Looking for radiator advice.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,662
Likes: 8
From: Knoxville Tennessee
Looking for radiator advice.
As part of the upgrades I want to do to my 79, I want to go with an aluminum radiator. Looking thru some of the ones offered I find that I am not up to speed on the latest technology. I am seeing 2 core 1 1/4 tubes and 3 and 4 core tubes. What is supposed to be the most efficient aluminum radiator on the market today and why? Your information will be appreciated.
Bernie
Bernie
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,668
Likes: 43
From: Eastern US XX
Originally Posted by BerniesVette
As part of the upgrades I want to do to my 79, I want to go with an aluminum radiator. Looking thru some of the ones offered I find that I am not up to speed on the latest technology. I am seeing 2 core 1 1/4 tubes and 3 and 4 core tubes. What is supposed to be the most efficient aluminum radiator on the market today and why? Your information will be appreciated.
Bernie
Bernie
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,362
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio TX
As mentioned you can go with Tom DeWitts as his is a drop in install. Very good person to deal with along with a good product.
Also as mentioned you can go with a universal fit Radiator and save a few bucks. Here is just one thread on it.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...light=radiator
It all depends on what you want to do.
Also as mentioned you can go with a universal fit Radiator and save a few bucks. Here is just one thread on it.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...light=radiator
It all depends on what you want to do.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 7,106
Likes: 38
From: Newark DE
Originally Posted by SHAKERATTLEROLL
Also as mentioned you can go with a universal fit Radiator and save a few bucks.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,362
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio TX
Originally Posted by BarryK
universal fit = usually means it universally fits nothing without some degree of modification or fabrication!
I took nothing away from DeWitts as I mentioned for a drop in that is the way to go.
This forum is here to help people not just give a one sided view.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,662
Likes: 8
From: Knoxville Tennessee
Thanks for all the information guys. I like the idea of saving a couple hundred bucks; at the same time I know for a fact that DeWitts is everything it should be and more! Tuff decision!
Bernie
Bernie
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,881
Likes: 9
From: staten island ny
Bernie
Just ordered my Dewitts direct fit last week, should be here tomorrow, hopefully installed by the weekend. I didnt really want to part with 500 beans but I figured the direct thing willl save me install time and my time is money.
ESU
Just ordered my Dewitts direct fit last week, should be here tomorrow, hopefully installed by the weekend. I didnt really want to part with 500 beans but I figured the direct thing willl save me install time and my time is money.
ESU
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 7,106
Likes: 38
From: Newark DE
Originally Posted by SHAKERATTLEROLL
He asked a question so I gave options as well as the thread showing what was done to install the Northern Radiator.
I took nothing away from DeWitts as I mentioned for a drop in that is the way to go.
This forum is here to help people not just give a one sided view.
I took nothing away from DeWitts as I mentioned for a drop in that is the way to go.
This forum is here to help people not just give a one sided view.
I put at the end?that means it was meant with humor.
i wasn't trying to put you down or your information. I understand fulley about presenting more than one side to an issue.........
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,662
Likes: 8
From: Knoxville Tennessee
I can see both sides of the cost issue. If both radiators do the same job and you can save 200+ buckes by doing a little fabricating; that leaves $200 to spend for something else that is needed. There is no question that no one makes a better radiator that Tom. But some of us need to be as cost consious and quality consious as possible. I'm in the process of gathering parts I want to install this winter while I have the engine out and like most; I want my dollar to go as far as possible. I haven't decided which way to go yet; but both options seem to have quality and are praised by those who have used them. Right now I am assuming that both radiators have the same number of cores, but will check with all the vendors to see the main differences before I can make an intelligent choice. Thanks for everyone's input!
Bernie
Bernie
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,071
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
www.hotrodsusa.com has an almost direct fit aluminum radiator for corvettes for like $308 shipped. That's the one I got. If you already have a 4 core radiator, it should be a direct fit. If you have a 3 core, you will have to SLIGHTLY adjust your upper brackets and maybe some of the foam on the sides. HOWEVER, I have a feeling Dewitts "direct fit" for the 77 and later vettes has this issue too. Any radiator that's more than 2" thick will require modifications on any vette that came with a 3 core radiator from the factory. No one has spoken up and said what the thickness of dewitts PN# A77A is so I can only assume it's probably 2 1/4" thick. (two 1 inch rows).
The radiator sold at hotrodsusa is made by Northern Factory and is of EXCELLENT quality. I just installed mine from them and I used to overheat on the freeway, now it barely gets over 180 (180* thermostat installed). After 10 hard runs at autocross, it never went over 200 degrees. That tells me it's an excellent product.
The radiator sold at hotrodsusa is made by Northern Factory and is of EXCELLENT quality. I just installed mine from them and I used to overheat on the freeway, now it barely gets over 180 (180* thermostat installed). After 10 hard runs at autocross, it never went over 200 degrees. That tells me it's an excellent product.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,128
Likes: 21
From: North Alabama
I just ordered this one. http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku
It is in transit so have no answers for quality and fitment as of yet. Greg's thread on the same radiator sounded promising though. I'll update when I have hard findings
It is in transit so have no answers for quality and fitment as of yet. Greg's thread on the same radiator sounded promising though. I'll update when I have hard findings
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,881
Likes: 9
From: staten island ny
Originally Posted by BerniesVette
I can see both sides of the cost issue. If both radiators do the same job and you can save 200+ buckes by doing a little fabricating; that leaves $200 to spend for something else that is needed. There is no question that no one makes a better radiator that Tom. But some of us need to be as cost consious and quality consious as possible. I'm in the process of gathering parts I want to install this winter while I have the engine out and like most; I want my dollar to go as far as possible. I haven't decided which way to go yet; but both options seem to have quality and are praised by those who have used them. Right now I am assuming that both radiators have the same number of cores, but will check with all the vendors to see the main differences before I can make an intelligent choice. Thanks for everyone's input!
Bernie
Bernie
ESU
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,881
Likes: 9
From: staten island ny
Originally Posted by Jclgodale3
I just ordered this one. http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku
It is in transit so have no answers for quality and fitment as of yet. Greg's thread on the same radiator sounded promising though. I'll update when I have hard findings
It is in transit so have no answers for quality and fitment as of yet. Greg's thread on the same radiator sounded promising though. I'll update when I have hard findings
ESU
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,362
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio TX
Originally Posted by BarryK
did you not notice the I put at the end?
that means it was meant with humor.
i wasn't trying to put you down or your information. I understand fulley about presenting more than one side to an issue.........
I put at the end?that means it was meant with humor.
i wasn't trying to put you down or your information. I understand fulley about presenting more than one side to an issue.........
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,662
Likes: 8
From: Knoxville Tennessee
I can't wait for the reports on the hotrod, Dewitts, and summit radiators, how many cores they have and how well they perform! I do appreciate the info, as well as , many others facing this decision!
Bernie
Bernie