Looking for a 4 row aluminum radiator with fans

[nitrosport_5]

I'm trying to locate a good quality 4 row aluminum radiator with a fan shroud and electric fans for my 72 k20 auto truck. There are all kinds of them on eBay but I'm afraid of poor quality construction. Dont want to skimp and use made in china crap for this type of item.

What are you guys using and are you happy with build quality? I would like something to drop onto the factory location and have a trans cooler as well. Thanks for any replies

[burnin oil]

I used a 2 core universal becool radiator on my street truck. I had to make my own mounts and it does not have coolers which I don't need. It was actually pretty cheap and made well. She cools better than the old 3 core copper radiator and I have not reinstalled the shroud yet. Best part is I have a 400sb which is known for running hot. I think that you will be happy with a becool, especially if you dump the factory mount part. You can probably find something that is not a direct fit, ie needs custom mounts, for half the price of a drop in.

[Blue97]

I ordered mine from Radiators express, Of course mine is a 97 but they still might have something for you. I have a 2 core but the cores are WIDE!! And it also has a Dual fan kit with shroud to go with which I will pick up when im done with other things on my truck.

here's a link to mine and the fan is just below, check it out cant hurt..
https://radiatorexpress.com/product....aia_id=1031555

[Marv D]

Ron Davis or Be Cool is all you ever need to know about radiators. Pricey, but you do get what you pay for. I ran a cheep aluminum in th e94 for a short time and the epoxy sealed end caps cracked and went to puking coolant. Of course,, about 2 hours after the warrantee ran out

Jeggs was including a free gallon of BeCool antifreeze with every direct fit radiator. Be cool has a deal where if you use their antifreeze it DOUBLES their 1 year warrantee. Not as though you would need it, but it's nice to know it's 100% covered for 2 years!

[cableguy0]

Buy once,Cry once. Its cheaper to spend more in the first place. Cooling system is not a place to try and save money. Go with BeCool or Ron Davis as Marv said you will NOT be disappointed.

[SparkyRnD]

We are a supporting vendor here, and we build bolt-in aluminum radiator for your truck that are made here in the USA, using all aluminum (NO epoxy), and everything it TIG welded by hand. We also include a built-in trans cooler at no additional charge. We build them with dual 1" thick cores (same thickness as a traditional 4-core radiator). Here is a link to them on this forum:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=590670

[Marv D]

Sparky those are some darn decent looking radiators. What kind of warrantee do you offer on them.

[SparkyRnD]

Thanks. We have a 1 year warranty on everything we sell

[The Camaro Guy]

I had an original made by a local radiator shop, 4 core wide and the 69 C-10 runs cool. I am not a fan of aluminum, but it is cheaper than the copper and brass of old. A radiator shop likes them better than aluminum as well. It has been in the truck for 10 years using a stock fan clutch and stock fan shroud. We tow our Camaro to shows with it. 427, 700r, 373 gears with the AC running. . . .proven over the years.

[SparkyRnD]

radiator shops like brass & copper as they can repair them & core them out. Aluminum isn't something most old shops can work with.

[nitrosport_5]

thanks for the replies. I was looking at possibly getting a champion radiator/leadfoot racing shroud. their radiators look to be of good quality on their website.

http://www.championradiators.com/Che...roud-1967-1972

[SparkyRnD]

There are a lot of reviews of them, and you do get what you pay for. Ours are made here in the USA by hand by Americans, TIG welded and NO epoxy. Plus, we are also a supporting vendor on this forum and we offer a discount to members. Let me know if you change your mind, we'd love the chance to build one for your truck.

[nitrosport_5]

Do you guys offer shrouds? I haven't made up my mind yet. Not quite ready to pull the trigger. What would be an out the door price for 4 row with trans cooler and elec fan shroud.

[SparkyRnD]

We make shrouds for electric fans to go on our radiators, but we don't make them for mechanical fans. The discounted prices for the items are:
Radiator: $425 (built-in trans coolers are included at no additional cost, just note at time of ordering)
Fan & Shroud kit: $220
Shipping to washington: $85

Let me know if you want to order.

[The Camaro Guy]

I have a Champion 4 core, for $225. shipped and it works great with the stock fan shroud and clutch (stock) fan. BB runs cool as it should.

[SparkyRnD]

We are more expensive than Champion, but with good reason. We build everything here in the USA by hand, all aluminum, TIG welded, etc. You do get what you pay for, and in some cases, the additional cost is worth the quality of the product.

[The Camaro Guy]

Check out the Champion web site. All tig welded, no epoxy and the specs on there radiator compares to those made in the USA. Guaranteed for life. Call and talk to them, I believe in California. Not all that is made overseas is junk. In many cases it is managed by US companies and US management in the factory. Choice is yours. Just an old guy talkin.

[SparkyRnD]

Out of all of our radiators, even though we list a 1 year warranty, we have had only 2 since we have been in business that had a manufacturing defect (something we're very proud of). The issue that I have with most foreign ones is that they are made cheaply, and how many times do you want to r&r a radiator? Plus, this may be just an old American speaking, but I like to support USA made products and businesses, instead of sending my dollars overseas whenever possible

[Marv D]

Originally Posted by The Camaro Guy

Check out the Champion web site. All tig welded, no epoxy and the specs on there radiator compares to those made in the USA. Guaranteed for life. Call and talk to them, I believe in California. Not all that is made overseas is junk. In many cases it is managed by US companies and US management in the factory. Choice is yours. Just an old guy talkin.

and putting a US worker on unemployment

DOH, sorry I know I should just sit on my hands but that needed to be said.

[The Camaro Guy]

I buy American whenever I can and if it is in the budget. I have owned 65 cars in my 66 years, half collector cars, ALL are GM where the profit stays in the US. Now foreign cars are with in the price range and quality but I choose to buy American. No Hondas or Toyotas for me! Many industries have become competitive in price and quality by sharpening their business model to become more competitive. I also buy Goodyear and BFG tires. . . just an old American guy talkin!

[SparkyRnD]

That is always the hardest part to overcome is price. I have had to make many changes over the years to buy and support American businesses that are based here and make their products here (not just an American company that sells items they bought overseas). It's tough, and does cost more in most cases, but is well worth it. That is why our company exists, as there was a demand in the market for American made custom radiators made from products here in the USA. But we do understand when folks have to stick to a lower budget

[tgfeller]

I debated on getting a champion radiator for awhile. In the end I got an American made Griffin radiator from summit racing. 2 core, bigger tubes, better cooling, aluminum shroud with two high quality Spal fans. Couple hundred more and totally worth it. You can always make more money, and it always feels good knowing you have quality parts in your truck!

[tgfeller]

Fyi the Griffin 2 core takes our 4 core mounts and cools better than the stock 4 core.

[SparkyRnD]

aluminum 2-core have the same core thickness as a 4-core. Here's why:

stock 4-cores are brass & copper radiators, that use four separate cores that are 1/2" thick each.

aluminum 2-cores use two cores that are 1" thick each

so when looking at rads, a stock brass & copper 4 core and an aluminum 2 core are basically the same size. at that point, it comes down to flow, fin count, dissipation of heat based on the material used, etc.

[Gumby]

Always go copper unless its a tight spot and you have no choice but to go aluminum.

Its not some fancy race part, or even better, just a fad to go aluminum.
Car makers only did it cause it was cheaper, not cause its better.