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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Cave City, KY
Posts: 33
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Who Makes a Good New Radiator For Our Trucks?
Down to just a few items I need to buy before I order a new GM crate engine for my truck and I got to thinking about my old radiator. My old radiator cooled just fine, ran 190 in the summer with a 180 degree thermostat and a cracked head on the 307 (had lightweight 267 heads swapped on at 1 point, already cracked). But it has a good amount of corrosion built up in it, I think it has a pinhole at the top I can gear slightly hiss when pressurized so I want to replace it before I get the engine. Who makes a good radiator at an affordable price? I know the local shop will want $500 to recore one so I'd just prefer to buy a new one since he's a hack anyhow. Id like another copper/brass radiator. I've seen LMC carries them and they seem cheap but I fear that low price is directly representing the quality? Aluminum might be cheaper since copper has went up so much over the last few years but I've read that the aluminum radiators don't cool as well with a mechanical fan and are designed for electric? Something about fin spacing? All I've ever had was copper/brass so I don't know about aluminum.
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Redmond, WA
Posts: 6,332
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Re: Who Makes a Good New Radiator For Our Trucks?
I've been running the generic LMC replacement copper-brass unit and I'm fine with it, though my truck's temp creeps at idle in the summer (big block with AC running), I don't think that's the fault of the radiator.
On my Camaro I have a BeCool twin-Spal fan unit that I would recommend if stock isn't a big deal. If money is less important than cooling, I'd go Ron Davis aluminum. No cheap but like a work of art.
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1970 GMC Sierra Grande Custom Camper - Built, not Bought 1969 Pontiac 2+2 427/390 4-speed Coupe 1969 Pontiac 2+2 427/390 4-speed Convertible |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: West Kelowna, BC
Posts: 9
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Re: Who Makes a Good New Radiator For Our Trucks?
My new 3 core aluminum rad keeps my cammed 350 cooler than the old 4 core I had..
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 6,421
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Re: Who Makes a Good New Radiator For Our Trucks?
Going through this myself! I bought a Vista Pro copper brass 4 row but it's a might too tall.
I ordered a KKS Motorsports 3 row aluminum radiator last Thursday, I'm going to give it a shot. The Champion 3 row aluminum radiator is often used by members here, so I have been told. I will get you some links to threads that discuss this closely. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=716129 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=715653 http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...=1#post7579528 I can't seem to find the post from Grumpy Old Man concerning the Champion radiator. Champions and KKS are made by the same foreign company, according to the KKS sales rep. I didn't like where Champion's overflow outlet pointed, KKS comes with a radiator cap while the Champion's cap has to be ordered separately, and the Champion is $20.00 more expensive. Last edited by In The Ten Ring; 09-24-2016 at 03:35 PM. |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Lincoln City Oregon
Posts: 173
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Re: Who Makes a Good New Radiator For Our Trucks?
I went with a champion 3 row and it works perfect and is pretty cheap imo.
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1970 K20 1967 Blown Stepside 2016 Chevy 2500 Duramax 1989 Jeep Cherokee 1995 S-10 2014 Infinity Q-50 AWD 1970 Chevy K20 build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=634164 1967 stepside rebuild http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=684913 Shop build http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=225559 |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Cave City, KY
Posts: 33
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Re: Who Makes a Good New Radiator For Our Trucks?
I think the Champion radiator looks pretty good to me. Not sure if I should go ahead and opt for the 4 core. Doesn't usually get much more than 100 degrees where I currently live but I'm looking to relocate once I get my truck finished if I can get a job in a good shop and learn metal fabrication and hone my welding skills and get my certification. I love that price. Very affordable. I'm good with the aluminum, it's the plastic tank and aluminum core radiators I despise for their tendency to blow apart.
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Midland, TX
Posts: 1,267
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Re: Who Makes a Good New Radiator For Our Trucks?
I've been using this radiatorhttp://www.speedcooling.com/1967_1972_C10_Chevy_Truck_Aluminum_Radiator.html
for over 10k miles in West Texas heat with the a/c running and zero issues. Here's some light reading on radiators and heat transfer. http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/gener...rass-tech.html More rows is not better. It's counter intuitive. Read and learn. ![]()
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1969 RS/SS Z10 Camaro Pace coupe 1972 GMC Short Step buildhttp://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=1#post6356218 1979 Mazda RX7 1979 Pontiac Trans Am WS6 & 1979 Pontiac Trans Am 10th Anniversary 1999 Honda Valkyrie 2006 Corvette Z06 2010 BMW 650i |
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#8 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Cave City, KY
Posts: 33
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Quote:
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: hancock maryland
Posts: 12
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Re: Who Makes a Good New Radiator For Our Trucks?
ended up getting a champion 4 core. quality looks good just waiting for my -20 an fittings to show up to make the lines
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Gwinnett GA
Posts: 1,803
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Re: Who Makes a Good New Radiator For Our Trucks?
I hope to be able to get time this week to install my new champion. Got the EC369 two row
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1982 K10 SWB 1987 V20 - Sold - Doh! |
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#11 |
Collector of Projects
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 3,106
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Re: Who Makes a Good New Radiator For Our Trucks?
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#12 |
Moderator
![]() Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern Cal
Posts: 20,006
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Re: Who Makes a Good New Radiator For Our Trucks?
Ditto
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1972 C/10 Cheyenne Super SWB. Restored, loaded, slammed. 1968 C/10 50th Anniversary LWB. Unrestored, stock, daily driver/work truck. RIP ElJay RIP 67ChevyRedneck RIP Grumpy Old Man |
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#13 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: springfield mo
Posts: 3,075
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Re: Who Makes a Good New Radiator For Our Trucks?
Bought my new one from oreillys, fit perfect and cost right at 2 hundred. Painted it black and havent had a problem with it since i put it in.
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United States Marine Corps 2000-2011 Iraq and Afghanistan veteran Just living life now and enjoying it and my wife, daughter and son ![]() |
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#14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: houston texas
Posts: 1,438
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Re: Who Makes a Good New Radiator For Our Trucks?
I am looking for a new one myself. I want a aluminum with dual fans. if you look on ebay there are about a hundred different ones each claiming to be better than the others.i want to do away with the fan and clutch hope it will help with belt squealing.
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#15 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Gwinnett GA
Posts: 1,803
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Re: Who Makes a Good New Radiator For Our Trucks?
__________________
1982 K10 SWB 1987 V20 - Sold - Doh! |
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#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 6,421
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Re: Who Makes a Good New Radiator For Our Trucks?
I'm glad that's working for you......I hope my KKS fits at least as well.
What did you do with your overflow hose? |
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#17 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Gwinnett GA
Posts: 1,803
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Re: Who Makes a Good New Radiator For Our Trucks?
I just hooked it up. Same as the old radiator.
__________________
1982 K10 SWB 1987 V20 - Sold - Doh! |
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#18 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 6,421
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Re: Who Makes a Good New Radiator For Our Trucks?
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