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I've got I believe the larger super cooling radiator on my 79 350 with a 460. I don't have a problem with overheating but up to temp there are a handful of pinholes that seep coolant. There were a few local businesses that repair radiators but aren't in business anymore. Rather than going through the hassle of sending it out somewhere getting it repaired risking it doesn't get fixed I'm just going to replace it with an all aluminum piece. Any good recommendations of a drop in replacement?
Interested to hear what others say as well. Just checked my local supplier-of-things and while they have modern aluminum/plastic radiator replacements for the standard cooling, they still sell the copper/brass for the super cooling setups.
Wasn't looking at the time for a fully welded all aluminum version, but I think that's what most are going with these days.
Also those are usually the best prices it seems (if you go Chinese that is) but very available. There was a thread here just a week or three ago. Should be near the top if you want to go browsing for it.
And if it's like the old days (as opposed to the really old days) then you have to make sure you're getting the correct mounting version. Since Ford used at least two styles of mounts on our trucks, you have to know what you have to get the right thing.
I ordered an ebay special aluminum that was super cooler sized. It works, but isn't the best workmanship. If Champion had listed this one at the time I would have ordered it. I don't know why they don't list it 78-79, but the Champion workmanship is very good on my standard sized F150 radiator. I will likely order from them again on the next project.
That said, because aluminum radiators are not held together with lead, they are thermally more efficient so a standard sized 2 or 3 core aluminum would probably more than enough in a stock application even for a 460 that was towing. Extra cooling capacity never hurts though.
Was just cruising RockAuto.com today and found an aluminum/plastic modern style radiator replacement for the SuperCooling version (looks vary similar too, just with different materials) and even has the correct flanges for my particular truck.
I saw both styles of mounts listed, but more of them are the "wrong" one for my truck.
The part number is even the same as the old industry standard numbering it looks like at "545" which is I think what mine is. Still have one in the box, so easy to verify. More Information for SPECTRA PREMIUM/COOLING DEPOT CU545
Looks like a decent enough deal too. Not as inexpensive as many of the others, but not out of line.
I literally JUST put in a new rad on Sunday. I purchased it from O'Rielly's because one of my good friends is the store manager. Before I bought it I told him that I didn't want some P O S no name plastic radiator. He talked me into it because he said he would price match and it comes with a lifetime warranty. I asked how many thousands of hoops I had to jump through to get the warranty. He said none... I was already an Orewards member.
Murray 433480 Fit perfect, no leaks.
One thing I will say is that I tapped the drain plug hole 1/4 NPT to accept a pepcock to change the fluid easier.
It had a hole where the factory one is but just had a regular screw in plug with some kind of metric thread. I spray antifreeze all over everything when I use those types.
The pepcock I put in is just a cheap Dorman one. It has a small nipple that you can put a piece of hose over. Stick the hose in the bucket and open the valve and everything stays clean!!
Sounds good. Thanks.
I like the modern ones with plastic pet***** that are simple plugs with the easy-to-grab "wings" on them. But only when loosening the "plug" opens up a port to drain the coolant downward through. Sounds like this one is just a plug-in-a-hole, which would definitely be messy.
Ok, gotcha. Good to know. Your idea is still probably better, but at least it's good to know that fewer things will get wet even if you keep the existing setup.
Of course, fewer things is still a mess if you can't aim it!
On the spectre radiator, was it all aluminum or did it have the plastic tanks on it? Need to keep a non EFI 460/C6 cooled thats stuffed in a 26ft class A RV in the southern nevada heat. It overheated back in july when we were driving out here. considering the all aluminum 4 core units with the intent of adding the biggest electric fans I can find. RV has a base weight of around 11,000lbs. Need to know what holds up the best on this
I installed a griffin all aluminum supercooler replacement radiator about 27 months ago. I was happy with it until I found the real source of my coolant leak. When I installed it I bought a sacrificial zinc anode plug. Well I threaded it in by hand without using thread tape and galled the threads. So I sealed it up as best as I could and dealt with a light seep for too long. I recently bought a pressure tester kit and found that the leak was actually in the header to lower tank seam right above the drain plug. So for the last 2 years I thought it was the drain I f-up. But it wasn't. So I called summit and griffin and they both said sorry you are 2 months over the warranty. Grifffin would consider it if I removed and shipped at my cost. Summit offered a 20% discount on another. Kinda tossed on what to do. I poured some aluminum leak sealer in against my will and am hoping it seals up. Otherwise not sure what I will do.
Aluminum does not hold up to roughness like the original copper brass units do but they cool better supposedly.
Ok. Thats what I am concerned about. Can't afford to be broke down in something this big; AAA is a joke! Found out the hard way back in july when I was stuck on the side of the road just west of Las Vegas in 100+ heat.
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