Had the 82 into the shop for a leaking power steering hose. They had to keep it overnight. Let me know the next morning there was radiator fluid leaking. I knew I had a "small" problem, but had ignored it. So, told them to replace the radiator, of course. Old one was 10 years old or more. 4 core copper core. To my surprise, the new radiator is an aluminum one. No idea what brand. Don't care. Houston temps are hitting 90* already and the temp just sits on just under 200* - assume 195* as that is the thermostat temp. Never had the temp stay constant in stopped/slow traffic. I now believe in aluminum radiators.

 

 

I've been very happy with the aluminum radiators that I've used in my track cars and a few street cars. I too stayed away from them for quite sometime, but I've been very happy with them as well. If the current one goes in the '76, I'd consider an aluminum one, no problem.

 

Simlar experiences here also way better than stock

 

I will go there...aluminum doesn't cool any better than a comparable size condition copper unit....the draw of aluminum is weight savings and in some cases cool looking.

Okay flame away,

 

Aluminum is a cheaper material to use than copper brass. It is the design (more cooling area) that makes them better.

 

Aluminum is stronger, allowing tubes to be thinner and larger. Therefore more fluid can pass through. This is what allows it to cool better. A quick Google search will provide plenty of supporting info. It's also more durable. Weight savings is a nice bonus.

 

Aluminum is stronger, allowing tubes to be thinner and larger. Therefore more fluid can pass through. This is what allows it to cool better. A quick Google search will provide plenty of supporting info. It's also more durable. Weight savings is a nice bonus.

 

Forgive the double post. The forum is having problems apparently and now it won't let me delete the duplicate post.

 

I have looked into it,
http://www.caparadiator.com/aluminumvscopper.html

One of countless cooling experts opinion I have read.

When we start using a larger aluminum radiator than the copper one ( in many cases worn out ) it replaced it likely will cool better or sure should, it's bigger, but I like this line from the link,

" I have found that a properly built high efficiency copper radiator will cool the same as a well made aluminum radiator."

I also believe I have seen cooling experts post something to that same effect right here on the forum if he says no, then I am wrong on that one...but the net is full of cooling experts who feel the same as above.

My only point was that copper will cool the same as aluminum if you keep the playing field equal, if you do not believe so I respect your view.

I am not here to argue it, so I will move on....

 

I always read that the aluminum's more fins per inch was the reason aluminum cools better than copper/brass. Copper is a better conductor, aluminum is better constructed.

 

alot of the replacement radiators from oriellys , autozone, etc. are alum. w/plastic tanks now.

 

The other thing I noticed about my new aluminum radiator is how much more capacity it has. My original copper/aluminum radiator didn't hold nearly as much fluid as the new American Eagle (Champion) AE718 2 core (1" tubes) that I just installed in my 77. Fit perfectly too. What a great deal for $200 shipped from Jegs!

 

Bats have you tried one?
Was always stuck on a 3 row Id had in my Abody always kept it cool
Built a motor that puts out a lot more heat, would warm quicker and elec fan fought it cooling it down.Not even a spectacular fan

Solely switching radiators nothing else netted me a solid 8 deg less avg running temp, when fan would come on needle on gauge would plummet
They do work, esp a quality piece. The GM one sits in a box now. Difference in weight was surprising also, am sold on em for any vehicle at this point. If youre is stock well it will hold a temp even longer before "creep" will happen

 

I just had a new aluminum one in put my '77 L82. Used it in a local parade a couple of weeks ago and the temp stayed right below 200. Of course it isn't 95 degrees yet but, still no problems.

 

everyones so thankful today how nice

 

Right, so my point is the aluminum unit and the copper unit have to compare to be a fair shoot out which cools better, if we start with a copper unit that is old and then upgrade to an aluminum unit with more fines, rows whatever then of course it will cool better than that smaller copper unit....


A proper cooling system for the vehicle will never "creep" if it does something isn't right. ( most properly working stock systems do not creep )

If the aluminum radiator replaces a smaller copper unit or even a smaller aluminum unit then of course it will cool better but to take from that that across the board aluminum will alsways cool better than any copper unit isn't correct.

Have "I tried it?
I am a fan of auto electrical and have studied a lot of cooling issues on hard to cool cars, not just corvettes.
Yes, messed with copper and aluminum radiators and all kinds of electric fans

Here is a great story that could have been used the other way around,

My 66 modded corvette ran a Fiero electric fan and even stuck in florida traffic never got hot,
The radiator was in it when got it and was some sort of stock looking aluminum unit that fit the 66 radiator support in a way that I would bet it was a stock unit or stock replacement, age condition unknown.

After a few years of daily driving I was heading to Jacksonville from Orlando to see dad and at faster speeds it was creeping up, how odd,

by the time I got to dads I would creep up to overheating if pushed past about 40 mph.

So when I got there we got bust my dad a retired navy plane tech and private machinist, looked to tackle such problems looking into the radiator showed nothing out of sorts,
So I called a local radiator dealer and can you believe this they had in stock a replacement for a 66 corvette, but it was copper,

I pushed it going home and it never creeped up it ran cooler than ever,
Of course had this been where I replaced copper with aluminum then it would be another tale saying aluminum solves all cooling problems but in this case a new stock copper radiator cooled better than an old worn out aluminum one.

Most time when a person especially here replaces their radiator or posts that they need to it's not for the fun of it, it's because like you and me they are having a cooling issue, something isn't right, and while we all know hopping up your engine, more hp equals more heat is one reason to need a "larger" radiator in most cases I read on here the problem is simply the old radiator is worn out and not up to par so of course whatever radiator copper or aluminum we install if large enough for the task will cool the car.

In the case of my 69 bb car, well, I went aluminum and even went to the top of that stack and bought dewitts, and to go a step further I paid extra for custom larger, ( wish I had bb over sb )

Like I said I live in florida it gets super hot, stuck in traffic with air on in a mild bb things get hot, I didn't grab an import champion unit that have gotten so popular here due to bargain pricing for several reasons.

Imports simply do not have the quality control standards that dewitts has, I find most things I deal with custom service sucks so that is important to me if a problem pops up.
Champion does not have the hands on expertise of Tom Dewitt,

I did go with different fans than the dual 11 spals ( I know 11spals work for many people and are pushed with the dewitts package, I wanted bigger , better )

I have pretty much zero concerns that I will ever have a cooling issue with my set up, but if I do I can post here or call Tom and I know he will do everything he can to help, I called champion, not corvette people not even car people, parts salesman.

 

Who makes the best aluminum radiator!!!! ha haha hhaa haaaaa

 

OMG you didn't just go there

Okay okay, a real question?
That answer will have many facets and biases, if price is your concern likely champion, if you desire work of art that you have peace of mind with Dewitts will be right up there...

Hum "best"

 

Some food for thought, a stock L48/L82 warmed over won't need much more than the stock cooling system. Many of us are not near the stock HP and some of us are up in the 600+hp range. This requires a serious cooling system