id guess NASCAR.

 

Yes NASCAR. The place I'm dealing with builds for several teams. My way of thinking is....if they can keep those guys cool at their pace, then they should be able to help me out. I've had several different cars and a variety of radiators....some good and inexpensive and some not so good and inexpensive. Bats13 said it best...I like Levis but wear Wranglers. Radiators are a different story with me. I want to do all I can to keep my engine cool.

 

References? I'm interested in building 496/502 BB engine with AC and I'd like to buy a radiator that will absolutely not have heating problems.
So far, I'd think Be Cool is the only vendor that accomodates larger displacements for BB engines.

Thanks

 

I do believe you have upped the game a little and I wish the expression "you get what you pay for" was still always true with all things.

On the lower end I see 100% of the people here happy with the cooling of the import budget radiators I also see 100% of the people happy with the cooling of the US made pay extra for it radiators.
So is there any reason based on this forum for the 99% of us to pay extra?

My conclusion is 99% of the people here would do fine with the best import radiator their budget can afford.

If I had your engine and it's demands I to would be looking for that top shelf race car / nascar type thing you are hunting...

 

3 pages of replies and not one chime in from the grand master poobla Dewitt's themselves. So I think you have your answer. I went around the block with many of these guys when I did my LS3 swap on my C3. When I pointed out 1000 bucks for a radiator/fan setup was too "pricey" for what it was. I went with an another brand and snagged me a Ford Focus fan setup. I have around 200 bucks in my solution. It looks good and cools great. However this didn't stop the DeWitt fart sniffers from attempting to rain on my parade. After that I figured it must be a cult thing and went about my business. Heck, for what a Dewitt's radiator cost, I'd figure they would pay someone to troll these threads looking for an opportunity to shine above the rest. Where art thou?

 

I think it is more a "Made in the USA" thing than it is a value (what you get for your dollar) thing. I can buy two cheap radiators for the price of one of the DeWitt radiators, but what does that mean for the big picture?

Cheap radiators are cheap because they're made in China or wherever, along with the sources of low cost disposable parts that we've all come to expect. Low quality parts have come in and replace the higher quality parts that the guys who have been around for a while were typically used to.

I think the mindset is like this "I used to be able to buy a part, install it, and not worry about it breaking for years", where now the probability of receiving a part that is already broken or will break soon is higher. By supporting a company like DeWitt, you're supporting one of the few remaining the high quality Made in USA parts makers who when he reads threads like this may be discouraged to continue.

I get it.

Having said that, I bought a cheap radiator and it works fine, and I shop at walmart. I am whats wrong with the world, apparently. The world isn't what it was. Globalization is here and its not going away. Suppliers like DeWitt will continue to feel the very real threat of overseas parts mills easily undercutting them while possibly even blatantly copying their products.

"The Fates guide those who go willingly; those who do not, they drag." - Seneca

 

"you get what you pay for" can and does mean differnt things, the cats who bought and are thrilled with their import cheaper part got what they paid for a good part at a great price.
At one time one could blanket that all import parts are junk and now like it or not many import parts are not junk and in some cases just as good or better than the higher dollar USA made item...if you are on a budget like I am you buy what you can afford

 

just wondering the source of the aluminum used in either radiator. stupid EPA restrictions and Tax rates removed steel mills from Pittsburg decades ago. aluminum is probably all offshore too.

 

Since the OP asked for experience with cheaper alternatives, I thought I would update my recent experience. I posted earlier in the thread about my becool radiator rotting out. neck would not seal to the cap due to severe pitting/corosion. upon removal of the radiator to get a new neck welded in, the lower hose outlet was completely rotted away where the hose clamped on. interior of the radiator looked like new, but radiator shop said it wasn't worth fixing as it would likely spring a leak elsewhere.

Instead of going with another high priced supposedly high quality radiator, I ordered the $219 Champion aluminum radiator for my '68 427. it arrived in 1 week, and was packed in a torn up box taped up with scraps. it looked horrible, but upon opening it up, the radiator was pristine and had zero damage. I was impressed with the welds, much cleaner and smoother than the becool, and the tanks were highly polished. came with a cap, but there is no option for manual trans cars, so it has a trans cooler that is not needed.

installation was a bit of a pain. could not get the brackets to line up. the radiator seemed a little wide (1/2") and a little tall as well. Comparing to the becool, the size was the same, but the tank welds to the core were slightly wider, meaning the core is wider but the outside dimensions were the same. the way they fit into the lower rubber mounts therefore was giving me greif. the BeCool rad had aluminum square stock welded to the bottom for the mounts inboard of the tanks, which is why that one fit better. My solution was to take a 2x4 and hammer to the mounts. a few light taps dropped the lower mounts just enough to get the upper mount bolt holes lined up. once tightened up, the radiator fit perfect and is nice and firm. I consider that a success!

Only other problem/difference is the location of the upper radiator hose outlet location. on the BeCool, the elbow is at about 90degrees in relation to the side tank, but the Champion has the outlet closer to 45 degrees. the stock hose did work, but the difference made the hose a little short and had to be adjusted on the water neck and twisted a touch to fit without hitting the alternator pulley. it is close fit but it does work and I don't expect an issue. Also the drain is facing rearward rather than located on the bottom, but I ditched the fan shroud (using electric fan that came with the BeCool). Took it for a spin yesterday and temp never went past 195...

So my experience was that a little tweaking of the mounts and hose was needed to fit the radiator, but overall I am pleased with the product and it seemed to be a better quality unit than the more expensive options. Of course I have no idea the quality of the grade of aluminum used, but that apparently wouldn't have made a difference in my book, judging how the becool held up (car was from Arizona, and PO likely used alkaline water in it according to the radiator shop).

Let me know if anyone wants pics or anything.

PS. power steering belt was a PITA to put on!

 

Funny you ask that. From what I have heard, a few years ago aluminum prices started rising. The reason I was told is that overseas was doing alot of building and was buying the stuff up. How correct that is I am not sure, but its what I was told.

 

[QUOTE=7t9l82;1589367205]it kind of reinforces my belief that lifetime warranties are mostly worthless, you get to remove your part pay to ship it both ways and wait to see how long it take for the manufacturer to address the issue. QUOTE]

 

[QUOTE=hicomp;1589459556]What I have had happen and seen over and over is some companies are all cool and buddy buddy while you hand them $$$ but have a problem some will turn their back and some will really turn on you....