Glad to help Steve!
Good luck with the change up.

 

Wow......and it works!! Just to think I spent 500 bucks on one, and it works just like my old one.....run's hot..........

Now to be fair, it's not the radiator, but I know what to do with the new one........in the 74 if it will fit?

Don't forget........you get what you pay for. Though pricey, Dewitts makes a damn fine rad!!

 

Nice write up...and you are right, "these are just radiators, not rocket science" ...but you get what you pay for...I am with Tom D.

 

Well you seem to have found your way...

First, I thanked you for your comments on our products and support.

Then, I commented on the competition.

Maybe I'm wrong about the location of assembly but I do know what the cost of U.S. made parts are. Just because the tank says made in usa doesn't mean the core or the assembly is made here. In the end, it doesn't really matter because it wouldn't change anyones decision. If it said "CHINA" right on it, people would still buy it anyway.

All I was doing was pointing out differences, no bashing.

What you did to save money was great. Even better was to document it so others could save time and money. There are those that will go this route and there are those that don't want to and go with a true Direct Fit. Sometimes it helps people make a decision when they know what all the differences are.

Based on some of the comments here it sounds like we are gouging customers. Well, we are offering the best looking, best fitting aluminum radiators available and when compared to the major competition (Griffin, Be-cool, and Ron Davis) our pricing is actually the lowest.

But as someone kindly stated "just more supporting vendor bs".

 

I'm running a DeWitts DF with no regrets however if someone wants to use a more economical solution with more fitting thats cool. I would rather just drop it in myself. Time is money and I have lots of stuff left to do on my Vette.

 

Tom, I have no doubt your product is top quality. I have seen one of your units in a fellow forum members car and it is nice. The great thing about America is "freedom of choice". With fellow forum members willing to try different avenues for improving their Vette's, it only helps everyone else. When it comes to saving money, with the money pits we own, I think most are all for finding the best solution for the least amount of money possible. I don't think Greg, in his original post, did anything but acknowledge your great product. He simply, in his opinion found an acceptable alternative to the cost and yet to be seen quality. Your reply, however, surprised me. I would have expected it from Keisler, but not from you. I "would" have expected you to chime in with a simple "compare the quality then report back" but you seemed to get defensive and wanted to point out the "flaws" in Gregs choice of radiators. I still see your product as top quality, especially in the restoration aspect of your product. But, their are alternatives to every aspect of our cars and a simple post from a fellow member trying to help others save money is not a "declaration of war". I don't believe one post will sway all Vette owners away from your product. Again, I was just "surprised" by your response...

 

Why?
It seems the rules for posting opinions are different for vendors. I don't see anything in my post that was offensive but others can call my comments "vendor BS" without a peep from anyone. Hey, I own a 1980 and I'm a C3er just like anyone else. I donated $1000 to your internet show and that didn't "surprise" anyone.

Did I tell the truth when I said the uni-rad was a manual only, No drain, and U channel? Yes. These were just observations that I noticed and I thought I would share them. Just maybe someone with an automatic would like to know that.

Now that someone posted a photo, I have a couple more observations but I dare not say anything. Maybe the best thing is for me to just sit on the side line and watch from now on.

 

Tom,
I still think your info is valid and welcome. Your knowledge on cooling is good and, as I said earlier, I'm certain your product is fine. I'm only offering a cost effective altenative.


If I ran an automatic in my car I would simply add a trans cooler for about $30.

I would do this no matter what type or brand of radiator I had. While the radiator's internal loop cooler will do an adequate job, the dedicated trans cooler will do a much better job for very little money.

Best,
Greg

 

DeWitt everyone here knows you make a good product. And myself have never seen anything posted bad about your product or service. So nobody has said anything negative about you or your company that I know of.

But to outright put down what a forum member did to HIS car was not right. Just to simply say it looks nice and I hope it all works out and to keep the forum informed would have been very nice of you to do so.

