hello

looking for a radiator for my 70 chevelle with a 396 big block v8 6.5L. There are so many radiators out there I just have no idea which brand, size, or how many rows to get. Originally I was considering a griffin or a "be cool" but I was told by a couple radiator guys here in San Francisco that griffin and be cool arent very good brands and that the quality isnt that good. Is this true? I also went on ebay and found a couple radiators made for a 1970 chevelle 396 for $184 and they were made by radiator classic and reliable radiator. I tried to do a little bit more research on those brands but couldnt find much. Plus im a little sketchy about buying a radiator on ebay when i know nothing about the brand and its reliability. Im sure you guys have some recommendations for me. Im all ears.

Thanks for reading everyone
Hope to hear some responses

Eric

Eric, if you're leaning towards aluminum, I would go with an Alumitech radiator. Lots of members ( including myself ) have bought one, and you do get what you pay for. excellent craftsmanshift, and great customer service.

www.chevellecooling.com

Ditto that !!!!!

If you want the stock look, I've never had a problem with the Harrison three core in our L72 and L78 cars. We had the rad in our 455 Lemans recored with a high density three core unit and it coolled the 455 just fine. Lean jetting and retarded timing can add to the grief if you are a borderline case.

here is the one I use on my 67ss. it is a china made but I just couldn't cough up 1k for a radiator. http://www.alumorad.com/1966-1967-chevy-el-camino-new-all-aluminum-ra.html
works very well - but does not look factory correct. with your model its covered up anyway though...

hello

looking for a radiator for my 70 chevelle with a 396 big block v8 6.5L. There are so many radiators out there I just have no idea which brand, size, or how many rows to get. Originally I was considering a griffin or a "be cool" but I was told by a couple radiator guys here in San Francisco that griffin and be cool arent very good brands and that the quality isnt that good. Is this true? I also went on ebay and found a couple radiators made for a 1970 chevelle 396 for $184 and they were made by radiator classic and reliable radiator. I tried to do a little bit more research on those brands but couldnt find much. Plus im a little sketchy about buying a radiator on ebay when i know nothing about the brand and its reliability. Im sure you guys have some recommendations for me. Im all ears.

Thanks for reading everyone
Hope to hear some responses

Eric
HI Eric

I lost count after selling 500 units to team chevele members in the last 6 yrs

if your looking for quality and O.E.M styling Correct fit made here in the good old U.S.A

check out my signature line to the web site

you can buy on line from the products tab any time you like
the unit your after if auto trans would be the first one on the products page

Thanks Don

Used this one in my 72 BB. I'm not a big fan of the aluminum ones, but that's my personal preference only. The aluminum also wasn't in my budget.

Price was $210.00, limited lifetime replacement warranty (requires use of distilled water).

The radiator is a true 4 row (4 core) with 1 9/16 inlet and 1 9/16 outlet.

It has a trans cooler in it (I don't use).

It also has the extra heater core nipple (but includes a cap and clamp if not used).

It took alot of research (with not so much help) to find this replacement that actually fit my car and had the correct hose sizes upper and lower.

The radiator looks to be of good quality and easily keeps my BB car at the 180 thermostat temp.

Napa Part number 365

link: http://napaautoparts.com/Search/Detail.aspx?R=NRS365_0240364908

Hope the info helps,

Sean

The unit from NAPA mentioned above looks like a good unit. It's $300.

For me, I wanted aluminum for a variety of reasons: Weight difference on the front of the car, unknown engine changes in the future, superior cooling (because of surface area, not related to metal differences), etc. Don't be sucked into the # of rows, they are not how you determine ability to cool, and adding rows to a brass/copper radiator adds additional weight, too.

I got an Alumitech and am glad I did, as already mentioned a quick search on the word "Alumitech" here will tell you why.

Note there's nothing wrong with using another radiator, either - it's all about what's in your budget and what you want out of it, same as any other component.

Mark,

Just to clear up a couple misconceptions here.....


The price is $210 for the Napa radiator (+tax, but no shipping.)


The # of rows actually is how you determine ability to cool when you are talking about a brass/copper radiator but not when talking about aluminum because on them, the row itself can be larger in diameter.

You probably know this already, but in a brass/copper radiator the size of the row is limited, requiring more rows to increase cooling ability. In an aluminum radiator, the rows can be much larger in diameter so less are needed. It is heavily debated on the comparison over which radiator cools better.

While I don't dispute the weight difference, I would dispute the ability of the aluminum radiator to dissipate heat as well as a comparable brass/copper unit.

For the record, I quoted both a brass/copper AND an aluminum radiator from Alumitech.

