Got tired of the borderline heat probelms with my GS. The old combo would get 210+++ on a hot day and the new AM+P engine (546hp) was doing that on reasonable days. Was hoping to find one of the generic fit radiators for a good price but I wasn't willing to hack the install or stretch the hose ends to fit the Chevelle size hose barbs. Also with the modern OEM style radiators with plastic tanks I could only find units with one row of 40-41 1" tubes. Not really any better than the 4 core brass/copper I had.... So in the realm of custom fit radiators I researched: #1 Ron Davis unit from TA, close, but decided against it. Not sure why the Ron Davis web site says no epoxy yet there was just a message posted about a TA radiator with a leak due to epoxy failure after just 2 years... o No: Trying to buy the Ron Davis direct had about a month lead and cost more than the same unit from TA. #2. Someone posted that though the Be-Cool is supposed to be a direct drop in it was not and that at least one of the hose barbs was too big. 3. I think it's Larry "the Wizard" that has a Griffen but it's a custom and the person I spoke to on the phone seemed clueless. 4 http://www.chevellecooling.com/59.html?sm=16599 Was mentioned in one of the messages I read and, WOW! 2 rows of 41 (82 total) 1" tubes, hydro-formed tanks (they look like regular radiator end tanks not box fabricated aluminum), and your choice of Chevy (larger) or Olds/Buick (smaller) inlet/outlet hose barbs!!! (no epoxy either) Sooo... $495 later the big-ol' radiator box shows up on by porch. Pulled it out, painted the end tanks and top plate of the radiator black and installed it with ZERO mods in about 20 min. The only things different were the weight was about 1/2, and the new radiator holds about 1 quart more coolant for some reason. Drove it around 90+ degree day on Saturday and the temp. only went a hair over 180 and stayed put all afternoon. That would be at least a 25-30 degree drop. Also the trans cooler in this radiater has the larger early style (you can get either) trans cooler in it. So not only are the nicer water temps cooling the trans fluid better but the trans cooler is about 25% larger. Wish I could have found something in the under $200 zone that would have fit and given me a level of problem solving comfort BUT I was afraid of having to re-sell when I didn't solve my temp. problem. As I get older I'm less willing to do things 2 or 3 times when it seems like it ends up being cheaper to just do it right the first time. BTW the radiators from this place are all American (US) made. regards
$500.00 for a good fitting alum radiator is a deal. whole lot cheaper than a cooked engine. I think I paid 1200.00 for the be cool kit for my 72 GMC.
The Visteon 9641 and 9515 have 82 aluminum tubes that are 1". But they have plastic end tanks. They're $345 and $360 from Advance Auto.
visteon I saw some posts about the visteon radiators but the couple of local parts houses I called seemed to be clueless about getting a visteon radiator and even the online radiator houses were little help. If I had a specific application they could help but otherwise no way to cross reference part numbers. The regional Visteon distributor (Radac) couldn't even tell me specifics about the radiator and they wanted like $450 so I gave up on that path. Saw some mention of this being the radiator in like 89-93 Chevy trucks (something like that) but when I looked those applications up online all I got were single row 41 tubes some with engine oil and trans cooler some trans only. The only 2 row rads I found had dimensions that were WAY off. Have you actually used one of these radiators and if so did it just drop in??? Plastic tanks would have probably been ok with me for $150 less! thanx Ken
I have not used one. The info I have is off the drawings on the website. The drawings show that the upper tube fitting is 1-5/16" which is smaller than stock. That looks to be the only issue other than one of those had the fill neck straight up and down, not angled like stock. From the dimensions, they both look to be the same size as stock, or very close. You can go to Advance Auto's website and search on those 2 part numbers and they will show the drawings. The other manufacturers that I looked at all showed copper/brass for cross references, Visteon was the only one that was aluminum.
Alumitech gets great reviews on the Chevelle board. It is probably the most original looking aluminum unit available. Some other aluminum ones, custom built with no install issues: www.streetrodstuff.com $398 www.rodneyred.com $435 www.rondavisradiators.com $450
just a note On the price of $450 for the Ron Davis above I'm pretty sure that is without trans cooler. I may be wrong though. Seems like they wanted over $500 when I spoke with them. regards
Ken thanks for the good post Its always good to hear sombody appriciates our product ....great results on the 180 degree temps ... I have to tell people to run a 180 stat min... as this unit will motulate a 160 stat .. thats too cold to burn off moisture in the pan . The fact that we use the same G.M style side channels or top and bottom channels as some call them ,and replicate the tanks as closely to the original Harrison rad as we could ...gives this rad a impressive standing in the market Correct fit is the way we build the unit for a easy drop in.. no head ach replacement . about 40 % of out customers paint them black to keep stock looks under the hood thats what the company was built around . all in all we see a 30% increase in cooling over the stock brass copper Harrison rad . :TU:
Hi Ken. Glad to see you jump in here. I'm sure there will be a lot of guys that are interested in your products. Could the GS radiator be built for a manual trans? If so would the cost be less? Thanks
Hi It' Don I build both versions manual or auto trans ... we dont charge extra for auto this keeps the price structure easyer... it all evens out across the board we also build in two versions for lower oulet to the water pump 1.75 inch and 1-9/16 inch .. we dont force anybody to use a rubber sleeve to make up the difference if they had 1.75 outlet .... like most repop rads only come in 1-9/16 and a rubber sleeve custom orders are no problem if you want a sensor bung welded in for a fan kit or something different . thanks again Don
Oops, sorry Don. About the sensor bung. Would putting it in the rad. as opposed to having it in the intake be more or less accurate?
That is correct for Ron Davis. I have the $450.00 radiator for the manual trans. Mine only lasted 2 years and that's with only about 4,000 miles before it sprung leaks all over. grrr. They don't fix them either. Not to happy with there costomer relations. I just ordered Alumitech's radiator and it arrived in only 2 days. It really looks great. It would be nice if they would sell the aluminum fan mount brackets (pictured) seperately for those of us the have fans and no brackets... hint-hint. I guess I'll have to make something up. Mike
Ican put the bung in the hot side tank ... driver side tank below inlet I do this upon request as some folks have used the manifold port already for the gage and dont want to use a port in the head ..due to tanted readings there the read will be accurate in either the manifold or the rad tank . Don
Mike I can sell the 16 inch fan brackets .. as i have them laser cut and then bend them the problem with the 14 inch fans you see pictures is i have to hand fab them up and fit them as a set ...not time friendly ... in the future when these are laser cut it wont be a problem ...sorry about that . I do have a set of simular brackets I can send you there smaller 4 per fan . it was a earlyer design and I decided not to use them ...free bee!!! you pay the shipping ... hows that sound ?? Don
That sounds great Don. I would greatly appreciate that. Do you still need my address? How would you like me to pay for shipping? I have PayPal or you can use my Card that I used for the radiator. Just let me know how much it will be. Thanks; Michael Stertz
That is the only style they sell for our cars Jim. I just got one from them as well. I can live with the slight differences as long as the cooling is sufficient. My car will never be concourse anyway. May try and get it close but will concede somethings for reliability sake.
Jim we do make other models ... Down flow rads as well Give me a call gald to talkt to ya Don 517-404-6262
