Aluminum Radiator options?
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Lakeland, FL
Cruise-In IV-V-VI-VII-VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Aluminum Radiator options?
The radiator of my yellow '68 is leaking and I think that it's time for a aluminum one.. I'm thinking in using the same universal Griffin radiator that I have on my '68 Vette race car. That radiator is 27.5 x 19 and fits perfectly. I have the one with 1 1/4 inch rows on my race car and might get the one with 1 inch rows for my yellow '68..
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...0&autoview=sku
Are there any other options of inexpensive aluminum radiators that will fit a '68 4-speed Vette?
P.S. It has to be about the same size and the lower outlet on the radiator has to clear the sway bar.. The Griffin piece clears the sway bar as the lower outlet sits a little higher than on other universal radiators..
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...0&autoview=sku
Are there any other options of inexpensive aluminum radiators that will fit a '68 4-speed Vette?
P.S. It has to be about the same size and the lower outlet on the radiator has to clear the sway bar.. The Griffin piece clears the sway bar as the lower outlet sits a little higher than on other universal radiators..
Last edited by GrandSportC3; Apr 5, 2007 at 08:37 AM.
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Dewitt's is the only way to go for a quality, correct aluminum radiator in my opinion. Superior fit and performance. They aren't cheap, but you get what you pay for.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Lakeland, FL
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St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Dewitt's is definetely a quality product.. Some of my friends use them.. I'm not into correct looking stuff etc.. as my car is not matching numbers... The Griffin universal Radiator fits perfect on my other '68 and keeps 750+ HP perfectly cool... Got the Griffin Radiator for my Race '68 5 years ago and put 20k miles on the street and hundreds of drag strip passes on it and no issues at all.. Griffin Radiators are high quality..
7th Gear
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 7
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From: Raleigh NC
The radiator of my yellow '68 is leaking and I think that it's time for a aluminum one.. I'm thinking in using the same universal Griffin radiator that I have on my '68 Vette race car. That radiator is 27.5 x 19 and fits perfectly. I have the one with 1 1/4 inch rows on my race car and might get the one with 1 inch rows for my yellow '68..
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...0&autoview=sku
Are there any other options of inexpensive aluminum radiators that will fit a '68 4-speed Vette?
P.S. It has to be about the same size and the lower outlet on the radiator has to clear the sway bar.. The Griffin piece clears the sway bar as the lower outlet sits a little higher than on other universal radiators..
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...0&autoview=sku
Are there any other options of inexpensive aluminum radiators that will fit a '68 4-speed Vette?
P.S. It has to be about the same size and the lower outlet on the radiator has to clear the sway bar.. The Griffin piece clears the sway bar as the lower outlet sits a little higher than on other universal radiators..
I'd say go for it unless you want a direct fit, but then you'll end up paying a lot more. As for my .02, I'm happy with my Griffin.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 915
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From: Lima, OH -- 69 L71 427/435hp
I was debating aluminum as well, but I was wondering, how good is the original copper?
You may laugh, but I asked my Mom if the vette ever ran overly hot when she drove it back in the 70's, and she said it never had any problems and I just had original checked and tested, it's fine and that's what I was planning on using, but just curious of others experience with copper.
You may laugh, but I asked my Mom if the vette ever ran overly hot when she drove it back in the 70's, and she said it never had any problems and I just had original checked and tested, it's fine and that's what I was planning on using, but just curious of others experience with copper.
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From: Lakeland, FL
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St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
My yellow '68 hasn't been running hot with the factory radiator, so I really don't need too much better cooling.. The car usually never runs over 200 degrees... Only once I got to about 205 degrees on a 95 degrees summer day in the middle of a traffic jam...
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From: Virginia USA
My Griffin direct fit was just that......PERFECT. No problems with it in over 7 years. I paid a little more money for the direct fit but I didn't have to time to make a universal when my original one failed. Took about 3 hours the change it out.
Thread Starter
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From: Lakeland, FL
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St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
I've had zero issues with my universal griffin and it was a bolt on modification. The only thing that i needed to change were the radiator hoses..
Griffin has a very good name and those radiators are proven to be reliable..
Last edited by GrandSportC3; Apr 5, 2007 at 12:11 PM.
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From: Tampa, Florida
proven solutions.. Is 5 years, 20k miles and 200+ drag strip passes not a proven solution
I've had zero issues with my universal griffin and it was a bolt on modification. The only thing that i needed to change were the radiator hoses..
Griffin has a very good name and those radiators are proven to be reliable..
I've had zero issues with my universal griffin and it was a bolt on modification. The only thing that i needed to change were the radiator hoses..
