Need a good radiator

[MaineShark]

My current radiator is beat-up pretty bad, and definitely is not cooling like it should be. The guage has been creeping up towards 220, especially a few days ago, when the air temp hit 80. At that rate, I won't make it through the summer, especially if I were to actually turn the A/C on...

So, what's a good brand and model? I'm going to be putting in a new (higher performance) engine, eventually, so I want to make sure I have plenty of cooling capacity.

Also, I'm thinking about going with some SPAL fans. Thoughts?

Joe

 

[Scott81]

Check out Dewitts I've been wanting to go the aluminum radiator/SPAL fan route for a while now....just waiting for my lotto ticket to hit

 

[MaineShark]

Thanks. I was looking at that, back when they had the sale on the combo. Now it's about a hundred bucks more expensive.

Further (technical) thought: wire one fan to a 175-degree switch, and the other to a 195-degree switch (and add a relay to that side, which will force it on when the A/C is switched on). With a 180-degree thermostat, that should allow quick warm-up, but keep the temp down, once the thermostat opens.

Thoughts?

Joe

 

[Jack]

universal (not direct drop in) northern 2-row Al 31 x 19 ... $170 at speedway motors
http://corvetteactioncenter.com/for...hreadid=19480&highlight=northern+AND+radiator

JACK:gap

 

[mgms_1968]

I have a dewitts radiator in my 1968 vette. it is about year and half old. I am still having problems with overheating so I am in the process of buy a new radator, one that is much bigger then what is offered for a stock configuration.

The engine I have is a 350 with a small supercharger on it.

So if you want a new radiator might want to look at Griffen(sp?) or Be Cool. the prices are about the same.

If I could do it agian I would not have bought a Dewitts radator but instead something else.

 

[MaineShark]

Well, I just had the temp sender and guage checked, and both read fine, so that last possibility that it was just a guage problem is gone... definitely a real overheating problem.

But, it had slipped my mind that the original fan was replaced with a flex fan (I'm assuming at the same time as the original motor was replaced by a previous owner). Looking at the positioning and size, the fan clearly is not the correct fan for this engine/shroud combo.

So, I'm going to see if the original radiator still has some miles left on it, since I'd like to put that replacement off until the winter, if I can.

Thoughts on just fans? Original-type with clutch, a properly-sized flex fan, or electric?

How are the dual-11" SPAL fans that Dewitts sells? That looks like the best way to cover the whole radiator surface - either that, or find a single large fan that will fit into the shroud where the original fan was.

Joe