aluminum radiators

[GB SISSON]

I have 3 or 4 old radiators I was thinking of using for my latest (non stock) project. I had been planning on a radiator from a parts truck, a '46 one ton with a G six cylinder. The bottom hose is on the wrong side and it has a few pinhole leaks. Today I dug out a very nice rad from a toyota landcruiser six, but it has a few fitment issues. Not insurmountable so I did a bit of welding on it's steel frame. Out of curiousity I did a search and came up with an aluminum 4 row radiator for a 46 one ton ford pickup. Actually it fits up to a 52. I thank it's made for gm engine conversions with bottom hose on the left (what I need). It will never look period under the hood , but has everything I need and bolts to my rad support with no modifications. Are they any good? It is a ridiculous 210.00 bucks. Was heading down to the late night shop to do battle with the toyota rad, but could do 200 bucks worth of woodwork and amazon the aluminum rad when I get back up to the house..... So far you guys haven't banished me to the hamb. Thanks

[deuce_roadster]

Hi 'Gary, my avatar roadster has a Griffin aluminum radiator that works really well. It has been in there since 2000 and has given me no trouble. It was pretty spendy though ($750), I don't know how well a $200 one would last over time.

[FortyNiner]

I bought a new aluminum Champion after my original radiator sprang a leak. Fitment, performance, and cost all are great. I'll live with the loss of points in any Dearborn judged events I don't plan on entering.

[WABOOM]

I put a Champion radiator in my '51 Mercury and it isn't designed correctly. It fits but the top tank is offset the wrong way and was letting a lot of fresh air escape up and over. My car ran hot with that Chinese rip off. I had to make an air dam to correct it. I regret trying to save money. You'll also have to etch and paint it if you don't want it to stick out like a boner in sweat pants too. They are bright aluminum.

[GB SISSON]

OK, so it's 2-1 in favor of aluminum, although waboom gets a couple of style points for his humorous analogy. A new original style copper radiator is out of the question. After all, any 'originality' is out the window as soon as I drive up, never mind looking under the hood. The choice is between something copper that doesn't fit or aluminum. For now, I finished my flange on the Japanese radiator, painted it and bolted it into the support. My flex a lite fan showed up today along with my one wire alternator. The current radiator is not nearly as tall as stock, so I will run it for a while and plan on the aluminum one if needed. Any more input on aluminum radiators is appreciated. Been cleaning up and painting my diesel 'kit' pieces in anticipation of taking them out of this beat up chassis and installing it into my nice pickup.

[dumb person]

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Those cheap alloy radiators killed the old time radiator shops i worked in...

I had to get one modified several times, and none of the mounting holes were drilled. The guy doing my welding said it was "rubbish alloy" but overall, it was much cheaper than the $7,000 a brass one would have cost (most of that $7,000 would be tax).

Chances are, yours will fit better, may not be any welding needed.
But you'll get what you pay for. What's the worst that could happen for $200? You'd still get a year or 3 from it.

[tubman]

I have no dog in this fight, but have seen this rehashed time and time again on the H.A.M.B. Surprisingly to me, most people that have used them (even the cheap ones) have a positive opinion of them. You might want to check over there for more information.

[chap52]

I ran the Champion Radiator for years and loved it. It is a matter of personal choice. My 52 was not a "stock" show truck and the Champion product was a great fit, good craftmanship, worked perfectly and was priced right.

[meric42]

I have one in my '42 Sedan Delivery and whilst I haven't actually driven the car yet the fit and finish was very good for the price, so I'm happy with the product so far.

[derek costello]

I have used the aluminum $200. rads on a XKE a v8 Powered triumph and 32 and 34 ford
and no problems, you have to drill your own mounting holes,
Have two brass original 32 to 34 pickup rads for sale $100ea

[OldDad]

Have had a Champion on my ‘40 coupe for a few years now. Had to fab up some mounts for the yoke carriage bolts on the side at the time — newer ones may include them? Anyway, solved all my overheating problems, and have had no problems with it whatsoever. Seems well built with quality welds. Miss the old split core, but not the extra $1000 dollar plus bill to recore it. And as far as originality goes ... aluminum heads, aluminum intake, aluminum radiator — works for me, and I’m sure it would have made my father’s generation of hot rodders giddy if they could have gotten their hands on one — especially for the price.

[GB SISSON]

The deed is done.... 4 row listed for 1946 one ton pickup with chevy engine. Lower hose is on the drivers side. 246 bucks includes tax and free delivery. Amazon.

[drolston]

This board is all over regarding aluminum radiators. The low cost Champion radiators work great for some, not for others. I have a big inch flathead in my '41 coupe, with high compression. No amount of additives, baffles, shrouds, or fan spacers would get that radiator to keep that engine cool at idle, or above 60 mph, on a warm day, . Fixed the brass/copper truck radiator that was in the car when I got it and now it cools fine.

So, with all your options, you should be able to find the combination of radiator area and air flow that works.

[GB SISSON]

Thanks! Hey, does a four row radiator always cool better than a 3? At some point does that 4th row make it harder for air to pass through? That said, I never had any cooling issues with my other two cummins 6at powered trucks. In fact I kept a scrap of black formica behind the seat to drop in front of the rad if I wanted the heater to produce .

[leon bee]

I've been wondering how this aluminum radiator question will evolve over the years. I put one in my 50 car two years ago. $204 shipped. Champion branded, bought it from an outfit that seemed like car people. My only single complaint would be that it cools a little too well. If anyone were to get on my case about this cheap shortcut, well, I have 3 leaky clogged up originals out back and don't plan on throwing them away.

[GB SISSON]

Funny thing is my red '47 tonner pickup with the worn out flathead has an aluminum radiator in it now. The PO told me he bought the cheap two row aluminum job just so he could get the truck running and drive it onto his trailer and sell it at the Portland swap meet. I had considered capping off two of the outlets and using it, but with all the effort so far I want this to look better than that under the hood, and two rows I wouldn't be happy with. The reason I bring this up is because as a cheapo chinese radiator, I cannot believe how beautiful all those welds are. Perhaps done by robotics or highly skilled production welders?

[OldDad]

Couple more things. I would agree with Leon that, if anything, the Champion cools too well. it came with a 15 lb cap, which I immediately replaced with a 7 lb cap, and wonder if that might still be a bit much for my old heater core, eventually. Heater takes forever to warm up on a cold day.

I have a 267 inch 8.5 to 1 compression flathead which behaved very much like drolston’s (hot at idle and at speed) with my old split-core radiator, which had been rodded-out in Ensenada Mexico for the grand sum of $17.00 in the early ‘80’s! So, likely a far cry from a properly recored version. I often wonder how much this overheating may have been exacerbated by the newly rebuilt tight engine at that time.

Anyway, it all went away with the new Champion. Just my two cents.

[FortyNiner]

Originally Posted by GB SISSON

The reason I bring this up is because as a cheapo chinese radiator, I cannot believe how beautiful all those welds are. Perhaps done by robotics or highly skilled production welders?

Of all the Chinese factories I visited in the 2010s, exactly none had any meaningful automation. There is an strong technical school practice, along with a complete disregard for worker safety, as a common element. A growing trend was a stronger focus on quality and workmanship - some of it seen with the aluminum radiators. I too was taken by the demonstrated proficiency. Nothing slap dash here.

[GB SISSON]

Well I opened the box after the UPS driver dropped it off. Good thing I wasn't wearing sweat pants!

[WABOOM]

Ha!!!