what radiator will cool a big block

[prostreet1967]

55 radiator that will cool a big block what are yall using and any pics

[metalmassfab]

Well, I recommend and aluminum 2-row radiator. It'll out-cool a 4 or 5 row copper/brass unit, and will last just as long with the proper coolant and mixture. Trouble is, you are probably looking at $600 minimum...or you could cough up some measurements, and I'll build a custom unit for you, at a killer deal ...

[**grumpy**]

I agree somewhat with metalmassfab...somewhat!

Go to Summit Racing and get a Summit brand race aluminum unit for $170.
It's got 2 one inch tubes, and is universal.

They offer several sizes, for ford and gm

I was skeptical. I needed a rad. for a 57 Chevy wagon, and they had a bolt-in aluminum unit for over 400 sum odd dollars. I asked the guy what's the difference between that and the $170. universal....He said "mounting brackets"!! So I bought the cheaper one and made my own brackets.

I could leave that car, with a 355, sit and idle forever in 90 degree heat. And that was with a thermostat with the center punched out, acting as a restrictor only. Never went above 180 degrees!

My buddy's were so impressed, several have bought those rads. with great success.

I'm only 40 minutes from Summit, but you can see them on Summits website. I can get a pn# if need be.

Putting one in my 53 'burb too.


Tim

[metalmassfab]

hey grumpy, whats the deal...almost had a sale! Just kidding. I don't care for the Summit radiators only because of the nasty , robot blasted mig welds on them (first pic) and then they go back and mig-blast the gaps in their welds. Jegs has the same sizes Summit does, $10 more, and they have very very nice tig welds. Speedway Motors has the same ones Jegs does...and they are $30 to $40 cheaper. I've used 20+ Summit radiators on my engine test stands...best thing to do with them is cut the tanks off and start over! The pic in my previous post, and the second one here is of a ex-Summit radiator... really is!

[Hart_Rod]

Not trying to hijack thread but..

Metalmassfab How much for a stock dimension radiator (3 or 4 core) with inlet an outlet set up for a 5.3/4L60E going in my 69 Suburban? Thanks,

[Daniel U]

The second pic has some sweet welds! I agree, I have a Griffin alum. 3 row in my 88 IROC and am very happy! I have dual fans that come on at 190 deg. too.

[metalmassfab]

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

Not trying to hijack thread but..

Metalmassfab How much for a stock dimension radiator (3 or 4 core) with inlet an outlet set up for a 5.3/4L60E going in my 69 Suburban? Thanks,

Wait a minute, is this kosher? ahh, blame it on the new guy... with coast-to-coast shipping it would be around $470, with the auto trans cooler, and a nice trim piece across the top. Really the same setup as a $600+ Be-Cool unit. We do mech fan shrouds, and dual electric setups as well. Bad news is that I have not finished the prototype of some killer billet aluminum upper radiator brackets for early Chevy trucks...

[krue]

Ya'll need to either use pm's or the parts board, but since you're both subscribed members I'm not gonna edit it. Please in the future restrict buying/selling to parts board.

[metalmassfab]

Originally Posted by Daniel U

The second pic has some sweet welds! I agree, I have a Griffin alum. 3 row in my 88 IROC and am very happy! I have dual fans that come on at 190 deg. too.

I really cant take credit for those welds! My wife (love that woman!) bought me a new Miller Dynasty 200 DX tig machine. They were designed for aerospace applications, and make unbelievable welds in aluminum. You basically dial in on the machine how you want the weld to look, and start welding! I haven't used my mig welder in months, cant get enough of the new unit!

[metalmassfab]

Originally Posted by krue

Ya'll need to either use pm's or the parts board, but since you're both subscribed members I'm not gonna edit it. Please in the future restrict buying/selling to parts board.

That would be my fault, sorry! I guess my $25 paid off already...

[**grumpy**]

Opps. Sorry metalman, I didn't realize you were a rad. dealer/builder! My bad.

As for the Summit rads., Mine wasn't ugly like that at all, and neither were the 3 others that I helped install for friends, but I suppose it's possible.

Anyway, I apoligize if I stepped on any toes. It wasn't my intention.

Take care

[metalmassfab]

Originally Posted by **grumpy**

Opps. Sorry metalman, I didn't realize you were a rad. dealer/builder! My bad.

As for the Summit rads., Mine wasn't ugly like that at all, and neither were the 3 others that I helped install for friends, but I suppose it's possible.

Anyway, I apoligize if I stepped on any toes. It wasn't my intention.

Take care

No hard feelings! I'm not a radiator dealer or builder by profession, I just enjoy building custom parts for classics. That and I'll do near anything for an excuse use the new welder! Thats wierd about the Summit radiators. I switched to the other two places mentioned before because every radiator they sent was really ugly, one was twisted 2 1/4" out of flat even. Anyway, I was out of line to begin with

[5Mike7]

In my '57, I used a crossflow radiator (4 row) out of dead Class C motorhome, had the lower portion of the tanks cut down to fit...my BBC is a '70 LS5...virtually stock as it came from GM...stays between 160 and 185 idling with a 160 stat.