Aluminum radiators

[Rods57]

Hey there, whats your opinions on aluminum radiators? have an original for my 57 but its old and needs rebuilt, could get a new aluminum one for 300 but wanted some people who have done both to chim in? let the comments role oh gods of old trucks!!!!

[parkwood]

This Aluminum Radiator cools this zz4 350 great even with A/C..

[av8tr33337]

Originally Posted by parkwood

This Aluminum Radiator cools this zz4 350 great even with A/C..

Would you happen to know the manufacturer or part number???
I'm going to be needing one in the near future. About how much did it set you back???

Thanks in advance

[parkwood]

Originally Posted by av8tr33337

Would you happen to know the manufacturer or part number???
I'm going to be needing one in the near future. About how much did it set you back???

Thanks in advance

I don't have it with me right now but i'll try and get it for you.. as for the price it was some where around $700 but that was with the a/c condenser

[DransportGarage]

Here's a 3-row aluminum unit on Ebay for $199, free shipping. Don't know about the quality, but for that price it might be worth a try. Maybe someone here knows something about CX Racing radiators.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CXRacing-Che...8d77d1&vxp=mtr

[parkwood]

Originally Posted by DransportGarage

Here's a 3-row aluminum unit on Ebay for $199, free shipping. Don't know about the quality, but for that price it might be worth a try. Maybe someone here knows something about CX Racing radiators.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CXRacing-Che...8d77d1&vxp=mtr

That's the starting bid, what is the real price?

[DransportGarage]

Originally Posted by parkwood

That's the starting bid, what is the real price?

Here's the same radiator with a $199 "Buy It Now" price, free shipping.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CXRacing-195...4ee225&vxp=mtr

[parkwood]

Originally Posted by DransportGarage

That's a "Buy It Now" price.

If what they say about it is true and if it's a true bolt in, buy it that's a good price..

[parkwood]

I just went to their web site and the buy now price is $220 which is still a good price..

[DransportGarage]

Hmmm... I click my link (above) and it's $199 thru ETD Motors.

[FRED 53]

I get mine from Radiators 4 Less-- I use the 3-row with 16'' electric fan-- they are SUPER and great people-- $250.00-- Free shipping-- call Rick--
800 614-9773-- mine run 190 degrees in the heat all day long--just installed one in a project build--- NO PROBLEMS-- good luck

[Russell Ashley]

I got mine at the local antique Chevy parts store. I don't know what brand it is but it looks good. He sells mostly car parts so I don't know if this would fit a 57 car but it has two sets of mounting holes and tabs to attach a shroud. I wanted the formed tank instead of the welded style. It cost me $300 and I might could have gotten it cheaper on EBay but this way I could see it before I paid for it.

[justplainray]

I installed an OEM type radiator from Classic Parts of America.
This one to be exact. http://www.classicparts.com/1955-59-...ctinfo/78-313/
cools my 400 small block with A/C no problem.
17" clutch fan with shroud
justplainray

[DransportGarage]

I'll add that I did buy a Champion radiator ($219) for my '55 Chev last year, but it had quite a few scratches up near the top and the welds were a little ugly. It's installed but not used yet.

It fit "OK", but they had moved the cap over 2" to the passenger side, so my chrome cover would no longer fit.

If you need "pretty" I'd stay away from the $200-$249 ones unless you hear otherwise from others on the board.

Parkwood and Russell, those appear to be some fine looking units compared to the Champion in my sedan.

Bob

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by DransportGarage

Here's a 3-row aluminum unit on Ebay for $199, free shipping. Don't know about the quality, but for that price it might be worth a try. Maybe someone here knows something about CX Racing radiators.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CXRacing-Che...8d77d1&vxp=mtr

I bought that radiator for my '55.2 and took it back. It is a Chinese made piece - not that that disqualified it to me overall - but it had a tiny fill spout/cap - Honda Civic sized my shop said.

I picked it up at the warehouse in El Monte, CA (If I remember correctly) They were selling all sorts of cheap stuff from China out of there. YMMV, but I'd recommend going elsewhere.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by justplainray

I installed an OEM type radiator from Classic Parts of America.
This one to be exact. http://www.classicparts.com/1955-59-...ctinfo/78-313/
cools my 400 small block with A/C no problem.
17" clutch fan with shroud
justplainray

CRAP! After the debacle of the CXR Chinese made aluminum false start I posted about, I just had my old one recored. In terms of function, it came out great BUT my top tank was all dented up and I asked them to repair that. It didn't come out smooth and though it works fine it bugs the schit outta me everytime I open the hood. PLUS, it cost me the same as yours Ray!

