-72-radiator

They are pricey . If your not going original Dewitt’s make good products

[CanadianNascar]

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

If you want originality then I would suggest U.S.Radiator . All of their radiators are made in the USA with all materials also source from North America

https://usradiator.com/product/chevr...71-72-radiator

They are pricey . If your not going original Dewitt’s make good products

Yep, same as mine, curled up lower hose, return line from heater core, and tranny cooler lines.

Already Gone, my gauge has no red indicator, but runs same coolness.

[Stocker]

Plenty for you to consider in this thread. I added 2 pusher fans to my stock system on a mechanic's advice, so the A/C would run cooler (more air movement across the condenser). To handle the extra electrical load, I also went with an internally regulated 94 amp alternator, and upgraded the wiring. Added relays for the fans, of course.

The rest of the system is basically stock, with a factory shroud and an 18-inch, 7-blade fan (standard on my A/C truck). I replaced my failed OEM fan clutch with a heavy duty Hayden #2747 clutch. Also running a coolant recovery (overflow) tank with a sealed-system 15# radiator cap.

In reality, a stock system with the right parts should be fine without adding electric fans. That means a good radiator & shroud, and a 7-blade, 18" fan on a heavy duty clutch.

[BDC90]

Check Wizard cooling. It worked great on My Austin_healey if it can cool a Healey it can cool anything. https://wizardcooling.com/search.htm...adiator&page=1