New Radiator Time...
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Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 118
Likes: 3
New Radiator Time...
Hello everyone:
My truck is a 1978 F150 Ranger with a 351M , C-6 , as well as A/C . Live in AZ. The truck has a 4 core brass in it now but has decided to pop a seam of course it chooses to do this at the beginning of summer !!!!
Was looking at the Summit 4 core Performance Fit Aluminum Radiator SUM-384025. Has anyone put this in their truck ? Was also going to keep the stock fan with the clutch since it has a 4 core in it now and fits the factory fan easily. Will be calling Summit Monday to talk again with their tech dept. Have heard that the factory fan shroud would fit but might have to modify at the hose areas. With the leaking 4 core brass I am Running a 195 Tstat and the temp never gets past the letter "O" in the word NORMAL. Would prefer not to go to electric fans if absolutely possible - already have the stock- and the electric would be more money and tinkering . lol I know the description on this radiator says that it should be used with electric fans, but have also heard it depends on the vehicle and space behind the radiator. They are running a $25 off code at the moment besides free shipping over $99. Any info on this radiator would be greatly appreciated ... Thank you . Kelly
My truck is a 1978 F150 Ranger with a 351M , C-6 , as well as A/C . Live in AZ. The truck has a 4 core brass in it now but has decided to pop a seam of course it chooses to do this at the beginning of summer !!!!
Was looking at the Summit 4 core Performance Fit Aluminum Radiator SUM-384025. Has anyone put this in their truck ? Was also going to keep the stock fan with the clutch since it has a 4 core in it now and fits the factory fan easily. Will be calling Summit Monday to talk again with their tech dept. Have heard that the factory fan shroud would fit but might have to modify at the hose areas. With the leaking 4 core brass I am Running a 195 Tstat and the temp never gets past the letter "O" in the word NORMAL. Would prefer not to go to electric fans if absolutely possible - already have the stock- and the electric would be more money and tinkering . lol I know the description on this radiator says that it should be used with electric fans, but have also heard it depends on the vehicle and space behind the radiator. They are running a $25 off code at the moment besides free shipping over $99. Any info on this radiator would be greatly appreciated ... Thank you . Kelly
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Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 118
Likes: 3
Forgot to mention this Rad has been out 4 times to be rebuilt in the last 3 years and the owner of the rad shop said tanks are to old to keep a good joint to solder , that was 10 months ago and friend who owns the shop said if it goes then need to put in NEW ... So here we are !! lol
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 26,007
Likes: 575
From: Brentwood,CA
Forgot to mention this Rad has been out 4 times to be rebuilt in the last 3 years and the owner of the rad shop said tanks are to old to keep a good joint to solder , that was 10 months ago and friend who owns the shop said if it goes then need to put in NEW ... So here we are !! lol
Well at least they are telling you the truth, only so many times you can repair them before replacement is needed. Have you looked at the 4 row welded Champion radiators?
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Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 118
Likes: 3
looked at several companies and called champion in Cal. They are mad in China and would prefer not to deal with that if there is a issue with the rad.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 33
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Just had thebrassworks.net work on two high boy radiators. They can make any radiator you want by true craftsman. I highly recommend them.
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Brett Foote
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 26,007
Likes: 575
From: Brentwood,CA
If made in China is a concern then you won't have any options. There is no domestically made radiators for these trucks. Plenty of people running the Champion radiators with no issues. The Summit radiators are the exact same radiator also, with a huge markup and profit margin and also made in China.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 789
Likes: 7
From: Durham, NC
I will send out a warning about the aluminum radiators with plastic sides. None of them are good and they go bad. I have a pile of them. Best bet is to find a descent core and have it redone by a radiator shop.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 5
From: Burlington, WI
I swapped out the 4 core super cooling radiator in my truck for one of those fancy aluminum jobs when mine popped a hole in the core right before a road trip.
That aluminum radiator was nothing but a rip off. The truck ran consistently about 10* hotter (verified with a mechanical gauge, and always smelled like antifreeze even though it didn't leak or burn it. My fan shroud fit on it nicely though, which was surprising.
Had my old brass radiator repaired and I reinstalled it. Will never use another aluminum/plastic radiator again!
That aluminum radiator was nothing but a rip off. The truck ran consistently about 10* hotter (verified with a mechanical gauge, and always smelled like antifreeze even though it didn't leak or burn it. My fan shroud fit on it nicely though, which was surprising.
Had my old brass radiator repaired and I reinstalled it. Will never use another aluminum/plastic radiator again!
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 26,007
Likes: 575
From: Brentwood,CA
I swapped out the 4 core super cooling radiator in my truck for one of those fancy aluminum jobs when mine popped a hole in the core right before a road trip.
That aluminum radiator was nothing but a rip off. The truck ran consistently about 10* hotter (verified with a mechanical gauge, and always smelled like antifreeze even though it didn't leak or burn it. My fan shroud fit on it nicely though, which was surprising.
Had my old brass radiator repaired and I reinstalled it. Will never use another aluminum/plastic radiator again!
That aluminum radiator was nothing but a rip off. The truck ran consistently about 10* hotter (verified with a mechanical gauge, and always smelled like antifreeze even though it didn't leak or burn it. My fan shroud fit on it nicely though, which was surprising.
Had my old brass radiator repaired and I reinstalled it. Will never use another aluminum/plastic radiator again!
Agreed the aluminum with the plastic tanks are terrible, hence why a lot of members here have gone to the welded aluminum radiators from the various manufacturers.
Grumpy goat
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 3,059
Likes: 597
Rebuilding a radiator is an option, if you can find a shop that still does it. But unless you're absolutely destitute, why spend $100+ and end up with a radiator that might be as good as the original.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,276
Likes: 12
From: KY
You can buy an original style but you pay up for it , mine came from here but pricey, but I found a guy on ebay that had bought one and sold it so I got little better deal but its a brass/copper like original and mounts the same , or suppose and looks like it does, haven't installed yet as I my truck is disassembled and doing body work at moment , but the radiator looks great and should be just like original as I did not want aluminum
https://www.radiator.com/#
https://www.radiator.com/#
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Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 118
Likes: 3
Here is an update, The garage talked with the rad. shop and they were able to find a second 4 core Desert Rad. for my truck... The first Desert Rad. was in a 1979 F250 that was in the first bay at the garage when I took my truck in so it has a copper and brass new rad. Same as what was repaired several times. The new rad should run fine for years and a bonus is it can be repaired ! The Summit Rad. SUM-384025 would have bolted up but wouldn't fit the fan shroud - left a large space at the bottom to let air past mech. fan . Wasn't going to change to electric fans so it went back to Summit, got a full refund ( never installed and Summit was great and fast about the return ) The new desert rad. was more $ but it runs exactly the same as the old one .. BEARLY IN THE NORMAL RANGE .... My 78 is happy in the AZ. heat soaking up the sun bring on the 122 deg weather.. On to the next project it needs lol
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