Gearing up now for my LSx/4L60e swap and I've been looking at cooling solutions. This car is breaking me financially, so I'm all about saving money where I can...provided I only have to do it once. About the only only viable solution I had found was the nice DeWitt's radiator. Unfortunately, that's about twice what I had allotted for the cooling solution, if not more time you add your electric fans into the mix. Browsing on the 'bay last night, I came across this radiator/fan listing. http://www.ebay.com/itm/161209661272...S:1123&vxp=mtr

This listing is for 68-72 C3's and has a single fan. A dual is available for another 50 bucks. These are not Chinese builds, from what I can gather. My Vette is a 74 and not a 72 so I'm guessing there is a difference. I'm also going to require a transmission cooler for the 4L60e integrated into the radiator. This morning, I contacted the company to find if a solution for my 74 is being made. One is, and can be equipped with either a single or dual fans. The duals are another 50 bucks. This LOOKS like a well built radiator. Even the integrated fan shroud appears to be a nice aluminum shroud tig'd to the radiator. This solution consists of the fully aluminum welded radiator, integrated fan shroud and fan(s), properly set up for LSx engines complete with proper steam connection and designed to drop into a C3 for $550 bucks with the dual fans shipped to my door. The guy has a 100% feedback rating, and has been around a while. Anyone have any experience with these radiators?

 

Think duals is a good idea in case one goes you can still get home. Have a spal single and while its good I sometimes worry if it went Im cooked.

 

Throwing big buck$ at an engine and then scrimping on the cooling system is like buying a Ferrari and putting General tires on it.

The cooling system protects the engine. Why would you want to put second-rate equipment into the cooling system for an LS3 powerplant?

Why not just get the original radiator recored?

 

Before we toss the cart in front of the horse let's recap. First, when I price a radiator for say a C6 Corvette, I cant see the skimping comment holding much water. I can get two later model Corvette radiators for what this one costs. It aint "cheap". A DeWitt's IS expensive. Close to three time the COST of this not so cheap radiator. If you know something specific about the materials or construction of this radiator, or the US company that constructs it, I'd love to hear where your basing this opinion on. If this is indeed "second rate equipment", how so? It's made in the USA, unlike a lot of Chinese garbage.

Now about the re-core. I wasn't aware I could take my 74 4 core radiator and PROPERLY set it up for an LS swap without a myriad of hose adapters lending to a setup that looks like it came out of Bubba's garage. You have my attention! Please elaborate

 

Kind of a cheap shot there to a company that is highly regarded here and for good reason. I know nothing about the radiator the OP is looking at and am very glad you are happy with yours, but don't disparage us who own Dewitts radiators and are very happy with the quality of the product and the customer service. To each his own, but I certainly wouldn't make an offhand remark about your choices.

 

That's funny. DeWitt radiator owners are always disparaging anyone who is considering buying a different brand.

 

I used an all aluminum radiator from shephards on the tropical rain forest themed sales sight. It has worked flawlessly. It keeps the engine right at thermostat temp on the hottest Arkansas day while sitting in traffic. I can understand wanting the best and getting rid of worry. That said, I have never lost an engine to a radiator. I check the temp often, I can smell the stench of leaking coolant from a mile away and I check fluids often. Even if my cheap radiator dies in half the time, I will not lose an engine over it before I pull over and call AAA. To each their own though.

 

dang! these radiator threads always get hot!

I got a Dewitt's and it works fine. Just went on the recommendations of others here.

Jim

 

I think he's wanting a dual pass so the inlet outlet are on the passenger side (matches the LS3 setup). Problem with that radiator is it looks like the fan is a $30 universal. OEM fans in passenger cars can pull 30 amps each.
I would pass on it unless you can get it without fans. Then retrofit GM or aftermarket fans.

 

excuse a bit of humor , as some on this sight seam to be a bit too serious, but i digress

 

Well, show me where "I" have ever disparaged anybody's radiator choice. Since you quoted me, you must have knowledge that I have done this.

I don't give a damn whos radiator anyone uses, I just don't like it when one of the quality vendors is disparaged, whether jokingly or not. Any of you that have done any resto work know how hard it is to get quality repro parts of any kind for these cars, Dewitts deserve that respect whether you buy their rad or not.

Back to the regularly scheduled program.

Bill

 

thats strange, i have the same hallucination as you.:

funny i thought this post was titled " alternative" to dewitts.

 

Zip sells aluminum replacement radiators made by Dewitts for $400. it's the best quality you are going to get for the price.

http://www.zip-corvette.com/ProductD...GR-SR&CTitle=&

 

Look guys. I'm not paying for this forum. I'm just using it, trying to learn as much as I can and maybe even teach others a few things along the way. Maybe DeWitt's pays plugs. I dunno. I'm not bad mouthing DeWitt's either. I wish I had 1500 bucks burning a hole in my pocket so I could splurge for "the best" radiator and fans in the galaxy. Unfortunately, I simply can't justify nearly 1000 bucks for a radiator. ANY radiator. Hell, that's over half of what I paid for the entire car. That is outrageous by anyone's standards unless maybe it's a Ferrari. You can still spend 5000 dollars for a fire extinguisher with a fancy Ferrari sticker on it... but hey, It's STILL just a fire extinguisher. Does that fancy sticker justify 5k just to have it? It must. They still sell 5000 dollar fire extinguishers...and some people still purchase them. To each their own. Now, if someone here can find a way to instill another 500 dollars worth of "value" to a DeWitt's, I'm listening provided you offer substance and not a big fancy word like "inferior" with nothing to back it but an opinion. Otherwise this thread has turned into a cult....

For those actually curious, this looks to be an alternative. Even the tig welding is impressive...
[IMG][/IMG]

 

Your right about the dual pass and inlet and outlets as well as steam hole provision requirements for this radiator. Now, about the fans. I think you may be onto something Gary. I've been around aftermarket fan motors and factory fan motors. When the factory motor weighs twice the aftermarket one, something is wrong. Some corner has been cut. My son came up with a dual fan setup off a 2002 Saab 93 Series today that is just about PERFECT! (And only $25.00 at our local pull a part!) 3000+ cfm's! YAY!
[IMG][/IMG]

 

Im going to be putting in a Griffin radiator with my LS swap, same quality, better price, and not forced to use Spal fans which I'm not impressed with. Not knocking Dewitts at all, they make a qualty product, but there are other options available.

 

Might want to get a new keyboard there slick, your shift key doesn't work. Oh, and spell-checker is free.

Good grief, no one on here cares what radiator someone uses. DeWitts makes a high quality radiator and stands by his products. Small company started by a guy trying to reproduce his C2 radiator.

If you like your Griffin or Acme radiator and it works good, then great. I'm happy for you.

Contrary to what you think, there are no radiator snobs.

 

Just a note on the LS motor and radiator.
On my 68 with a 6.0 and Griffin radiator, the radiator cap was not the highest point in the system. That makes purging air difficult. I could have kept the surge tank in the heater hose, but instead went with a remote fill in the upper hose.

 

Nobody said the OP was bashing Dewitts. Must read the thread before making assumptions. A quick search at Camaros found a couple of threads about these radiators. Have a read.

 

I wonder how the matching radiator out of that saab would work?