Performance Aluminum Radiator

[confede]

I am really thinking about buying one of these - does anyone here have one?  The dimensions seem good for me - and the price is right considering it includes the fans.  Anyone here with experience with one?

Thank Yall,

Scott

Radiator for MOPAR BB

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BB-MOPAR-ALUMINUM-RADIATOR-W-SHROUD-AND-ELECTRIC-FAN_W0QQitemZ300030585653QQihZ020QQcategoryZ33602QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Chryco Psycho]

never used that brand , Be Cool has a premium unit , some Griffens are just epoxied where the tubes meet the header for the tank not welded which is why they cost less

[RD]

i bought one off of ebay, i believe it is the brand you are referring to also.  the only issue I have is the pass. side outlet being welded on so that it is angled toward the engine and up.  made it extremely difficult to find a hose that would fit from the outlet to the water pump inlet on a 73 and up big block.  (terrible angles).  All aluminum welds, very pleased with the product.

is this company out of Iowa?  if it is, it is the company I used, if it is not, then disregard my earlier statements

[dkn1997]

I paid that much for a be cool direct fit 5 years ago.  and that was not "direct" fit like they say anway.  their brackets would have pushed the radiator closer to the motor, not good. had to drill 1 hole in my core support, no biggie.  also, I paid that much and no shroud or fans.

You could get a Howe from summit that will fit if you make up some brackes (no need to weld, probably get some flat aluminum stock, bent it and drill a few holes in it would work ok) and source an OEM fan for the cooling.  This option would save you a couple of hundred bucks.

[defiance]

I have one of that brand, but I bought the one without fans/shroud since I already had a pair of Spal 12" fans (actually I had a bunch, but anyway), and built my own shroud.  One thing of note is that the pictures of the one I bought had brackets, but the actual radiator did not.  I fabbed some in about an hour with a drill, some aluminum bars I bought at home depot, and a bunch of bolts.  Lined it up with factory bolts in 3 positions; had to drill the radiator support for the 4th.  Just something to keep in mind, I don't know if the one with fans actually comes with brackets or not...

As for how it works, I dunno; I was trying to fix an overheating problem that ended up being a head gasket issue   Though it did add a good 25-30% to the time it took to overheat as compared to a new stock-style copper hd radiator.

[Wakko]

Scott, I'm going to buy the generic aluminum radiator to replace mine and use a cooling fan from a Lincoln Mark VIII.   Moves four thousand CFM so it should be quite sufficient.  I am also upgrading the alternator at the same time, not sure how the original alt would like the draw of a 13-15 amp fan.

[Rocky]

I have one of that brand, but I bought the one without fans/shroud since I already had a pair of Spal 12" fans (actually I had a bunch, but anyway), and built my own shroud.  One thing of note is that the pictures of the one I bought had brackets, but the actual radiator did not.  I fabbed some in about an hour with a drill, some aluminum bars I bought at home depot, and a bunch of bolts.  Lined it up with factory bolts in 3 positions; had to drill the radiator support for the 4th.  Just something to keep in mind, I don't know if the one with fans actually comes with brackets or not...

As for how it works, I dunno; I was trying to fix an overheating problem that ended up being a head gasket issue   Though it did add a good 25-30% to the time it took to overheat as compared to a new stock-style copper hd radiator.

I just got mine in from fedex today.  It has the brackets, maybe they sent you the wrong one?  It does look like I will need to drill one or two holes in the mounting bracket.   If you have an automatic transmission, the cooler lines need to be modified/extended.

[is_it_EVER_done?]

If you are thinking about buying one in order to fix an existing overheating problem, it won't. Plus the radiator you linked to is only 22 inches wide (core size), and the flat pan style shroud has permanent louvers cut in which will allow the fans to pull air through them instead of the radiator at low speed, and the flatness can work as an air dam at higher speeds, even with the louvers.

Also, an Aluminum radiator requires that you have no electrical current running through the coolant which requires good chassis grounds. Not hard to deal with, but something you have to address instead of just bolt in and go. Failure to insure this can result in total radiator failure in a mater of just a few weeks - same with coolant condition, and the water you use - distilled only.

With all that said, I use Aluminum radiators in all my cars, but they are HUGE because I live in the desert. They are the biggest that Be Cool makes, and require relocating the battery, horns, etc., plus my shrouds have hinged baffles/louvers that shut at low speed, and open at high speeds, but the cooling capacity makes all the hassles of Aluminum worth the trouble as I can idle with the A/C on even on 118 degree days. However if anyone made Brass in the equivalent size, I would switch in a heartbeat.

Brass is a better conductor of heat, and has none of the hassles of Aluminum.

[1970440RT]

     is it EVER done,

     The hinged baffles and louvers you are talking about, are they homemade?  Can you post pics?  My flat shroud is acting like an air dam at highway speeds and I need to make some doors to open up at high speeds to make the airflow through the rad and shroud instead of around it.  The door part ( flat sheet aluminum ) seems easy enough but I can't figure out what hinge to use. 

Sorry for the hijack confede.