Radiators (continued...)

[Knanthrup]

Hey guys. I know there\'s been lots of radiator threads but I made this one with the intent on narrowing down the best one compared to others. I seem to have had more cooling problems than most other people on this board so I am tired of playing games, I just want to get something that will take care of my cooling problem and be done with it.



Basically I\'m looking at a few different style radiators. I am currently running the 4.3 radiator (aluminum with plastic tanks). I don\'t know the exact dimensions of it, but it\'s something like 16\"x20\" or so, and I believe single 1\" rows. Ok one style I have been looking at is the Corvette rad... which I think a lot of people on this site are using. The problem is, to me it doesn\'t look like the vette rad would offer much better cooling than the 4.3 rad. I need a GOOD improvement over the 4.3 rad given what my temp has been working up to, not just a slight improvement. The nice thing is I can get a used (but solid, non leaking) vette rad for cheap.. probably around $70.



Now my other option, and the one I\'m leaning more towards is going with big all-aluminum racing radiator. The one I have in mind is an AFCO racing rad which has 2 1\" rows, it measures 19\" tall by 27.5\" long and both the core and tanks are aluminum (tanks are welded and sealed on). To me this seems like the ultimate rad, but will most probably require trimming to get it to fit. Also, it\'s quite a bit more expensive, probably about double the vette rad ($140).



Now, should I go with the vette rad and hope that it fixes my problems, or should I go for the AFCO all alumnimum monster rad? I\'d like to save money but I don\'t want to waste money on something that won\'t cool like I want it to. Just for reference, the AFCO is very similar design and make as the Be Cool radiator, except a lot cheaper.



p.s. anyone know the dimensions of the vette rad? Does it really cool better than the 4.3?

[biggins1870]

The vette rad is approx 28\'\' x 17\" with the tanks. And if you decide to go that way let me know... I work for Modine Radiator and I may be able to get you a brand new one at a pretty decent price.



I\'m actually running the 4.3 rad and I\'ve never had a cooling problem. I don\'t remember for sure but I believe the vette rad cools better b/c it has more fins per inch. I may be wrong... I\'ll look at both rads tomorrow when I get back to work and let you know.

[grimpuppy]

If your having that much cooling trouble, the good aftermarket radiators also come in 1.25\" and 1.5\" double row cores. Might be worth looking into. It will be more expensive but a lot better gaurentee that it will solve your problem. Check with Griffin radiators if you decide to check it out. They make great radiators but you pay for them.

[bratass]

Corvette has more fins per inch.Do you have a fan mounted to water pump?Do you have a fan shroud?Do you use a cooling additive?

[Knanthrup]

On 2004-10-31 12:16, bratass wrote:

Corvette has more fins per inch.Do you have a fan mounted to water pump?Do you have a fan shroud?Do you use a cooling additive?



I\'m using the 4.3 radiator with the Taurus fan and shroud (shroud that came with fan). I really don\'t want to use an engine driven fan because I\'m trying to save horsepower here. Good electric fans are supposed to be just as good if not better and the tuarus fan to the best of my knowledge is one of the best ones out there. I have tried cooling additives like water wetter and it really didn\'t help much... maybe 5 degrees or so but she was still too hot. Also I really don\'t want to have to rely on an additive. It seems to me that my 4.3 rad is just too small or doesnt seem to have the cooling power.... she runs almost cool enough at idle but on freeway or going up hills is when it heats up.



This decision is really hard for me but I\'m worried about taking the chance on the vette rad... it seems like the AFCO would be a good one.

Here\'s a link to the one im looknig at (except im not buying it from this source)

http://www.pitstopusa.com/detail.aspx?ID=41985

Here\'s what it looks like

<hr width='200'><img src='images/jpg.gif'>: <a href="http://i5.ebayimg.com/02/i/02/b6/35/75_1_b.JPG" BORDER="0" target=_blank><font size="-2">image will open in new window</font></a><hr width='200'>




I\'m also looking af Griffin\'s, which appears to have the exact same specs and contructions as the AFCO\'s.



I haven\'t seen any 1.25\" or 1.5\" core radiators yet... but if I did find one I really can\'t afford to spend $200+. Man this is such a dilema.





On 2004-10-31 10:28, biggins1870 wrote:

The vette rad is approx 28\'\' x 17\" with the tanks. And if you decide to go that way let me know... I work for Modine Radiator and I may be able to get you a brand new one at a pretty decent price.

&lt;font size=1&gt;[ This message was edited by: biggins1870 on 2004-10-31 10:32 ]&lt;/font&gt;



awesome, any idea on what the price would be?



Bigger is better as far as radiators go right? So I should probably get the largest radiator I can fit? Of course with the exception of weight savings, but these are all aluminum so I\'m not too worried.



Any more suggestions? Opinions? Thx guys

[Knanthrup]

I think this would solve my problem! Haha....



