New Aluminum Radiator

[Coach529]

I am shopping for a new radiator for Henry.

Going to go the Aluminum route with a Electric fan when I install the 350.

I see some champions on Ebay for reasonable.

Anybody have experience with them? Where are the good deals?

[xaircav]

I got a two row Champion for $213 delivered. My 283 only got past 180 once while pulling a parade float on a summer day. Seems very well made and so far so good. I put an anode rod where the petcock goes to protect it from the three dissimilar metals in the cooling system, iron block, brass heater core and aluminum intake.

[xaircav]

Here's a pic. I have since added a coolant recovery tank.

[Coach529]

Looks great.

[LEEVON]

I've heard nothing but good about them, planning to get a 3 row for Popeye. They also have a trans cooler in the bottom.

[wood1]

Had a 4 row Champion w/ fan. $300 on ebay. Every bit as good as the higher $$ big name ones. Never worried about the hot weather again!!

[alaska gasser]

I bought mine on EBAY last summer for about $210. It is a 3 core and is stamped exactly like a stock brass radiator which is one of the reason's I chose it.

Here is a link to the guy I bought mine from. This one is for a 55-59 Chev.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/55-59-CHEVRO...0#ht_412wt_900

[NEWFISHER]

Champion 3 row with the auto cooler ports $189 shipped from Portland, OR from one of the guys on Ebay. Good customer support. Radiator fit and works well.

[Russell Ashley]

I wanted to keep the original style stamped tank so I got this one. I got it from my local dealer for $275 but I have seen it on EBay for less. It does have the tranny cooler built in.
I don't know if this is common to all aluminum radiators but the fins are paper thin and you must be very careful when working around them. The fins flatten out at the slightest touch..

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Russell Ashley

...I don't know if this is common to all aluminum radiators but the fins are paper thin and you must be very careful when working around them. The fins flatten out at the slightest touch..

DOH! I knew there had to be something. I like the way the tank is stamped and the price with trans cooler in it is certainly right. About $235 on eBay now, right?

Damn, I thought that was the way I was gonna go eventually. I had my stock radiator totally rebuilt after I got my truck but the top tank is dented too much to take a lot of pride in it.

[xaircav]

Originally Posted by Russell Ashley

I wanted to keep the original style stamped tank so I got this one. I got it from my local dealer for $275 but I have seen it on EBay for less. It does have the tranny cooler built in.
I don't know if this is common to all aluminum radiators but the fins are paper thin and you must be very careful when working around them. The fins flatten out at the slightest touch..

Russell, I need to get rid of my ribbed upper radiator hose. What is the NAPA number of yours? Looks like either 7240 or 7249. Thanks, Bill
PS: What lower hose do you run?

[Russell Ashley]

Gotta thank Orrie for the hose numbers. Top-napa 7240 lower 7438. Both will have to be trimmed slightly.

[NEWFISHER]

I cut 2 pieces of cardboard and taped them to my radiator front and back, slid it in, hooked everything up and the removed the cardboard.

[xaircav]

Originally Posted by Russell Ashley

Gotta thank Orrie for the hose numbers. Top-napa 7240 lower 7438. Both will have to be trimmed slightly.

Thanks very much. Bill

[Coach529]

Thanks guys!!

[DesertFox00]

Would the champion radiators work with a gmc? The fill spout on the gmc is located differently.

[dante81_98]

There is some great information in this thread.

so is the consensus to go with a 3 or 4 row with a V8? I live in Phoenix and will have to brave the 115+ days in the summer. Looking to mate the radiator with a cooling components electric fan and shroud too.

Also, I am reading a lot about 2 rows of 1" tubes. They have an american eagle that is like this that they say cools up to 650 HP and only runs about $189. Anyone have any experience or thoughts on this radiator?

Thanks,
Chad

[SparkyRnD]

most all of the aluminum radiators use dual 1" thick cores, where-as old brass & copper use 1/2" thick cores. So an old brass & copper 4 core is 2" thick at the core, and a modern aluminum dual core is the same thickness. While we don't currently make radiators for the 47-59 models, we are going to add them to our line up soon. Be cautious about units that use epoxy or glues, as they will fail and will leak over time.

[shrek55]

Originally Posted by xaircav

I got a two row Champion for $213 delivered. My 283 only got past 180 once while pulling a parade float on a summer day. Seems very well made and so far so good. I put an anode rod where the petcock goes to protect it from the three dissimilar metals in the cooling system, iron block, brass heater core and aluminum intake.

Where did you get an anode rod to go where the petcock is ???

[Highsider]

Originally Posted by shrek55

Where did you get an anode rod to go where the petcock is ???

I have a new 3-row Champion sitting on the floor.
I need to get the anode rod, also.

[xaircav]

Originally Posted by shrek55

Where did you get an anode rod to go where the petcock is ???

www.classicradiator.com 516-293-2175

I got my heater control valve there too.

[Ricos54]

I bought mine from American Eagle on eBay from a guy in LA. Guaranted for 60 days no questions ask and if you want more cores you can send it back an get it bigger within the 60 days. I bought a 2 core for $203 to my door and it fit my truck perfect, no modifications at all.

[SparkyRnD]

If someone wants to send us their original unit, we'll make a prototype and give the person a discount. Also, we have a 1 year warranty on all of our products.

[Coach529]

Originally Posted by SparkyRnD

If someone wants to send us their original unit, we'll make a prototype and give the person a discount. Also, we have a 1 year warranty on all of our products.

How much of a discount and what type of turnaround?

[SparkyRnD]

based on the sizes I'm seeing, retail would be around $450, member discounted price would be $425, and to the person that helps us prototype it, I'd go $325 plus shipping. Once we receive the original, it would take about 2-3 weeks to make the prototype and ship it out. We would require a quick mock-up, notes about fitment and some pictures (high resolution) showing it installed. If revisions are required, we would issue a call tag to have it brought back for modifications.