Radiators: Not what they use to be.
12-27-2017, 07:06 PM
#21
Race Director
Member Since: Mar 2003
Location: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
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Maybe you are actually touting DeWitts radiators as the best value but it's coming out backwards? It's hard to tell exactly.
By highlighting and posting the above statement, immediately after
Cools 30% better than stock
could be viewed as a rebuttal or support to the contrary.
the point to that statement was actually the part you didn't highlight.
The problem is a copper radiator is not ALL copper. The tubes and fin are copper however they are bonded together with lead, which has horrible heat transfer capabilities. The end tanks are brass and the side channels are steel. The trick to better cooling is wider tubes and shorter fin. This increases the “tube to fin” contact area, which determines the radiator efficiency.
A typical 4 row copper radiator uses 7/16" tubes while the aluminum radiators use two rows 1" tubes.
Then the copper radiator uses 1/2 tall fin while the aluminum radiator uses 3/8" fin. The shorter fin increases the number of tube layers in a given stack up. For example a 18.5" tall radiator has 30 layers for the copper unit versus 40 layers for the aluminum. So you have more layers per stack up and more surface area in each layer. The aluminum radiator is 100% aluminum, furnace brazed. That is why aluminum radiators work better than copper ones.
By highlighting and posting the above statement, immediately after
Cools 30% better than stock
could be viewed as a rebuttal or support to the contrary.
the point to that statement was actually the part you didn't highlight.
The problem is a copper radiator is not ALL copper. The tubes and fin are copper however they are bonded together with lead, which has horrible heat transfer capabilities. The end tanks are brass and the side channels are steel. The trick to better cooling is wider tubes and shorter fin. This increases the “tube to fin” contact area, which determines the radiator efficiency.
A typical 4 row copper radiator uses 7/16" tubes while the aluminum radiators use two rows 1" tubes.
Then the copper radiator uses 1/2 tall fin while the aluminum radiator uses 3/8" fin. The shorter fin increases the number of tube layers in a given stack up. For example a 18.5" tall radiator has 30 layers for the copper unit versus 40 layers for the aluminum. So you have more layers per stack up and more surface area in each layer. The aluminum radiator is 100% aluminum, furnace brazed. That is why aluminum radiators work better than copper ones.
I was "touting" that dewitts says that a copper radiator if all things were the same as their aluminum radiator would cool better because cooper does conduct heat better than aluminum, but all copper is not at all practical.
I have zero clue if across the board all dewitts c3 radators cool 30% bettter than all copper and or factory c3 radiators,
I would guess in some cases less than 30 other cases more, but i dont know.
Im i saying dewitts is the "best value" ?
i guess compared to a 90 pound all copper radiator then yes, it is the best value,
Best value in general?
Can i please just slide out on that....i wanna be at peace with you.
Last edited by The13Bats; 12-27-2017 at 07:07 PM.
12-27-2017, 07:13 PM
#22
Former Vendor
I am now retired. I sold the company in 2015 and my old team is running the business like a well oil machine. New Owners
12-28-2017, 12:24 AM
#23
Drifting
For what it's worth, I would have preferred to have a DeWitt radiator. If I had a little more money to work with in my build budget. I mean who wouldn't want to have the Cadillac of radiators in their Vette. I am basing this opinion solely on what I have read on this forum which is very convincing at least to me.
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stingraymyway (12-29-2017)
12-29-2017, 01:38 PM
#25
Drifting
Ok, you too. But just in case you missed it....
I am now retired. I sold the company in 2015 and my old team is running the business like a well oil machine. New Owners
I am now retired. I sold the company in 2015 and my old team is running the business like a well oil machine. New Owners
12-29-2017, 05:04 PM
#26
Race Director
Thread Starter
I will take your advice and go with aluminum although I'm not concerned about painting it to look stock. It has several other mods so stock appearance isn't a concern.
12-29-2017, 05:19 PM
#27
Le Mans Master
Member Since: May 2008
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2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Dewitts radiators are works of art...top notch quality. Very happy with mine.
12-29-2017, 08:05 PM
#28
Former Vendor
I believe they will be having a sale about mid January but I haven't been given the go to make any announcements
12-30-2017, 09:15 PM
#29
Race Director
Thread Starter
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stingraymyway (01-04-2018)