Griffin has a very good name and those radiators are proven to be reliable..
Sounds like you made up your mind before you even started the thread........
Thread Starter
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From: Lakeland, FL
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St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
For example this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-A...spagenameZWDVW
It has the right dimensions but I'm not sure if the lower hose mount will clear the sway bar...
Last edited by GrandSportC3; Apr 5, 2007 at 12:41 PM.
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From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
proven solutions.. Is 5 years, 20k miles and 200+ drag strip passes not a proven solution
I've had zero issues with my universal griffin and it was a bolt on modification. The only thing that i needed to change were the radiator hoses..
Griffin has a very good name and those radiators are proven to be reliable..
I've had zero issues with my universal griffin and it was a bolt on modification. The only thing that i needed to change were the radiator hoses..
Griffin has a very good name and those radiators are proven to be reliable..
not really.. I was looking for other UNIVERSAL radiators that will fit. I stated that I DO KNOW that the universal Griffin fits without a problem and modifications (as I'm running on on my other '68).. I'm just looking for other options for UNIVERSAL radiators that will fit..
For example this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-A...spagenameZWDVW
It has the right dimensions but I'm not sure if the lower hose mount will clear the sway bar...
For example this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-A...spagenameZWDVW
It has the right dimensions but I'm not sure if the lower hose mount will clear the sway bar...
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Lakeland, FL
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St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
The Summit brand doesn't have a 3 inch thick radiator.. The 2.25 inch thick one will be loose in the brackets...
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St. Jude Donor '07
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From: Orange Park Florida
OK, I have had this '72 350 vette for 12 years now...and the rad took an early on dump....so found a plastic/epoxy/aluminum whatever original GM style rad about 3/4 inch thinner than original...at less than 1/2 the weight of that old copper/brass thing....it has one set of rows about 1.25 inches thick, roughly....and it's from a '89? Camaro V8 so I figgered it would cool ok....it did, up north....but....in the mix there was a '87 vette fan mounted in a modded up, and sealed up tight original shroud....not really adequate....the thing cooled fine at 80 at 105f temps in free air....figger on 130f off that highway....BUT when getting off into traffic, that's when troubles happened...
I installed a set of Tom Dewitts' dual Spals.....and they are sealed up tight also....
we shall see....so far so good, for a couple daze it's been 90f free air and must have been 120 or so off the freeway in traffic and the Spals cooled it down VERY quickly 180f is my goal...not over 195 at max...
cold front coming through....C U in a month or so for a true acid test...
BUT....I note the airflow is MUCHO GREATER....that alone should keep this SBC happy....
I installed a set of Tom Dewitts' dual Spals.....and they are sealed up tight also....
we shall see....so far so good, for a couple daze it's been 90f free air and must have been 120 or so off the freeway in traffic and the Spals cooled it down VERY quickly 180f is my goal...not over 195 at max...
cold front coming through....C U in a month or so for a true acid test...
BUT....I note the airflow is MUCHO GREATER....that alone should keep this SBC happy....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 3,123
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From: Hollywood, Florida
Hello Olivier!
Just my 2 cents......Since you mentioned that cooling is not a problem, why not just have the original rad repaired? If you want like new,
I believe you could get yours recored for less $$$$ than a universal fit, and you would be guaranteed that it fits without any clearence issues.
I had mine recored 2 years ago for $100.
Just my 2 cents......Since you mentioned that cooling is not a problem, why not just have the original rad repaired? If you want like new,
I believe you could get yours recored for less $$$$ than a universal fit, and you would be guaranteed that it fits without any clearence issues.
I had mine recored 2 years ago for $100.
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From: Lakeland, FL
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St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 182,997
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From: Lakeland, FL
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St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Hello Olivier!
Just my 2 cents......Since you mentioned that cooling is not a problem, why not just have the original rad repaired? If you want like new,
I believe you could get yours recored for less $$$$ than a universal fit, and you would be guaranteed that it fits without any clearence issues.
I had mine recored 2 years ago for $100.
Just my 2 cents......Since you mentioned that cooling is not a problem, why not just have the original rad repaired? If you want like new,
I believe you could get yours recored for less $$$$ than a universal fit, and you would be guaranteed that it fits without any clearence issues.
I had mine recored 2 years ago for $100.
Marc, I'd sell the old radiator on Ebay and might get $80+ for it...so it would end up the same price.. It's a original '68 radiator and the tanks alone might be worth $80 for someone who needs a correct '68 radiator.. Nothing on my car is correct (engine, transmission, rear end) and therefore I don't care at all for originality.. My yellow car is a driver..