Direct Replacement Aluminum Radiator

I've been looking for a drop in aluminum radiator that's reasonably priced for a while. Anybody tried one of these?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33602&item=2444932044

 

Sure looks nice.... I think I told my wife I would not spend any money for a couple of months though.... Hmm.. maybe she wasn't listening...

Looks like this guy is out of the twin cities area, I know we have some board members up there... Anyone know anything about this guy or his radiators?

 

Yep..... got that one in my car.

it doesn't quite fit. The cover isn't quite long enough and needs to be lengthend. You also need to drill new holes in the coar support so the rubber bussings are resting on the tanks of the rad. Other than that, nothing really has to be cut. I'll try and sneek out to the shop tomorrow to post a pic.

 

yup...

I have that very radiator in my 72 ragtop...I didn't have to modify anything at all, just trimmed up the top rubber isolators a bit. It is VERY effective.

This is not the best picture, but it is all I have on my hard drive.

 

If you notice, on the passinger side of the cover, the rubber insulator is on the core and not the tank. That is what I ment by needing to extend the cover plate. Let the core take the shock will shorten the life of the radiator...........

If you didn't relocat the ruber mounts on the core support, more than likely it's resting on the core of the radator as well......... I'd move them and let it rest on the tanks as it was designed to do...... just my .02

 

Try Ron Davis Racing Radiators

Ron Davis Racing Radiators supply to T/A Performance. Now here is a little secret.....sh....:Brow:

Call Ron Davis (check the phone on the website) directly and ask for a quote on a 70 Chevelle radiator. According to my bill this is what they shipped me for $318. But when I ordered I asked for a no tranny cooler 70 Buick GS radiator and was quoted around $450.

I think it is the same exact radiator. I had somewhat recently destroyed (catastrophic waterpump explosion) another one of their radiators that I ordered from T/A for the Buick. It is a no-problem drop-in.

My theories: They are the same radiator but Buicks don't get the brand X pricing, or they simply made a lucky mistake for me.

If you want I'll check the paperwork for a part number; pretty sure I already did this.

 

Well now I'm on the fence, found brand new 4 core Modines for $123 on ebay also.
Aluminum is cool, just not sure it's $200 cooler than copper

 

Wow...thanks for the info Rich

Thanks Rich, I wasn't aware that it mattered if the rubbers were on the tank or on the core itself. Maybe I need to re-engineer my mounting a bit.:TU:

 

Re: Wow...thanks for the info Rich

No Problem :beer

 

Rich,
How did you "extend" your cover? Do you think going the aluminum route was worth the extra cash?

 

Hi Len,

I haven't yet extended the cover........ My plans are to streach the original cover to make it 1 1/2 inches longer. Using another cover, it should be fairly simple...... uzzled:

I was running a moldine 4 core before the alum...... Don't get me wrong it was a good radiator, however, with electric fans you need every benifit you can get. The Alum droped my temp in the 100+ temps from running 210 to running 195..... That's big in my book. So for me, yes it was worth it. If your running a stock clutch fan, it's probably not..........

 

And my radiator keeps things down right chilly.

 

I'm running the new flexalite 295 setup, dual 13.5" fans, molded shroud, variable speed etc... it huffs a tremendous amount of air if I dial the thermostat down on it I can make it run just about whatever I want, currently have a Modine 365 "big tank" 4core, car stays plenty cool but I just poked a hole in it and normally would just get it fixed, but it's about 5 years old and so I'm on the fence.

 

Hey Len,

If you were pleased with the copper, I'd stay that route for the price differance...... the only other advantage is the alum one is about 5lbs lighter.......... I'd spend the 200 bucks elsewhere if it was cooling that well in the heat with your old copper one.

 

Ron Davis Racing Radiators update:
Phone number: 623-877-5000

Beautifully fabricated aluminum - show quality tanks with a modicum of elbow grease

Item# 1-16CL6877
Description: 68-77 Chevelle type radiator (no tranny cooler)
Price: $318.75
Shipping: $12.43

Absolutely direct fit into '70 Buick GS: Priceless

http://www.rondavisradiators.com

 

"*" below denotes "universal-fit" types, however, most can supply direct fit for additional $$:

Griffin1.25 $295 55272 summitracing.com *
RonDavis $219 rondavisradiators.com *
RodneyRed $435 rodneyred.com *
Summit $180 380331 summitracing.com *
BeCool $290 65003 summitracing.com *
Howe $200 342E summitracing.com *
GDI3VX $350 local
AFCO $170 80102N ebay.com *
Griffin1.0 $190 25272 summitracing.com *
5HER $350 local
PRC $325 100021 streetrodstuff.com
3X2K $361 1R2332 carparts.com
AC20778 $187 (52479539) gmpartsdirect.com
4HER $240 43-6015 autozone.com
4STD $216 1R365 carparts.com

Note that the PRC from streetrodstuff.com is a custom, direct fit.

 

Does anyone know if those 70 radiators will also fit a '69? If not, what should I use for my 69? Why are the aluminum radiators better than the copper types? Copper is actually a better conductor. o No:

 

I believe the '69 Radiator core support is slightle smaller than '70-72 but Im not 100%.

There are several guys on the board who have '69s disassembled - start a post specifically asking for measurements.

The reason I say this is back when I got my car 10 years ago, one of the first things Idid was replace the radiator. On-Site I test fit several and remember a 3-core (copper) being the only one that fit o No: o No: But that was a long time ago and I partied hard in College (Yeah.....thats my excuse and Im sticking to it !!)

 

Alan's right, the 4 core's don't "fit" but some light notching to the upper end of the core support (can't be seen when the upper mounts and cover are installed) and they will fit well. If you don't have a problem with a little modification it's fine, if you want a drop in, no mods replacement, then stick with the three core.