need help with radiator upgrade?

[HoneyBeeMan68]

So I took my stock radiator in to get looked at and the guy said I would need to get it replaced with a 3 row . The stock one only has 1 in it. so the price out the door would be $448, should I just buy a new cooper/brass one for about the same price? Or get an aluminum for half that price. It would be pairing up with a new blueprint 350 motor. (68 stepside long bed)

[Sheepdip]

You will get several opinions and arguments on brass vs aluminum. My experience is and has been...here in Kalifornia (not sure about Iowa) you cannot get a properly reconditioned brass radiator since they got rid of all the acid tanks, so new is the only good option, and like you say they are expensive.

I personally have been running Champion Aluminum's with electric fans for the last 17 or so years with not a hint of trouble. Just my .02 worth.

[ghackett1]

Originally Posted by HoneyBeeMan68

So I took my stock radiator in to get looked at and the guy said I would need to get it replaced with a 3 row . The stock one only has 1 in it. so the price out the door would be $448, should I just buy a new cooper/brass one for about the same price? Or get an aluminum for half that price. It would be pairing up with a new blueprint 350 motor. (68 stepside long bed)

For what it’s worth my 68 originally had a (2) core radiator, I had it recored to a (3) core, it fit perfectly, kept the same radiator tag and it cost about as much as you were quoted. It’s just a personal choice. Keeps my truck at 180 all day long in South Florida with the original 4 blade fan.

[72SB]

Fewer, but larger, rows are better than more but smaller ones. A 2 row of 1" to 1 1/4".

Look into Cold Case radiators. They are aluminum.

[LS short box]

Not a SBC but on my LS swaps I've used AFCO, Be Cool and Griffin alum radiators with good success. I buy the generic type and the use rubber mounts top and bottom. I fit the largest radiator I can. 16" Spal puller fan. Pic of my 68.