<hr width='200'><img src='images/jpg.gif'>: <a href="http://i7.ebayimg.com/01/i/02/b6/d4/37_1.JPG" BORDER="0" target=_blank><font size="-2">image will open in new window</font></a><hr width='200'>


28\"x21\", (4) 1\" rows, 5 inches thick.



Damn... it would probably even be over kill but $250 isnt a bad price considering they\'re $800 new. It\'s a nascar radiator.

[grimpuppy]

Griffin makes these specificly for an S-10. 2 of them have the 1.25\" rows. I am assuming these are direct replacment. If you go with a Universal one you can get the 1.5\" row. Anyway they probably are not cheap but neither would buying two radiators if the first one didn\'t work.







&lt;font size=1&gt;[ This message was edited by: grimpuppy on 2004-10-31 16:45 ]&lt;/font&gt;

[grimpuppy]

Here is the link to Griffin. Just chose your make model and year of truck.



Griffin Radiators (http://www.griffinrad.com/classic.php)

[Knanthrup]

Hmm, after doing a little research I was told that a 19\" tall radiator wont fit unless the frame it notched because it will hit the hood. I will have to look at my truck, I thought I could just modify the core support...

[biggins1870]

I\'ll look into the price on Monday when I get back to work... I\'ll let you know tomorrow.

[bratass]

By notching and reinforcing the frame and radiator support you can get about 27 inches of width and 22+ height.Just a thought -wouldnt the heated air from the first row have a minimal cooling effect on the second row?I figure more surface area more gph water flow and more cfm of shrouded air flow equals more heat transfer.I have the vette rad from Modine and my engine is stock but you know that wont last long http://www.s10v8.com/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif so while I had the front end off I CHECKED there is plenty of room to monstersize http://www.s10v8.com/images/smilies/icon_cool.gif

[S10gator]

I think the vette rads are a little thicker than the 4.3 is. Take a look at my photos. I\'ve shown how I cut the rad mount to fit the vette rad forward. I also run cooling additive with two electric fans and a belt driven fan. In traffic during the hotter seasons it will run into the low 200\'s but moving fsater than oh say 30 mph it cools very well in all weather.

[Knanthrup]

On 2004-11-02 09:25, S10gator wrote:

I think the vette rads are a little thicker than the 4.3 is. Take a look at my photos. I\'ve shown how I cut the rad mount to fit the vette rad forward. I also run cooling additive with two electric fans and a belt driven fan. In traffic during the hotter seasons it will run into the low 200\'s but moving fsater than oh say 30 mph it cools very well in all weather.



&lt;font size=1&gt;[ This message was edited by: S10gator on 2004-11-02 11:13 ]&lt;/font&gt;



Thanks for the reply, your pics are helpful. You run two electric fans plus a belt driven fan, and a cooling additive and you still run low 200\'s? Geesh! Sounds like you have the same difficulty I do on keeping her cool. Right now I\'m looking at upgraded vette radiators with larger rows. I really don\'t want to have to add multiple fans plus additives to keep her cool, i just need a good radiator. I think these aftermarket vette ones look pretty good tho i might try one.

[blue82s10]

Where do you guys put your overflow tanks when you intall the corvette radiators?I run a vette radiator with a engine driven flex fan and no shoud and never run more than 180.

[Knanthrup]

On 2004-11-02 17:14, blue82s10 wrote:

Where do you guys put your overflow tanks when you intall the corvette radiators?I run a vette radiator with a engine driven flex fan and no shoud and never run more than 180.



Well I had the overflow bottle problem when I first installed my 4.3 rad, I just kept my overflow in the stock spot and ran a long hose to it, tucked it under the raditator brackets so it didn\'t look too tacky.. it worked just fine even with the long hose.



Now I have a universal stainless steel overflow can installed on the correct side. They\'re pretty cheap you can pick them up from summit or jegs or even ebay.

[S10gator]

On 2004-11-02 17:14, blue82s10 wrote:

Where do you guys put your overflow tanks when you intall the corvette radiators?I run a vette radiator with a engine driven flex fan and no shoud and never run more than 180.





Mine is in the stock location. Actually I have two hoses to the tank. One from the filler hole on the radiator and one from the added in line filler location.



S10Gator



&lt;font size=1&gt;[ This message was edited by: S10gator on 2004-11-10 11:33 ]&lt;/font&gt;

[Cessilia]

When I had cooling problems (i think from my 4.3 rad being to beat up) I bought a vette rad off ebay. I measured the core thickness in both rads.



4.3 L rad = ~5/8\" - 3/4\"



vette rad = ~1-1/8\" - 1-1/4\"



The vette rad was shorter and the same height.



I don\'t have any problems with cooling now. I drove her pretty hard for a full tank of gas, and let her idle on our hottest day (~35 C). It never wet above 199 F with the taurus fan set to com on at 195 F. I have a 190 degree thermostat.