Radiator question

[faaiish]

Has anyone purchased the brass and copper radiator offered from radiators.com ? It shows it is a original like construction but doesn't clearly state it is a 4 core radiator. Mine hasn't started to leak but I see some signs that it appears they will be coming soon. With all the work I am doing to my motor and changing the A/C system I hate to have to pull the radiator out again because it sprang a leak.
I looked at the champion too, it is about half price but I have heard a lot of good and a lot of bad about them. From reading it sounds like the aluminum doesn't hold up if you have any play in the radiator core support. My core support looks really good not much rust but I am not sure if I want to take the chance on the aluminum.

 

[chris142]

I have not heard of that company. But every copper radiator i have seen lately has been junk. Better off having a shop recore yours. Im on my 3rd champion one.

 

[faaiish]

Anyone know where to get a quality radiator for our IDI's

 

[Clb]

Look at the weight of the china.commm parts,compared to the o.g. Unit...
then call flowcooler

 

[catbird7]

Consider exploring costs of re-coring your existing factory bass tank radiator. Our local shop told me he can get both 4-core and 5-core.

 

[square1]

Mine was totally shot. Was just north of $500 to have it recored . The shop pointed out the tanks & trans preheat tanks (automatic trans) on the replacement are much smaller. He was confident I'd get 25 more years out of his recore. That should be long enough

 

[IDIBRONCO]

Was just north of $500 to have it recored

Still cheaper than a Rodney Red! I'm old fashioned, but I truly believe that the brass/copper radiators last WAY longer than any with aluminum in them. When it's that time, I'll have mine recored too.

 

[BR3]

Mishimoto runs under $500, and has a lifetime warranty. Real great quality too.

Only downside is the special cap that runs 19psi....not sure I like that, but it's worked great for a couple years now on my truck, and I've been very mean to it.

I don't think it's the aluminum itself that's the issue with other mfgs, but the quality of the product really. And my goodness, if the aluminum was built with material to match the weight of the original, the core support would hang off of the radiator rather than the other way around it would be so strong.

 

[chris142]

Mine was totally shot. Was just north of $500 to have it recored . The shop pointed out the tanks & trans preheat tanks (automatic trans) on the replacement are much smaller. He was confident I'd get 25 more years out of his recore. That should be long enough

$500 is cheap! Last hd 4r we recored was $1300.

 

[kpj]

Mishimoto runs under $500, and has a lifetime warranty. Real great quality too.

Only downside is the special cap that runs 19psi....not sure I like that, but it's worked great for a couple years now on my truck, and I've been very mean to it.

I don't think it's the aluminum itself that's the issue with other mfgs, but the quality of the product really. And my goodness, if the aluminum was built with material to match the weight of the original, the core support would hang off of the radiator rather than the other way around it would be so strong.

Just put a Mishimoto in mine. Glad to hear that you've had great experience with it. Can't give any user experience yet on how it works, since i've only bled the system and not driven it a single mile yet. Seems like a good radiator, but i don't like that at least the one i have doesn't have a real drain petcock. I guess i could buy one and install it instead of that plug that comes with it, but for now the plug is on. About the cap, i didn't like that mishimito psi rating, i just put the original cap on it.

About the orginal radiator, i highly suggest that you check the radiator if you have 27 year old original like i had. It wasn't really leaking, the cooling fins had only few small spots of leaked and dried coolant. I took it off and it still didn't looked bad, but then i touched the cooling fins and almost 50 % of those fins colapsed with a minimal touch. They fall out almost while blowing. It was completely rotted out. I was lucky that it held up and didn't left me stranded somewhere...

 

[chris142]

Just put a Mishimoto in mine. Glad to hear that you've had great experience with it. Can't give any user experience yet on how it works, since i've only bled the system and not driven it a single mile yet. Seems like a good radiator, but i don't like that at least the one i have doesn't have a real drain petcock. I guess i could buy one and install it instead of that plug that comes with it, but for now the plug is on. About the cap, i didn't like that mishimito psi rating, i just put the original cap on it.

About the orginal radiator, i highly suggest that you check the radiator if you have 27 year old original like i had. It wasn't really leaking, the cooling fins had only few small spots of leaked and dried coolant. I took it off and it still didn't looked bad, but then i touched the cooling fins and almost 50 % of those fins colapsed with a minimal touch. They fall out almost while blowing. It was completely rotted out. I was lucky that it held up and didn't left me stranded somewhere...

many people think that they don't wear out and can be rebuilt forever. Your smarter than most! Lol

 

[kpj]

^ thanks for the compliment , but at least this time I was just lucky. I was finally installing an intercooler and took out the radiator for make some room to cut out the openings for the pipes....