And even though a few members here have used this radiator successfully you just had to try and bring it down by saying it is not made in the U.S.A. so it is not a good product. Even though it does say the U.S.A. right on it. Maybe you are right that the separate pieces for this product is produced someplace else and then are assembled here in the U.S.A. But that does not make it a bad product. Many products here have parts made someplace else and assembled here. One that brings to mind to many is the HARLEY yet you would be astounded by many parts of those motorcycles come from someplace else.


And you are correct it is not a drop in piece. It is not factory correct, It does not have a drain. Or a transmission cooler built in. Some people would rather have a separate transmission cooler though. But for some they will over look these things to save some funds and have fun driving there Corvette. And still have a radiator that will cool there car.

Everything is about options and give and takes.DeWITT has a good product that is a drop in with no troubles and then there are people that want to change things. And that is what makes this forum so great. We get to observe and learn new ways of doing things that we may not have thought of.

 

I realize that everyone is on this "Made in America" kick, I am too.
But the sad truth is that the vast majority of aluminum cores for production cars are made in the far east.
Almost all your electronic and computer boards are made there.
A few years ago our auto industry suffered because our quality was less than theirs and we had to play catchup.
Do you think we would be able to by a engine crane for under $200.00 if it were hand made in the USA?

The company determines the quality, not the country.
It's amazing how many of our companies have either moved their production over there or at least source from there. Sometimes good and sometimes bad.

9 out of 10 people will always buy on price period. I run into it everyday.

We are just spoiled by the dirt cheap prices and like to complain if it doesn't meet our expectations.

 

On another note. I haven't heard any real complaints about dewitts radiators. As great of a product as they may be, I personally can't come to terms with spending $500+ on something that won't do anything a $200 product can't. However, I'm not running a $5000 drivetrain. I paid that much for the whole vette! I'm personally going with a direct fit radiator made by northern factory sold under the cool-usa name.

One thing a fellow gearhead mentioned a week or so ago, though. Compare the cooling efficiency of corroded aluminum versus corroded copper. Copper is a better heat transfering metal than aluminum. So essentially a copper radiator will probably last a bit longer than an aluminum one, if it isn't kept in the proper condition. However, most of us are meticulous about our cars so this shouldn't be a problem.

 

Maybe now-a-days that little "Made in America" sticker is meaningless. Maybe they mean South America?

I'm using a DeWitt's direct fit with dual spals and it was money well spent. Tom had a great group purchase a few years ago, including FREE shipping. I wanted something I knew would fit, that I could just drop in and read numerous testimonials here on the forum about Tom's products. Plus Tom helped me out a great deal in picking the right one for my car. My rad wasn't original and turned out to be a '73-74 BB radiator.

There were always Be-Cool and Griffin rads out there, heck there are even some off brand rads on eBay, why the sudden DeWitt bashing? You didn't by a DeWitt rad and found it defective. Helll, I'm surprised Walmart doesn't sell aluminum rads for our cars. You wanna bash a Vendor why not Keisler or Race Ramps?

You can get those cheap Patriot side pipes too, but they're not quite to be the same as a set of Hooker side mounts or a set of Paregon's '69 side exhaust. It becomes more apparant the older I get. You get what you pay for and with a BB I wanted the best and something proven to work and not a generic.

 

You want the best, you go with Dewitt...thats the bottom line...When I was looking for the replacement, there was no other alternative worth looking at...but thats just me. For others, the walmart version is fine...and I will praise their work if it looks good in the end.

 

One of the things that frustrates me the most about my car is the poor quaility of parts coming out of the industry. Vendors label them as GM reporductions, but the fit is so poor that I have to send them back. And when I try to call the vendor for answers, they cant or wont help. There is nothing worse that having your car apart without the right parts. I prefer to get the right parts and fix it the first time without modifications and without downtime. DeWitts happens to be a vendor in my experience that provides a quality reproduction part that fits. And if I have a problem Tom is there to help me. On top of all that the product cured my overheating problem.

A while back there was a local speed shop that I would go to and the people working there would always be so helpful. Yes their prices were higher and I knew I could get things for less through an catlaog house...but I preferrd the value of having these local guys nearby for any problem I encounted. There are gone now...just like all other small ma and pa vendors displaced by large discount stores.

