Source for copper/brass core Radiator????

[tucsonjwt]

I am not advocating Ready Rad. I only bought a Ready Rad because I needed one the same day my radiator blew and I am cheap so I did not want to spend a lot of money on my old truck. I always use OEM Delco or GM when the parts are available and have time to wait for them, unless the price is ridiculos high. I can't remember the model number but it was the one they had in their catalog for an 83 C20 454 manual trans, you can check for 3.125"
thick specification.
I did have to take the Ready Rad out and take it to a local radiator shop to repair a very small leak (about $40 repair), so that argues for a better quality radiator. I think I paid about $125 total for the Ready Rad, so add $40 for a repair and I would say the real cost is $165.
I think quality control is lacking on all parts, but I think OEM is always a better bet - but I have had trouble occasionally with Delco parts.
So, price OEM radiator online if you have time to wait. If it is about $200 or less, then go with OEM. If it is like $400- forget it - Ready Rad will do the job.
The radiator I replaced in my truck was the exact same Ready Rad that I installed - it was beyond repair after probably 15+ years of use. It was worth about $125 for my purposes.
If you are towing or hauling or have a mega horse street rod the you need a custom radiator, and I have heard Griffin or Be Cool are good brands.
I had an aluminum radiator (factory) in my 63 Corvette SWC 327/300 hp when I was a teenager. It did cool well. In a small engine compartment you need a superior radiator and that aluminum radiator barely fit in that small space. A big monster engine crammed in a street rod has the same problem.
Corvettes with 396 or 427 engines have big overheating problems. Those guys use extra cooling fans and other tricks to keep the temps down, but I have read that keeping that rat motor cool is a big challenge, espcecially when they are cruising around at slow speeds and showing off.
I may be wrong but I don't think the average radiator repair shop is skilled in aluminum radiator repair. When my Corvette radiator needed repair I just got blank stares from the local radiator shop (return overflow nipple broke off when the hood hit it - factory defect later corrected by shaving down a rivet holding the "cookie tin" trim plate on the hood.) So, a buddy of mine got a brass elbow and some perrmagasket to do the fix. Crude repair and it wouldn't pass NCRS inspection, but it worked. I like simple and cheap, so I would avoid the pricey aluminum radiators, but each to his or her own.