This topic has been talked about many, many times both are good products but here are some very important differences. The BeCool unit is made from a special vacuum brazed radiator core, which dissipates heat much better than either a copper-brass or Griffins which is an epoxy core aluminum style. The epoxy acts as an insulator, and also prevents it from being repaired in the future. BeCools are repairable. The BeCool unit uses a tank wall thikness of .080 versus Griffins that is .060. Tank construction is billet, versus stamped and filler neck is cast on BeCool, stamped on Griffin. The frame configuration is a consealed flange, Griffin is exposed flange. To me the choice is obvious, BeCool with the vacuum brazed, non-epoxy core, custom fabricated .080 wall end tanks and dual core is superior to the others. I know price is allways an issue, but for about $500 bucks don't you think are motors are worth it? Don't take a chance, make the right choice once and be done with it! Give them a call if you need more info at 888-243-2999 or 989-8895-9699, you will be glad you did. And remember, BeCool! :cool:

 

I knew that their was some reason why Monty, RED73 , and myself went with 62029 BeCool.

By the way to you get a commission on them?:)

 

You have piece of mind and I have an extra $330 in my pocket, hope it keeps working out for both of us. :cheers:

 

There is a universal BeCool radiator which has 2 1" rows that is $280 at Summit. The universal Griffin with 2 1" rows is $190 and with 2 1 1/4" rows is $290.

Both brands of "direct fit" radiators are in the $500 range.

 

Hey no commission on mine! I just really like their stuff, and I know the people that own the place, real car guys! I also am good friends with one of the engineers, he as far as I am concerned can walk on water!! It does not hurt that he has a cooool 65 blue vette with one very strong 383 motor in it!!

 

That's what I have and it works great!!!

:cheers:

Olivier

 

Quite true about Griffin & epoxy & stamped necks ... & BeCool's construction superior to Griffin. Both BeCool & Griffin are great rads.

But here's a tip you won't find in the Summit paper catalog. There is an aluminum radiator MANUFACTURER named "NORTHERN" of Willmar, MN ... you can't buy directly from Northern ... they sell to SUMMIT, Speedway motors, Lefthander Chassis etc. None of those good folk resell them under name of Northern ... Summit doesn't even give em a name, they're not in summit paper catalog ... look em up online under summit as manufacturer, Speedway calls them "tru-cool" ... Lefthander calls them "titan" ... etc.

Northern is virtually identical to Griffin in configuration ... BUT ... Northern radiators have furnace brazed construction, billet necks, and NO epoxy ... AND THEY COST LESS THAN GRIFFIN!

Northerns are great universal type aluminum rads ... two rows of 1" tubes ... we install them in many circle track cars & trucks. We get em from Lefthander ... in LH’s catalog they’re named “titan” but they arrive w/ Northern stamped into tank. BTW, we also install AFCO, BeCool, Cools-It, C&R etc ... when customer specifies he wants to spend.

BTW, I didn’t just assume the relationship between Northern & Summit ... I recently verified this by speaking w/ both Northern’s sales & Summit’s purchasing depts. Everyone knows the good name of Griffin ... they're great rads! But every now & then, some lesser-known'll come along with a better mousetrap. Northern's got a better universal aluminum radiator for less! ... & IMHO, just as good as BeCool & AFCO.

Here's the cross reference:
Northern 9607 31 x 19 = Summit pn SUM-380331 @ $180
Northern 9607 31 x 19 = Speedway pn 917347-31 @ $170
equivalent Griffin at Summit pn GRI-1-25272-X @ $190
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern 9606 28 x 19 = Summit pn SUM-380328 @ $170
Northern 9606 28 x 19 = Speedway pn 917247-28 @ $160
equivalent Griffin at Summit pn GRI-1-25242-X @ $190

Please forward 1 brewski /$10 saved.


[Modified by jackson, 4:11 AM 10/2/2002]


[Modified by jackson, 4:15 AM 10/2/2002]


[Modified by jackson, 4:18 AM 10/2/2002]


[Modified by jackson, 4:20 AM 10/2/2002]

 

Hehe, me too, but a year ago they were only $260 :D

 

i agree with what jackson is saying. last month when i did the overhaul, i took the occasion to replace my leaking OEM radiator. i ordered the summit universal radiator and when i recieved it, sure enough, it had the name 'northern' stamped into the tank. unfortunately, i ordered the incorrect one so ended up having to get a griffin because of stock issues. the universal fit griffin DOES NOT drop into the late c-3 like some others claim to do. it does fit but there are several PITA issues with it.


[Modified by clutchdust, 12:42 PM 10/2/2002]

 

Well, maybe it did not drop right in on YOUR car but it did on mine. The brackets went on in the same location w/o any modifications. The rad support is in without any modifications. The only thing I had to modify were the hoses, and that was just cutting off some excess length.

