Topic: 2 or 3 row Alum rad
in Forum: C3 Cooling and Heating Systems
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I need to change out old 4 row Brass/Copper rad. After reading the posts I found a choice, 3 row by champion cooling a 750HP or 2 row w/ 1" tubes by American Eagel cooling 700HP..
I have a new 350 CID 300HP Manual trans w/ A/C
I llive here in the southwest....between Mesquite,Nv & St. George,Ut. temps get to the 110's plus in the summer..rarely below 30 in winter..road temps higher.....
SO ..any ideas on which one or any experience with either type...
Old thinking says more tubes the better, but that is for Brass/Copper rads....
It is all about the surface area and air flow, right???
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Former Member
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Frederick, MD - USA
Joined: 9/8/2003
Posts: 3398
Vette(s): 1969 convertible L71 427/435 4-speed black interior
Do you intend to replace the entire radiator or have your present radiator re-cored? If you go the re-core route, get a core with increased fins per inch...that's more efficient than an additional row. If your present radiator has twelve fins per inch, get one with 18 fins per inch. That's increasing the area directly exposed to incoming cooling air by a great deal...you can get diminishing returns with increased rows as each additional row gets less efficient at heat transfer.
An additional bonus to getting your present radiator recored is you know it will fit with no issues. You can't always say that with some replacement units.
Thanks for the advice,
I had not thought of # of fins..called the company..after talking to them I went with the 3 row Alum rad..thought being ...surface area, fins 14-16 per inch and air flow and water flow being a bit slower through the 3 row rad vs the 2 row. since I have a high flow pump I may have to use an inline restrictor to increase cooling.due to the angle of the rad and a condenser restricting air flow, evan with a noise scoop to help push the air into the rad,an air dam excessive fins could restrict air flow evan more...how much cooling I get we will not know untill summer gets here.
Former Member
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Greer, SC - USA
Joined: 3/13/2012
Posts: 264
Vette(s): 1978 Black with Viking mural painted under hood AM/FM/CB radio, T-top and a 2013 Cyber Gray Grand Sport Coupe, 2LT for my daily driver
Please forgive me if I offend anybody. I too am looking at replacing my radiator on my '78. I am mechanically inept (read that as stupid), so I hire out my mechanical work. I sent a link to Champion and American Eagle to the mechanic that I have used and he called them. While the specs all sounded good, he suspected that for this price, these are probably made in China. I wanted the radiator with the shroud and SPAL fan. I have priced them at Griffin and they run over $900, while Champion is under $400.
Please, if you can determine that these are made in America, let me/us know.
Peace out,
David
Warning: The surgeon general has declared that it is NOT unhealthy to smoke your competition AND I just discovered that my corvette is a hybred. It burns gas and rubber!
Former Member
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Greer, SC - USA
Joined: 3/13/2012
Posts: 264
Vette(s): 1978 Black with Viking mural painted under hood AM/FM/CB radio, T-top and a 2013 Cyber Gray Grand Sport Coupe, 2LT for my daily driver
I was FINALLY able to contact someone at LEADFOOT Racing (the site that sells the Champion and American Eagle radiators). I will give them credit for being honest. I asked where the radiators were manufactored and she told me China. I was sad 
becasue the price was soooo much better than Griffin, BUT for me...and this is just me talking, I will stay with the Griffin. I do not know if this makes any difference to you....I am ONLY passing along the information that I have discovered.
becasue the price was soooo much better than Griffin, BUT for me...and this is just me talking, I will stay with the Griffin. I do not know if this makes any difference to you....I am ONLY passing along the information that I have discovered.
Good luck with your radiator. I used to live in SLC and I know how hot the high desert can be! Been down I-15 many times.
Warning: The surgeon general has declared that it is NOT unhealthy to smoke your competition AND I just discovered that my corvette is a hybred. It burns gas and rubber!
Lifetime MemberLast summer I got the Dewitts direct fit radiator mentioned above from Corvette America (MAM and Corvette Central carry the same one) and it made a HUGE difference in my car! Although my old radiator was pretty clogged, The car always ran around 200-220 degrees. After the aluminum radiator (with NO other cooling mods), the car runs between 160-180 degrees even in the hottet, most humid times! Could use the same hoses, etc. since everything is in the same place. Tight fit, but went in with minimum trouble.
Get a DeWitts exact fit aluminum rad
|UPDATED|1/31/2013 7:42:58 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
Strongly agree. Installed one last year on my '78 L-82. Definately a tight fit, but drops in nicely and uses factory hoses without issues. Runs a consistent 10- 15 degrees cooler than stock radiator.
|UPDATED|1/31/2013 7:42:58 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
Almost three years ago I went with the 3 row aluminum radiator from Champion @ Leadfoot Racing. (See "Aluminum Radiators" in this forum.)
It was difficult installing but really brought down the operating temp. 160 - 180 degrees in the hot summer!
Not even three years later and it leaks. That's not nearly enough time to justify any savings.
I'd suggest avoiding the Champion Radiators. I speak from recent experience.
I'm saving my money for a DeWitts or other decent American made aluminum radiator.
Kevin
in Forum: C3 Cooling and Heating Systems
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