[DransportGarage]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

I bought that radiator for my '55.2 and took it back. It is a Chinese made piece - not that that disqualified it to me overall - but it had a tiny fill spout/cap - Honda Civic sized my shop said.

I picked it up at the warehouse in El Monte, CA (If I remember correctly) They were selling all sorts of cheap stuff from China out of there. YMMV, but I'd recommend going elsewhere.

There you go. I suppose you get what you pay for...

[Kim57]

Has anyone used these guys. They make a cross flow as well as a replacement for our trucks.
You can get aluminum or copper/brass.
More than the $250 but they look nice.
Kim
http://www.usradiator.com/radiators/...k.html?cat=647

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by DransportGarage

There you go. I suppose you get what you pay for...

DAMNIT, I wish that weren't true!

[Dan in Pasadena]

Kim,
Whew that's pricey BUT it looks like a nice piece with the top and bottom plates to give it a finished appearance and some decent instructions. I've read good things about U.S. Radiator but have no personal experience with them.

[candyx]

Originally Posted by parkwood

This Aluminum Radiator cools this zz4 350 great even with A/C..

Wow nice project ,radiator looks good very clean engine compartment.Do you have link to your build with other photos?

[Russell Ashley]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

CRAP! After the debacle of the CXR Chinese made aluminum false start I posted about, I just had my old one recored. In terms of function, it came out great BUT my top tank was all dented up and I asked them to repair that. It didn't come out smooth and though it works fine it bugs the schit outta me everytime I open the hood. PLUS, it cost me the same as yours Ray!

Dan, I feel your pain about the dented top. My original radiator didn't leak and cooled the engine fine, but the top tank was dented. The dents bugged me and I knew I would never be satisfied with it, so I just bought the new one.

[fabguy]

I need a new radiator for my 58 fleetside, will the aluminum stock looking ones do the job? I will be running either a tune port 350, or a mildly built 327 (not sure which yet) and A/C.
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[Dan in Pasadena]

fab guy , Pretty sure that Al one will cool it fine.

Russell, Yeah I'm SO tempted to buy one like yours and just put my shroud on it but I can't justify the expense when there's so many other things on the truck I could get done for the $400. I know I WILL eventually swap the radiator out for a nicer appearing one though.
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[Coupeguy2001]

I was trying to out do some guy in a 57 corvette, and nailed it. Apparently, my bellhousing crossmember bolts had fallen out somewhere between california and Arizona. I usually never tightened hem up too much because of the vibration and they worked loose. When I nailed it, the tail of the trans came up, and the tips of the fan tore through my almost new 4 core radiator.
In AZ there is a radiator manufacturer. The place is Ron Davis Racing.
They had never made a radiator for a 55-59 chevy truck before, so they asked if I could lend them my original radiator for a pattern.
They made me one, and what a difference!
Before, had a 160 thermostat, 6 bladed fan, and I could always tell when the thermostat opened, the temp stabilized at around the left edge of the white line, and in about 5 or 6 minutes later, the temp moved up to a third of the way across the white line.
When put the aluminum radiator in, the temp alwys stayed at the left edge of the white line, unless I was in stop and go traffic, and then the temp moved to half way. When moving again, it would go back to the left.

Remember, I am in Arizona where the temp in the summer is usually 112 degrees. The temp gauge is always at the left edge of the white line, and when I subframed the truck this summer, I elected to not put the fan back on the water pump, and I installed an electric fan.
I tied the electric fan to a switch, a temp sensor, and the brake pedal with a kill switch.
The only time with the kill switch on that the fan has come on was when there was an accident on the freeway, and there was 4 miles of crawl speed.
Other than that, the fan never comes on unless I turn it on.

From all that, I would deduct that the aluminum radiator dissipates heat much better than the copper brass ones, and recovers to normal operating temp much faster.
Other than that, there is less vibration, and better gas mileage, and less noise without the fan running all the time.

Mine was $500 14 years ago, it is still on the truck, and they are $650 now. But you get the drift.
If you get an aluminum one, be sure to add a ground strap from the radiator to the frame or the engine. It stops electrolysis.