Big Bart
Tow&Slow
A couple years ago I weighed the the expenses. For me it was a couple of things.
1) Original radiator made it 30 years. Many suggested that might look like +3 aluminum replacements.
2) Often the need for alterations to make It work. Drilling, fans, ground straps, etc.
3) Many disappointed with poor build quality. Bent, out of square, leaking due to poorly machined rad cap hole.
4) Never hear about folks overheating with a working copper rad, Motorcraft thermostat, and correct coolant mix.
So I decided although about double, I would rebuild. So far very happy I did. I had zero issues upon install, zero issues after while pulling 9k lbs. To me the cooling system is not a place to roll the dice. Overheat the engine and your talking much more than a couple hundred dollars. I had a good option to rebuild others may not and will need to go with seems like the only new replacement program of aluminun.
We should not assume that a new core is not a redesign, different sized tubes and fins, or using newer metal blends. My néw core could be better than the one from 1988. But could also be the same or worse. Something to look at.
1) Original radiator made it 30 years. Many suggested that might look like +3 aluminum replacements.
2) Often the need for alterations to make It work. Drilling, fans, ground straps, etc.
3) Many disappointed with poor build quality. Bent, out of square, leaking due to poorly machined rad cap hole.
4) Never hear about folks overheating with a working copper rad, Motorcraft thermostat, and correct coolant mix.
So I decided although about double, I would rebuild. So far very happy I did. I had zero issues upon install, zero issues after while pulling 9k lbs. To me the cooling system is not a place to roll the dice. Overheat the engine and your talking much more than a couple hundred dollars. I had a good option to rebuild others may not and will need to go with seems like the only new replacement program of aluminun.
ISPKISee thats interesting. So the aftermarket aluminum radiators utilize a better design than the original factory radiators. Also - The brazing. Are they in fact brazed or are they soldered? It was my understanding that they were soldered. Reason being is that silver is an extremely common brazing medium for copper and silver is far superior to copper with regards to...literally everything except cost. Silver brazed joints would yield superior heat transfer when compared to any other type of connection. Soldered joints however would not as the solder is most likely a Tin alloy.
Also - is it being compared that a copper/brass radiator from the early 90s has the same cooling as a brand new aluminum radiator? Those are not apples to apple comparisons, although given the fact that brand new copper radiators dont really exist to my knowledge, then functionally speaking, that is the only comparison that really matters.
Again though, I dont see why an all copper radiator could not be made and am curious what the cost would look like.
We should not assume that a new core is not a redesign, different sized tubes and fins, or using newer metal blends. My néw core could be better than the one from 1988. But could also be the same or worse. Something to look at.