Well guys the testing of the Flex-a-lite fans/SD radiator on my OBS continues. Was doing some towing (~13k gross) last weekend and one of the plastic end caps on the SD radiator cracked open. I made it back home and been running it all week this way with just some plastic epoxy on the crack without too much trouble, but in my searches for a new radiator I got ahold of this.



It's a stock replacement for the Super Duty, but it has aluminum end caps rather than the plastic junk. We'll see how well this one works. I found it on Ebay for around $260 and I believe the brand name is Silla or something like that. If this one doesn't work out, I know there are some nicer aluminum replacement units out there, but at a not so nice price. I did a price check on an OEM radiator from Ford and they are ~$315. Just thought I'd share. So far the fans have proven to work well up until the radiator let go. LOL.

 

Good deal. I'm almost afraid I'm going to have to switch to this style of system. =\

I think jesse offered to give me his though.
I should go get it.

 

Prrrrrrety

 

I think it's gonna look good with the pretty aluminum electric fans and the pretty DI intercooler.

 

Are you still running the low opening thermostat? I'm guessing it's not temperature related, but what temps did you max out at while towing?

All the plastic crap under my hood scares the heck out of me. I've usually got 2nd thoughts about touching anything for fear of breaking something. (It's happened before)

And not that I'm not the trusting kind or anything, but do you have any plans for a leak test on the new radiator before you put it in? I've always been scared of fleabay. Purty and functional aren't always the same thing.

 

I also got a all aluminum one after I took a bath in coolant while under the truck. Chris is 100 % correct about touching any plastic. Sooo, Travis, how was the EGT's and temp's?

 

I didn't have any plans for a leak test really. I've got some friends running these on other makes and models that are fine. I'll chance it. Im also still running a 195* t-stat. I'll be switching to the 180* once we see some 100* weather so I can test with a 195* at those temps.

As far as temp goes it was staying around 208* water temp and 205* oil temp until the radiator popped when I was cruising. Catching some hills on back roads and having to work it a little I saw oil temp get up to 209* at one point and water got to 210*. I think that's as high as it got til the radiator blew. After the radiator went i noticed the oil and water temp on the SG got to 218*, so i pulled over and found the blown end cap.

The hottest my EGTs got was 1100* and sustained for maybe 10 seconds at that temp pulling a decent hill at 65mph in my tow tune. Just for grins I kicked it into my race tune and went WOT from a stop to 60mph and saw 1400*.

 

I'm running no Fan anymore and only seeing 208 to 210 with a leaking radiator.

These trucks cool so awesome.

 

Glenn who makes a stock aluminum radiator!

 

I remember seeing an aluminum replacement radiator for our trucks on Ebay, same brand as mine. Search Silla radiator.

 

Ok thank you i will look for it.

 

You guys speak poorly of plastic, but the plastic components on my truck are the only parts that aren't corroded.

 

For 96-97

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewi...id=61319208406

 

Thanks mike. I called silla up and that was the number they gave me. (my phone wouldnt let me look at the discrition of items). They told me 130 bucks and the one with plastic tanks was 160 i think. I thought that was wired. I forgot to ask bout shiping though. Seem like a good deal.

 

Gabe, I'm glad these guys are getting you lined up. When mine went to crap my nephew got me one. He rebuilds vehicles that the insurance company totaled for a living. I don't know where he got it.