VanHanlon

Hello,

Does anyone have experience with the cheap aluminum rads on eBay? Even a copper replacement for my '74 is ridiculous.

Thanks,
Jonathan in MA

Drawmain

I'm running a Champion two row in my 82, no issues to report. I ordered the one with the dual fans. I've been happy with it so far.

lvmyvt76

you get what you pay for, if they don't have the correct bottom hose hook-up, don't be surprised. Get a Dewitts and be happy!
I am and so are most of the others that buy from him!!

CanadaGrant

I bought a Champion aluminum rad that was supposed to fit a 69 427 but they failed to mention that you would have to cut off the lower mounts from the rad support and install "square" ones to fit their rad and also replace the top supports. I decided rather than chop and weld my original rad support to try and get their poor design to fit I would order a Dewitts so I did that a couple of days ago on their forum sale here.
The Champion is a POS and it will be going in the recycle bin. See the pic below. The lower supports are even worse....
You don't even get what you pay for. My opinion is it's absolute garbage.

Conrad Celinski

I bought one of the cheap aluminum ones on eBay. I'm extremely impressed and Happy with it. No leaks, seems very well made which I wasn't expecting. And I never had an overheating issue since I installed it in the summer.I went with electric fans too and ditched the mechanical fan and shroud.

This was on a 79 with a small block by the way. Didn't have to modify anything in my case.

I would have gone with a Dewitts, but my budget didn't allow me

7t9l82

i have the champion and it went right in, none are a perfect fit someone somewhere will have an issue with any of them. i am very pleased with champion and it cools very well.

Zorro O

I am running a two row American eagle from Champion in my 79 it came as a kit with an aluminum shroud and a 16''fan. (AE718-718FS16) fit great, even the drain plug is in the right place! It is so nice to just slide a pan under the car, and have it drain into the pan without splashing off of other parts on the way. I know that it does not sound like a big deal, until it doesn't work that way, and you have antifreeze all over the place and what is in the pan includes all the crap it has washed of the bottom of the car.

Zorro

MidShark

I think it's kind of a crapshoot out there. Last winter after some research I decided to go with an OE type replacement replacement on my '75. A DeWitts wasn't in the cards budget-wise, and stories on the cheap aluminum ones were kind of split. I didn't care for the idea of having to modify anything to make it fit. I ordered my OE replacement from a national online parts warehouse. When I received it, lo and behold when I opened the box there was an aluminum rad inside- not what I had ordered. I thought about using it anyway, until I got it out of the box and took a look at it:





I don't know if it was built that out of square and crooked, or if it was run over a couple of times by a truck before it made it into the box, but my mind was pretty well made up at that point. I sent it back and ordered an OE replacement from Advance Auto Parts and paid under $300 for it, and it fit good and it runs nice and cool.

CanadaGrant

When I found The rad wouldn't fit (see above post) I contacted the fleabay seller nationwidecooling and was told:

"We have spoken with Champion Cooling Systems and they have indicated that you will most likely need 4 row saddle mounts/brackets in order to install this radiator."

If they couldn't make the radiator to fit a 1969 Corvette, why would they list and sell you it specifically for a 1969 427 Corvette? Beats me...
When I asked this question I never heard from the vendor again so it's buyer beware. They still list it.
I wrote it off as a lost cause and ordered a Dewitts which is what I should have done in the first place.

Ironcross

Big block Chevy engines use copper radiators from the factory,,,not aluminum ones, I would presume they did it for better cooling....I know that I have never overheated mine....and uses a 180 stat


but whatever

cv67

Even the fancy radiators will have those a little crooked mines no different. It didnt fit and leaks too .
But sounds like they may take care of it well see. Sure hope so.

Sorry those Champions look like azz my god look at those welds oh well if it cools better than the stocker and was cheap guess it doesnt matter.

The aftermarket I bought easily brough temps down by a solid 10 deg overall which is nice. As they say nothing is "bolt in"

BOOT77

MY ebay one I had to reclock the lower hose end and the petcock is impossible to open, but it cools great.

AboveTheLogic

very happy with the radiator i bought from shepherd's auto parts, was under $160 and is all aluminum and appears to be very well made

vetteguy22

I have the 3 row copper radiator that's in great condition from my 1970 4 speed vette that I had cleaned and tested at my local radiator shop. If your interested I would sell it for $200.00 plus shipping.
Rob

CanadaGrant

Here's one for you. An hour after posting this I got an email offering to take the rad back if I paid the shipping from Canada plus a 20% "re-stocking" fee. Their fault and I pay.
Lucky me.... Garbage in, garbage out. It's going to the recyclers. Beware of the cheap trash Boys! The quality is in the picture.

Capt. Shark

I looked at the el cheapo chinese junk.....very briefly

DeWitts fit perfect, the construction is top drawer, and solved my cooling problems.

In this case, I think you really do get what you pay for.

haydenray

I ordered a 2 row aluminum radiator from Radiator Express.com for my '74. It was a snug drop in perfect fit. Rated 450HP. My car runs cooler with no problems.

Ray

scrappy76

Bought a Champion 3 core for my 76' with a big block conversion. It fit fine and so far cooling fine. All hoses fit and I can turn the petcock if need be. $ 200 to my door. I am fine with that. Nobodys perfect and I am sure Dewitts has had a few returns.

Rally68

Bought a Griffin radiator, from Summit IIRC. 100% American made, according to their website. I ordered a rad without a trans cooler (switched to an external trans cooler). The radiator was a direct fit for me. It lacks a drain petcock but otherwise it's a nice piece.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...-300-pics.html

Plasticfreak

I bought a Champion from the Bay and worked out well,what I hated the most was putting in that F****n shroud!!!!!!!! Who ever designed that should be hung by the shoet hairs!