I need a radiator for my sbc cheap vs expensive???

I try as hard as possible not to put any parts made in China on my car.

 

Myself and others have bought from these guys, all arrived with no damage and are very nice. The small block in my 37 runs on the edge of too cool with it, works well. They have them with ford or chevy outlets and supposedly no epoxy is used in them.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/33-34-Ford-...pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr

 

On Friday on my way to San Francisco, I stopped at "The Br***works" in Paso Robles and picked up my radiator for my 30. Lee was a great person to do business with very accomodating as I put he order in a week ago. The cost was very reasonable plus if your a H.A.M.B Alliance member he gives you a discount. Now I have a great Radiator that looks original put can handle my SBC w/ 380hp.

 

I'm swapping out radiators on my SBC model A. Going for a shorter grill and might sell the walker that's in there now. I'll give you a great price. I checked out the Chinese and they are junk plus who puts chinese **** on an American Rod...........

 

I buy the early Mustang / Falcon / Comet V8 radiators at swap meets for about $20 (used of course) ... Good V8 (or V6) radiator... you can get one new also, for example at Summit...
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/PLI-433259/Application/?query=Year%7c1965%7cMake%7cFORD%7cModel%7cMUSTANG&prefilter=1

I think one might be cheaper from Rock Auto.

 

I have had two Griffin radiators fail on me because theyy came unglued where the tubes are epoxied into the tank. They are overpriced cheap junk at astronomical prices for what they are. I would never use or buy any Griffin product again - lesson learned.

I have had no problems with Walker except at***ude and since it is still a free country I choose not to give them my business. Br***works and U.S. Radiator are my preferred choices. Expensive but I only need to pay one time - not several.

Cheap is cheap for a reason and John Ruskin had it right in the 19th Century:

“There is nothing in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and he who considers price only is that man's lawful prey.”

 

.....You spend $3000 to rebuilt a motor with all the right goodies...and you want to cool it with a cheap radiator....

 

John, it's not exactly what I meant, everyone here keep saying that radiators are overpriced, why someone should pay 800 bucks if a 200$ works exactly the same, that's why I asked for personal experience with chinese made versus overpriced radiators.

On my side I had an opportunity from a hamber to buy a Walker Z series at a fair price so I bought it, question solved.

 

My 2 cents, the mustang V8 radiator from Rock Auto cools a SBC just fine. I think it was 125 plus shipping. The radiator has been in service for a year now.

 

sorry to resurrect an old post, but I have a leak in my Afco Radiator now...looking for a deal. I was told about Walker being the best...after looking at their site and the $812 price tag...I was blown away. wondering now if anyone has had positive/negative reviews on Afco...I'm thinking of putting another one in there..since my other car buddies all have them and never had a problem...

 

Anything made by man ... can and will eventually break/leak/or mess up.

SO ... if your Afco worked well ... for a decent period of time ... buy another

But I always go with the br***/copper.
Walker or Br***Works ...

 

Aint that the truth!!

 

I did not know that AFCO radiators were made in China now, but that doesn't really surprise me. About 3 years ago Speedway bout AFCO lock, stock and barrel. Speedy Bill has most of his stuff made in China. When I worked for himn he had a person of Chinese discent working for him. This man would go to China 3 or 4 times a year to visit with the various suppliers and try to get new ones. That is why Speedway parts are priced so low. Buyer beware.

 

As an update, I havn't been able to run the AFCO in the coupe yet but a few unbiased observations between the Walker I had in my roadster and the AFCO.

The AFCO is a welded ***embly, not epoxied. The welds are decent if not a bit heavy handed. The Griffen welds I have seen are much better.

The Walker fit my Brookville deuce shell perfectly, not even a hole had to be reamed for fitup. The AFCO, I swear they guessed at what a shell measures. It took at least four hours of fit up and modification to get it to barely accept this Brookville shell. Not even close! It still doesn't suit me.

When I have it running we'll see how it cools.

I've already decided that if the car suits me and I keep it through next year I will spend the $ 950 for the Walker and replace it.

It's not that the AFCO is a bad product, it's not. It's just that it is not of the quality we have come to expect in parts. Maybe this is the new Amerika comrade.

My 2 cents!

 

Cheap is never good. DO you mean inexpensive versus expensive? I for one am always lookin for a deal when building anyting. High quality at an affordable orice is where you will find me. AFCO, Griffin, are great, its tryin to find a vender who is selling them affordably

 

This one might work well for someone.

http://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?item=28-1715&catname=

Blue