New Radiator options??
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Elder User
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New Radiator options??
I need to buy a new radiator and I found the cheapest prices from RockAuto.com but they have two styles one regular for $136 or one with a copper brass core for $163. Do I really need one with a copper brass core? Truck is a 79 sb with a 302 no air. I was going to have mine boiled out but they want $85 and I have a few spots where the fins are bashed in so for a few more $ I can have a new one...
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,948
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What else would the core be made from if it was not copper and brass?
Is there another material other than aluminum that a radiator could be constructed from?
I believe that you are shopping similar radiators, and perhaps one is for an auto and has a built in trans cooler, and the other does not, or you might be looking at simply different manufacturers.
You could also note the amount of rows that easch unit has.
Beware the "made in china" radiator.
Is there another material other than aluminum that a radiator could be constructed from?
I believe that you are shopping similar radiators, and perhaps one is for an auto and has a built in trans cooler, and the other does not, or you might be looking at simply different manufacturers.
You could also note the amount of rows that easch unit has.
Beware the "made in china" radiator.
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 557
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What else would the core be made from if it was not copper and brass?
Is there another material other than aluminum that a radiator could be constructed from?
I believe that you are shopping similar radiators, and perhaps one is for an auto and has a built in trans cooler, and the other does not, or you might be looking at simply different manufacturers.
You could also note the amount of rows that easch unit has.
Beware the "made in china" radiator.
Is there another material other than aluminum that a radiator could be constructed from?
I believe that you are shopping similar radiators, and perhaps one is for an auto and has a built in trans cooler, and the other does not, or you might be looking at simply different manufacturers.
You could also note the amount of rows that easch unit has.
Beware the "made in china" radiator.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,948
Likes: 44
I can appreciate a late model aluminum radiator. I run an aluminum cross flow in my 74 truck.
Thats why I asked other than aluminum, what other option were there.
Brass and copper radiators, and aluminum radiators. Aluminum can have plastic tanks, and can also have aluminum tanks. Thats about the only options.
Thats why I asked other than aluminum, what other option were there.
Brass and copper radiators, and aluminum radiators. Aluminum can have plastic tanks, and can also have aluminum tanks. Thats about the only options.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,312
Likes: 1
From: Eldorado Ca. USA
Aluminum transfers heat better than brass/copper. More than likely the big difference between the two listed radiators is the number of rows the core has. For the sake of doing it right the first time, make sure you get one with at least 3 rows. The supercooling package radiators (the ones with the large tank on the top) have provisions for 4 rows in the core, however I have only seen 3 being used. Have you looked into getting your existing radiator rodded out, or a new core soldered in? An aluminum radiator for a 73-79 is going to be expensive, assuming you can find one that is "bolt in." Another thing to consider is this, if you upgrade to a larger radiator, your existing fan shroud might not work.
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Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,312
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From: Eldorado Ca. USA
Ok, I just looked it up, and looked at the pictures of the radiators.
Here is the $136 one. It is clearly an aluminum one.
Here is the $163 one.
I did not know there was an aluminum/plastic radiator available for our trucks...
Here is the $136 one. It is clearly an aluminum one.
Here is the $163 one.
I did not know there was an aluminum/plastic radiator available for our trucks...
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Kasson, Minnesota
I bought one of those aluminum radiators as shown in the pic. I thought it was supposed to be a universal front or rear flange mount radiator and it wasn't. I made it work though for a rear mount application without too much trouble. I'm still wondering how it will cool with my 460 (521), but so far running 20 minutes or so at an idle it kept the motor cool. We'll see when it's 90 degrees outside and with the A/C on.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 534
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From: Northern Minnesota
yes they suck, they are direct bolt in in my friends case, but he went through three of them before autovalue just gave him a brass/copper one. What was happening is on really cold nights, say 0* F the gasket between the tanks and the core shrinks up and in the morning you have a couple gallons of antifreeze running down the driveway, obviously if you live a little south of MN then this may never bother you a bit.
More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 555
Likes: 2
From: Washington state
Stay away from Aluminum/plastic tanked Radiators. The Tanks are crimped on and suck. Usually Copper/brass radiators have metal tanks and they are brazed/soldered on, much more durable. $30 more for a all metal rad. is money well spent. Also if you toast a tank or core it can be fixed. I have a '77 Bonniville back in 1990 and I had the core go south, and it cost me $80 to get a new core put in and they guy that did it up-graded it to a three row core. That was much cheaper than the $200+ that was the option of getting a whole new one.
That and Copper Brass is a more Noble metal than aluminum IIRC, they won't tend to scale up as much or at all than aluminum.
That and Copper Brass is a more Noble metal than aluminum IIRC, they won't tend to scale up as much or at all than aluminum.