I tried the search and couldnt find the thread i was looking for it was about aluminum radiators and in it someone told where to buy an aluminum radiator direct from SOMEONE i cant remember whom. but i believe it was a brand name radiator and i believe the price was around $395. any help would be greatly appreciated Thanks,
Shawn, BadBrad posted this about his radiator. Is this what your thinking of? "I have a Ron Davis Racing Radiator part number 1-16CL6877 (description -68-77 Chevelle type radiator) with no tranny cooler. It is 2 core aluminum and keeps the temp down to one or two hatch marks on my guage when rolling on a 100 degree day. This is a totally drop in radiator - absolutely NO fabrication. Cost $331 with shipping in May '03. And the tanks are fabulous looking - I still drool on them. The phone number is 623-877-5000. They're also on the web. __________________ BadBrad http://www.rondavisradiators.com/radgallery.htm
The P/N is 11-16CL6877. Added a 1. You would have found it, just a minor correction. Going to see if they have one without the electric fans. Thanks.
type # tubes tube length" tube-ins FTR index Griffin 78 1.25 97.5 .95 92.6 $295 univ. 55272 summitracing.com Rac-rad.com 86 1.0 86 .94 80.8 $170 univ. race-pro ebay, racing-radiators.com Summit 86 1.0 86 .94 80.8 $180 univ. 380331 summitracing.com RonDavis 86 1.0 86 .94 80.8 $219 univ. rondavisradiators.com RodneyRed 86 1.0 86 .94 80.8 $435 cust. rodneyred.com AFCO 82 1.0 82 .94 77.1 $170 univ. 80102N ebay Howe 82 1.0 82 .94 77.1 $200 univ. 342E summitracing.com Radac 82 1.0 82 .94 77.1 $280 univ. www.radac.com Rac-rad.com 82 1.0 82 .94 77.1 $280 cust. all-pro ebay, racing-radiators.com BeCool 82 1.0 82 .94 77.1 $290 univ. 65003 summitracing.com PRC 82 1.0 82 .94 77.1 $325 cust. 100021 streetrodstuff.com Griffin 78 1.0 78 .94 73.3 $190 univ. 25272 summitracing.com
Can anyone tell me if you need to do anything special to run an aluminum radiator? Any special additives? I need a radiator and it might be worth saving some weight... Thanks! -Paul
Nothing special. As long as you run some kind of anti corrosive. Anti-Freeze and water, or all water and a bottle of Red Line Water Wetter(or equivalent) Yes there is weight savings, but that's not why I run an Aluminum radiator. Brass copper is relatively soft, which limits the size of the tubes to 5/8". Any bigger and they would expand from the pressure. Aluminum is stiffer, the tubes can be up to 1 1/2" long. More tube to fin contact means an aluminum radiator cools much better. Aluminum radiators are 1 or 2 rows, and can cool as well as a much bigger brass copper radiator. Griffin told me my 2 row, 1 1/4" radiator would cool as well as a 7 row brass-copper, if there was such a thing.
The one in my racecar came from Speedway motors. Smaller one for the earlier body style. Cost me $159.00, 2 core, 1" tubes, NEVER and issue. Tanks do NOT have provisions for a cooler though. You have to run a seperate one.
Get grounded!! There is one thing "special" to do with an aluminum radiator. Ground it to your chassis. That was an instruction I received from the Ron Davis folks. Since then I've noticed that all my modern rides have their aluminum rads grounded.
Direct bolt in? Have any of you guys bought one(70GS455) with the transmission cooler that is a direct bolt on. I would prefer not to monkey up the transmission lines if possible. Bert
My Griffin was built specifically for my 70 GS. It was 529.00 to my door 5 years ago. Probably more now. Dropped right in. Even painted the end tanks barbecue black. Now I have to point it out to most people.
That is awesome info! So are we saying that, for example, that the last # listed - the Griffin, will fit no prob? I have been guessing all along that there were a good number of Alum. Rads. that would fit our cars easily..
I'm assuming that as long as the dimensions are right (length, width, measurement of core, etc), I should be able to get one for my application? I'm running a 4-core brass/copper unit and it needs to be replaced. I'm seriously considering an aluminum unit. -Paul
The radiators listed will be "cust." (custom) or "univ." (universal). The custom ones will fit with no issues. Some of the universal ones will have some issues, do some research on the model you're interested in beforehand.
reply.... I called Ron Davis and was inquiring about the radiator that Brad was talking about.....They quouted me $878.25 plus shipping.......just something to think about for those of you that were considering going that way......
reply I have been looking at a lot of info here, and Im just wondering if I could get some feedback on this. The summit 380331 and the Rond Davis universal fit radiator as well as the griffen 55272-x all seem to be comparable. Unless I got some misinformation, the Ron davis model seems to be 3 times the price, with no apparant difference. For those of you out there running some of these models, are there any drawbacks or bonus features? Also it seems to me that the griffen and the summit model look exactly like the stock units, only they are alluminum, but the ron davis model actually LOOKS like a race radiator. I was looking for something that does its job well, but also looks custom to follow form with the rest of my car. :rant: and also im still angry that Brad mentions in his post that he paid around $300 for his Ron Davis radiator in 03 and when I call them, they say its almost $900 now.....if aluminum costs that much maybe I'll quit my job and start recycling cans.... o No:
Here's one more option to consider that has come about recently. The Chevelle guys seem to be pleased with it: http://www.chevellecooling.com/ HTH.
reply Here is some FYI for those of you lost in the confusion of buying a radiator.... I called Griffin directly today and spoke to a really nice girl who really knew her stuff and here is what I learned..... 1) Griffin does sell to the general public.....( and seems to be cheaper than anyone else) 2) She said for a car putting out around 600hp....I should be considering one of their 2 row 1.5in models.....they are out of stock, but jegs has them...$407. Thats a 34 x 19 x 3.5 radiator...damn thats a lot of cooling :shock: 3) She said that they dont recomend stock style fans, and they suggest a 2300 cfm fan...and they sell them for $265 with the shroud Summit and jegs both sell their house brand radiators, and jegs even sells a kit with a shorud, elec fan, catch can and relay for $400 bucks or so.... Also I have noticed that most of these companies sell a replacement radiator, and a universal fit radiator as most of you have pointed out...what i didnt get is that the universal fit radiators have the same cooling specs and are usually hundreds of dollars less, but they jut dont "look" like the stock models... On that note, Ron Davis makes the chevelle replacement ( 11-16CL6877 ) but also makes a similiar universal fit model ( 1A-31193 ) I am going to call them and see what the difference is and what it costs....
