Buick Brethren - I’m in need of a new radiator and was looking at Ron Davis radiators before getting steered to seriously consider TA’s options. I’m looking for an aluminum radiator with two electric fans, and the TA line was recommended. http://www.taperformance.com/proddetail.asp?prod=TA_2054 Anybody running this or have any recommendations for or against? Always appreciate the help! Andrew
American Eagle radiators are good. I have AE161 for my Riv. Aluminum 2 row 1" tubes, correct inlet/outlet sizes and locations for Buicks. Just another option for you.
The Ron Davis rad from TA is better than factory if you have a souped up Buick. The Spal fans are shrouded quite well just very load. You hear the fans first as the car aproaches you then as it goes by you hear the thump of the cam. For all stock motor the 3 row works.
I used a Cold Case radiator in the GS400, with the stock type clutch fan. It installed with very minimum modifications to the car (nothing that can't be reversed to put a stock radiator back in it). So far so good and made a huge difference in the running temperature. To be fair, my stock radiator was in need of replacement. The price was great on it, too.
Not sure, but one phone call would tell you. The important thing with aluminum radiators is to make sure you buy one with NO MORE THAN 1 or 2 rows. If you see a 3 or 4 row aluminum radiator, look somewhere else. The whole purpose for using aluminum is so you can use bigger tubes (1 1/4") for better cooling. The 3 and 4 row aluminum radiators use small tubes, and are actually inferior to an equivalent brass/copper unit. If you want the added complexity of electric fans, your choice, but IMO, a proper stock clutch fan and shroud is more than capable of getting the job done.
I’m uncertain of clearance for a stock clutch/fan/shroud with the turbo intercooler and trans cooler to fit up front still. Car previously had an aluminum RD unit with dual electric fans and reportedly had no issues. Totally appreciate the number of rows to realize aluminum’s bigger tubing, was looking at 2 rows MAX. Yeah, I’ll have to give them a call. Someone mentioned to me once it was RD rads that were being sold through TA - will update all when I learn for certain.
Hey just wanna jump in here cause I infact have one of those radiator from TA. I bought it about 4 years ago and it had a sticker on the upper rad right in the center that confimrs it is a ron davis. I will say it fits perfect and all stock stuff bolts right up as you would hope to expect cept you need a modern rad cap but yes it definitly keeps things cool. I will say if you can find something with similar dimensions and tube count and tube diameter then an aluminum radiator is an aluminum radiator no matter where it comes from I imagine. But again it fits on my pads just right all the shrouding bolts right back up and the transmission hookups go right back in too. I painted the tanks on mine black and doesnt look too out of place. I made some reply posts in a thread a long while ago talking some about my experience which I summed up here but I think I also mentioned I do have the TA upgraded pump too and those 2 combined still let me run a pretty loose clutch fan even with the ac condenser in the front. Note thought I have not fixed my ac yet and this is simply stating there is somthing in front of the radiator. I dont know yet if I would still be good with a ac load at idle.
Thanks for all the info. I did confirm with TA the other day that all (? I believe I heard) of their radiators are hand-made by Ron Davis. Currently 6-8 week lead time once ordered
.030 over '73 455 TA 413 cam Ported 1786 Stage 1 heads and a whole host of other go fast goodies and my "stock" cooling system (180° thermostat, re-cored 3 row Harrison, factory shroud, factory clutch fan and overflow) does the trick on a 90 degree day.
That’s a 10 year old thread. I have a champion in one car. Not impressed. Fits like crap. Buick as a Desert Cooler brass. It’s 20 years old. 4 row. Works as of now. In a warmed up 464.