If your car is mostly stock. You dont need to pony up bigger bucks for an aluminum radiator when a good stock unit will do the job just fine.

ok I Like the alumitech A-68/72-A. Just a couple of questions though.....Are the connections for the hoses, factory? Are the trans cooler line connections factory???If so do you sell pre bent metal cooler lines or do they come with the radiator?? And If I buy new cushions do I order 3 row or 4 row??? Also Im currently running a single 17.5 inch fan can I still use the same shroud and fan or can I upgrade to something bigger??? What size fan??? How many blades??

Sorry for all the questions

Eric

ok I Like the alumitech A-68/72-A. Just a couple of questions though.....Are the connections for the hoses, factory? Are the trans cooler line connections factory???If so do you sell pre bent metal cooler lines or do they come with the radiator?? And If I buy new cushions do I order 3 row or 4 row??? Also Im currently running a single 17.5 inch fan can I still use the same shroud and fan or can I upgrade to something bigger??? What size fan??? How many blades??

Sorry for all the questions

Eric

Eric
yes to the hose connections and trans lines ..you will want 4 row rubber saddles and can use a factory shroud .. if you like you can get the rad fan combo with the spal twin 11 fan kit and lose the factory fan and shroud .

Don

I went with Alumatech on my 70' Chevelle, same engine as yours, The radiator has worked great but a few install issues you need to be aware of; 1.) if your car currently has the stock 3 row Harrison and you go with the 4 row, the bottom tray drivers side will have to be notched to fit the bottom cushion in (not a big deal...just get a small grinder in there), 2.) the stock top plate won't work, agin, on the drivers side...the only source that I found for a top plate that is modified to work with the 4 row radiator is Hinshaw's pt.no.44291, $59.00 and finally, I don't believe my shroud was original to the car and it would not work, if your shroud is original, give it a shot, if it doesn't work let me know and I will dig through my records and let you know which one will work....trust me, they don't all work....I went through 3 before I found one that did.

Good luck with the swap-out, let me know if I can help any!

I went with Alumatech on my 70' Chevelle, same engine as yours, The radiator has worked great but a few install issues you need to be aware of; 1.) if your car currently has the stock 3 row Harrison and you go with the 4 row, the bottom tray drivers side will have to be notched to fit the bottom cushion in (not a big deal...just get a small grinder in there), 2.) the stock top plate won't work, agin, on the drivers side...the only source that I found for a top plate that is modified to work with the 4 row radiator is Hinshaw's pt.no.44291, $59.00 and finally, I don't believe my shroud was original to the car and it would not work, if your shroud is original, give it a shot, if it doesn't work let me know and I will dig through my records and let you know which one will work....trust me, they don't all work....I went through 3 before I found one that did.

Good luck with the swap-out, let me know if I can help any!

One of the issues if you go with 4 row rubber saddles is there for a 3.5 inch header
as our radiator is 3.0 thick headers it falls betwween the 3 row that has 2.5 inch headers and the four row 3.5 .. most will find by fuzzing off a tad of the oul 3 row saddles or trimming with a razor knife .. no mods need to be done .. but if you buy four row saddles there extreamly long for the bottom tray and hold down plate on the driverside .

Don

Don......So which cushions should I get???? The 3 row or the 4 row cushions???? Im confused. I thought you said to get the 4 row initially but after reading your last post it seems like youre saying to get the 3 row... Please explain

Don......So which cushions should I get???? The 3 row or the 4 row cushions???? Im confused. I thought you said to get the 4 row initially but after reading your last post it seems like youre saying to get the 3 row... Please explain
pick up the phone and call me
517404-6262 i will give you the skinny .. tired of typing
Don

I have a 69 SS 396 and the radiator Sean has looks and sounds like what I need. My motor is pretty stock. I wonder if it would be a good fit for my Chevelle? I am looking for one that will fit with out having to modify any thing. Thanks.

This BillaVista article on Pirate4X4 (http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/Cooling/) is a detailed read. Also covers LS engine cooling. Cooling gets even more involved in this video (http://www.jrmotorsports.com/product.cfm?InvKey=45499).

You can get custom copper-brass cores with larger than standard tubes and with higher tube count than what is sitting on the shelf. For instance, take a look at the US Radiator brand "Optima" core. Big tubes on a high-efficiency (more tubes) spacing. Just another option to consider.

I would check out Ledfoot Racing i just bought a radiator from them a perfect fit and excellent service. He is willing to work with you... I have his phone number his name is Geoff (714)612-9799

Check out Ledfoot Racing Best Seller for lifetime warranties All Aluminum Radiators At Low Prices and more guarantees 60 day Money Back... Here is a link to the store http://stores.ebay.com/Ledfoot-Auto

Champion Customer Testimony and Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9Fa0tjc_n8&feature=player_embedded

I just installed my Alumitech radiator in my 71 tonight. I will post it in another thread.