Ccas

[Ccas]

This post is meant to be read if you have already decided a nice aluminum radiator is the way to go.
We've been a sponsor on these forums for a little over a year now. I'd like to throw our name in there for consideration.

The brands mentioned aren't bad but I think you'll see the Cold Case line is a better value.
ie; KKS is a 3 row non polished brand with hit or miss fitment and with no USA representation other than a warehouse where the radiators are stored.

Engineered Cooling rads (also speedcooling.com) is a decent small outfit featuring dual 1" tubes which is better than 3 small rows like KKS, polished tanks but average fit and finish and their shrouds don't fit the radiator nearly as good as ours. Pricing is ok. Suction affect is very important for 'stuck in traffic' driving.

Champion Radiators is a decent quality box welded radiator. However, their 2 and 3 row radiators are inadequate for many higher performance v8's in cars today. You need to go to their 4 radiator for best cooling and that still isn't as good as 2 big rows. Their units are all also fabricated tanks which do not resemble original at all. Fitment is semi-OEM. Because of the fab'd tanks, modifications are often needed for fitment.
You can also pick from an almost unlimited amount of no name brands off ebay. These are all no name for a reason. Usually a warehouse with a couple of guys that bring in a container of brown box no name radiators.

Cold Case features 2 1 1/4" rows only found on top brands selling for $700+, polished stamped tanks, guaranteed OEM direct fit, 60 day cool guarantee, lifetime warranty, made by the same company that brought you Pypes Exhaust. We're located in Hatfield PA and employ more than 35 people. Retail price point around $300 depending on the model.

shoot me a PM for possible special forums pricing.

[Ccas]

Originally Posted by weq92f

I'm all for plugging board sponsors and such but, in support of others, I must say that my Champion 3-Row is looking The Business up next to what it is replacing here in my world. I bought the CC369 with fans. This all aluminum piece of kit is welded, polished aluminum boxes that look very nice. It test fitted nicely down into the factory lower perches and the factory upper mounts fit down on the welds just fine! It's definitely not exactly just like the stock 4 row BB radiator, but it will fit in there no problem. Once I have it all together, I have no doubt it will cool the BB.

Pics available...

-klb

I didn't mean to disrespect the 3 row or Champion all together. I was mostly targeting the 2 rows they make. They are really inadequate for any classic V8. The hp ranges they use are ridiculous. The 3 row may work fine for you. Just saying to all that a large 2 row will outperform a small 3 row. It's just a matter of volume. Big 2 row, holds more fluid. And you are correct, it may cool your car just fine but I have replaced at least several 3 row aluminum rads with noticeable improved results. Again, it's a matter of many factors and sometimes the 3 row can fall short. That's why Champion makes their 4 row.

And for fitment, that's hit or miss also. Yours seemed to fit relatively painlessly but Champion makes a 64-67 Chevelle and a 64-67 GTO radiator but originally there was a 64-65 and 66-67 models that were quite different. Also because the tanks being box welded instead of stamped like originals, any models that use saddle mounts are going to require at least the insulators to be modified.

A lot of this may seem nit picky but for some it's important. I'm just trying to get all the plus's and minus's out there for all to consider. Hope we're ok.

[Ccas]

Originally Posted by In The Ten Ring

I guess he can't direct me......

Sorry, I totally missed the last thing you asked. I guess I got distracted by the entertainment value of the rest of your post.

US Radiator and Spectra Premium are two off hand that I can think of. Although Spectra Premium may also have a factory in Canada?