Now, I'm sure there were many variances between '69 and '81, so YMMV.

Also, I went with electric fans so I did not have the fan shroud to contend with.


[Modified by Chris A, 2:10 PM 10/2/2002]

 

chris, i wish i had a '69! and not only just because they're so dang cool. i had to splice hoses, discard the factory cold air induction and my e-fans didn't (and still don't) fit in there right. oh well, just winter projects. i should edit my earlier post to say it DOES NOT drop into the late c-3.

 

To best of my knowledge, all mass-produced C3s' factory rad mounts are configured so the rads' overhang at the tank-header seams nest/clamp into the mounts (aka saddle mounts). As there are many variations of core size across the series, there are also many variations in side-to-side dimensions between the R & L saddle mounts ... and front-to-back variations depending on tank-header width. There are many different factory radiators, of various width & thickness, used across the C3 series.

Most, if not all, universal alum rad dimensions are published as OVERALL. Some folks apparently use a 27.5" - 28" wide UAR ... some use a 31" UAR. Fitting a UAR may go nearly as smoothly as direct-fit for one C3 ... but require mount modification/fabrication for another C3 ... depending on year & options. So, it's easy to see how a UAR may drop in one fellow's C3 but not in another ... and that's implied by the term "universal."

Two things would be helpful to those planning to fit a UAR. Could a database of dimensions be compiled and then posted here ... in manner such as Lar's white papers. When a rad R&R is underway, C3 fans might measure their saddle mount & rad dimensions with their baby's options ... then post here for further compilation. And wouldn't it be nice if the UAR manufacturers/marketers would also publish the core dimensions & tank-head overhang dimensions?

There's a forum member (sorry don't recall his handle) whose sig seems most appropriate here ... "knowledge gained but not shared is lost."

JACK


[Modified by jackson, 4:09 PM 10/2/2002]

 

chris, i think you have an excellent idea. it would be nice if we could have a 'CF library' that we could archive all these technical threads, although i'm sure this would require massive amounts of server space.
as to the fit of the rad in my particular application, i am thinking that some of this may be production variances with griffin. although i'm not disappointed in the fit and finish of my griffin (mostly), i was surprised to find that mine was 1/2" narrower than the listed 31" width. i figure this is because of the epoxy fit between the tank and core since the core was narrower than my OEM radiator. this was also evident when i tried to mount my flex-a-lite fans only to find the assembly that fit on the original radiator was 1/2" wider than the core of the griffin. because of this, the griffin only fit in one of the saddles and the other end was resting on the tank. i had to modify the saddles to accept the radiator.
also, the upper and lower brackets (i don't know what they're called) aren't as tall as the OEM, which is where i had mounted the fans previously. i still don't have a permanent solution for that.
i also had to eliminate the factory cold air induction ducting because it wouldn't fit between the radiator and the radiator support. additionally, the overflow tube would not allow the ducting in the factory location. i plan on getting an old, damaged hood to modify for a different cold air intake.
another real PITA was getting a lower radiator hose. the upper fit just fine but on the lower, i couldn't get anything to replicate the near 90* bend of the OEM rad. i ended up having to take a small peice of exhaust pipe and cut and splice two different hoses to get the appropriate bend. if anybody else has run into a similar problem and found an acceptable hose, i would really, really like to find out the hose number, application and store where you got it. hope this helps others who plan on doing similar.


[Modified by clutchdust, 5:18 PM 10/2/2002]

 

Auto Zone a 4 core direct fit for only $200 with a life-time warranty, as good or better then orginal and I also have over $300 in my pocket. Tell me how I can beat that.

 

Toronto-C3:
Do you recall the manufacturer & part number? An excellent value ... VERY hard to beat! For those seeking copper-brass direct fit that could be a great route.

Were a dimensions database in place, your experience & dimensions is a another example of how such database could assist others. If we could’ve known your AZ rad's dimensions (with AZ part number & manufacturer pn) and perhaps dimensions of your saddle mounts and how your 73 is optioned ... maybe that info could’ve been part of any C3 database-knowledgebase?

OEM replacement industry std pn's for some copper-brass 4-rows with AT cooler are:
# 718 = CORE size 26-3/8" x 16-1/8" x 2-5/8"
# 478 = CORE size 27-1/2" x 16-1/8" x 2-5/8"
While core-size (roughly the distance between saddles) is primary difference between 718 & 478, there are other subtle differences such as inlet configuration & outlet diameter.

Modine shows OEM replacement # 478 for four-row 73 thru 76 ... OEM replacement # 718 for four-row 77 thru 82. Modine does not reference 72 on back. We’ve heard that 718 may direct-fit some 73 - 76 and vs ... but it seems to depend on engine, trans, cooling options etc.

 

That's what I paid.. I used the 10% discount code!!!

:cheers:

Olivier