Aluminum Radiators

Technical Question and Answer - On topic to 71-74 Plymouth B-bodies only.

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mrsnicks
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Aluminum Radiators

Post by mrsnicks » Thu May 28, 2015 10:24 am

Who are you guys buying aluminum radiators from?

Who should I avoid?

Car is a 318/auto with A/C. 2 core? 3 core?

Thanks,

Patrick

steved
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Re: Aluminum Radiators

Post by steved » Thu May 28, 2015 10:52 am

I got mine from these guys.

http://www.speedcooling.com/

it took a little grinding on a couple of the holes to get it to fit exactly right, and a bit of clearance on the front frame rail. but it's well made, and seems to do the job.

sjd
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Re: Aluminum Radiators

Post by 71bird » Thu May 28, 2015 3:11 pm

You can get just as good of a radiator that will cool just as good, from Glen Rey radiators, and it will look stock, and be made here in the US
71 Road Runner - J68

mrsnicks
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Re: Aluminum Radiators

Post by mrsnicks » Thu May 28, 2015 3:20 pm

26" New Chrysler Licensed Reproduction Small Block Radiator $895.00.


Sorry. That's waaaaaaaaaaay too pricey for my base model, non-numbers matching, no fender tag 71 SSP.

http://www.restorationradiators.com/pro ... od=26RADSB

dangina
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Re: Aluminum Radiators

Post by dangina » Thu May 28, 2015 5:34 pm

Bought a 4 core from champion rads, first one was warped so bad the two opposite corners wouldn't touch. The second one only has one corner that wouldnt sit properly which is liveable. But thats what you have to live with when the rad was only $200.
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Re: Aluminum Radiators

Post by Moparlar » Fri May 29, 2015 8:04 am

You dont have the factory one to get it recored?
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mrsnicks
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Re: Aluminum Radiators

Post by mrsnicks » Fri May 29, 2015 9:00 am

No. Car was a basket case. Driveline and radiator missing.

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Re: Aluminum Radiators

Post by moparite » Fri May 29, 2015 9:19 am

Are you planing to keep it a 318 car(any mods)? Big blocks need more cooling(bigger radiator). You can get an oem replacement for it but if you plan any mods you will need a larger radiator or get one with more rows for a small block car. Would be nice to add what your plans are for it.

mrsnicks
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Re: Aluminum Radiators

Post by mrsnicks » Fri May 29, 2015 9:39 am

IMG_8690.jpg
Already sourced and rebuilt a 318. Will be an A/C car. Mild cam upgrade and 4bbl conversion.

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72RoadRunnerGTX
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Re: Aluminum Radiators

Post by 72RoadRunnerGTX » Fri May 29, 2015 10:45 am

I have an original rad from a ’72 b-body 318 with air. In very good shape when removed, 26” two row I believe. Would be willing to part with it, unfortunately shipping may kill you, looks like you are on the opposite coast.
Image
Image

mrsnicks
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Re: Aluminum Radiators

Post by mrsnicks » Thu Mar 17, 2016 10:43 am

I pulled the trigger on a Champion EC374, 2 row, 26" aluminum radiator.

The bottom mounting tabs should be 28" on center, but it's 27.5". Guess I'll have to break out the jigsaw and widen the openings.

Patrick

mrsnicks
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Re: Aluminum Radiators

Post by mrsnicks » Fri Mar 18, 2016 11:39 am

Now that I have widened the lower mounting tabs, the radiator is bottoming out on the lower radiator support before the top slots line up with the upper mounting holes.

Anyone else had this many problems with a Champion EC 374?

72bluNblu
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Re: Aluminum Radiators

Post by 72bluNblu » Fri Mar 18, 2016 3:26 pm

The mounting holes in the champion radiator flanges are generic, they're not intended to line up with a specific application. To mount the one I have in my Duster I just set a paint stick on the radiator lower support, set the radiator on it, and then marked where the mounting holes needed to be on the radiator flanges and drilled new holes. As long as it doesn't touch the radiator support or interfere with the hood closing you'll be fine. If it does either (or both) of those you might need a different height radiator.
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Re: Aluminum Radiators

Post by 71bird » Fri Mar 18, 2016 3:53 pm

If you had gotten a radiator from Glen Rey like advised there wouldn't be any mounting problems.
71 Road Runner - J68

72bluNblu
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Re: Aluminum Radiators

Post by 72bluNblu » Sat Mar 19, 2016 4:02 am

71bird wrote:If you had gotten a radiator from Glen Rey like advised there wouldn't be any mounting problems.
Yeah, right. Except that you'd be more than $700 poorer compared to buying a Champion radiator and drilling a couple of holes. I mean, $895 for a radiator? Plus shipping no doubt. Thats half my mortgage for the month. :mad:

For $700 I can drill a couple of holes. Heck, I can even pretend I'm making fourteen hundred bucks an hour to drill a couple of holes, since it shouldn't take more than 30 minutes. :beer:

I've had absolutely zero issues with my Champion radiator, and I've put over 10k miles on the car since I installed it. As long as it keeps my 400+ hp 340 cool when it's 110* F out, I couldn't possibly care less about it looking stock or not. And yes, I drive my car when it's 110* F out. Sometimes I even get stuck in traffic. The Barrett Jackson types are ruining this hobby. Buy a nice muscle car and drive the crap out of it. When it breaks, fix it, and drive it some more. Can't see the part number on the radiator when it's driving down the road.
'71 SSP GA4
'71 DartGT EL5 (#65 in the GT registry)
'71 DartGT GK6 ( #69 in the GT registry)
'74 Duster/71 demon tribute- primary driver
'72 Challenger-secondary driver

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