Yes, Toms prices are higher, but to me what you get is worth the money. Value is not always measured by price.

Tom, please keep posting on the forum.

 

Jug…with all do respect, I haven’t seen any Dewitt bashing here and personally, would like to keep it that way. Greg posted a simple and detailed write up explaining a “cost effective alternative” to a high priced aluminum radiator. He even praised Tom’s product as I do as well.
I have to disagree, somewhat, on the “overall” thought process that you get what you pay for. The simple verbal terminology of that is guaranteed conclusive and means little to the average hobbiest. If I pay for a cheeseburger…you got it…I got what I paid for. If I buy a lower cost aluminum radiator as Greg did…you got it…he got what he paid for. A radiator that needed a few alterations or modifications to work the way he wanted but he was happy with the overall fit, operation and price of the product.
This is a hobby and I believe most people here can make determinations on buying what they want for their specific projects based on “the best money can buy” or “cost effective alternatives”. There are even those of us that use both avenues. A few examples:
I could have paid $4000 for a Keisler 5 speed kit. I chose to buy a used World Class 5 speed, rebuild it myself and install it for much less money. This was a “cost effective alternative” for me.
I could have paid $200 for a dual fan kit from Spal but I chose to buy a late model GM dual fan setup that functions they way I want it to. This was a “cost effective alternative” for me.
I could have paid $1000 to a vendor for a Super Duper Hydroboost setup. I chose to buy a late model GM truck Hydrobbost and fabricate the rest myself. This was a “cost effective alternative” for me.
I could have paid **Gregg Racing $700 for a set of L88 Headlight housings and covers. I chose to build my own housings and mold the Lexan covers myself. This was a “cost effective alternative” for me.
I could have paid $100 for a spreader bar. I chose to build one myself at half the cost. This was a “cost effective alternative” for me.
Also, this theory of Buy American is overblown. You get what you pay for? That is the very reason American automakers are in the glut they are in. Their products have nbeen overpriced for years, mostly do to labor costs, and the overseas products have way outpaced the states products in sales and now quality. Gm is now considering joining a foreign car maker because they know there are “cost effective alternatives” they can utilize to keep their company alive.
Look at Walmart. 10 years ago, as they were getting all of us Americans to visit their stores and buy from them, creating the largest retailer in the world, their slogan was “We Buy American” and they floated the American flag on their commercials. Guess what…over 80% of the products Walmart now sells in their great Amercian stores is procured from overseas suppliers.
I’ll get off the soapbox and leave it at this. You have a great product Tom! Probably one of the best out their, which no one has denied. We are aware you donated to the forum Car Contest and appreciate that. It wasn’t necessary to point that out in this thread. Gregs thread got hitchhiked when it was a simple and very useful writeup for those of us that, on occasion, are looking for a…yes, you got it…”cost effective alternative”

 

Your knowledge of this part of the hobby is a tremendous help

 

I do appreciate hearing of cost cutting options, but I still plan to buy from DeWitt when the time comes to finish my Vette. I also believe that you get what you pay for.



www.bigdogvettes.com

 

 

Tom,
I think there is a natural inclination for anyone to examine a person's motives when they have a financial stake in the answer. It's 100% natural for you to believe in your product and promote it - and from what everyone has said about your radiators, they're great products.

I'm very interested to hear about your other observations on the Northern radiator based on my (admittely lousy) picture. No one is doubting your expertise in the realm of Corvette cooling systems and radiators.

As far as the origin of the radiator goes, I'm sure you are aware that there are regulations if you choose to put the "Made in USA" label on a product. Since they are using the label, presumably Northern's statement that their radiators are made in Minnesota is vaild. If a significant portion like the core was made elsewhere, they wouldn't be able to use the "Made in USA" label without running afoul of the FTC.

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/usabalrt.htm
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/buspubs/madeusa.htm

 

Dude! You just gave this thing a whole new set of legs bringing the GM partnership thing into the mix! ...standing by