has anyone bought one of these aluminum radiators from china on ebay?

I see a couple listings on ebay for radiators, and the there is one that is just what I need for my rod, at a fraction of the cost, even with shipping is dirt cheap, just wanted to know if anyone has bought or gotten one of these aluminum radiators from china, the dudes name is winner_circle and has like 6500 feedback, but I just not real cool with spending money in china for one, and really would have to think that these are just junk radiators, but there say cool up to 700hp and whole speal about how great they are? just want to know if anyone has bought one and what they are like! thanks

 

Can you afford to buy the import one AND a new USA one? If you can afford both then buy the USA one, If you cant afford both then buy the USA one, If you cant afford the USA one-- wait til you can.

 

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winner_racing is the ebay name! Honnestly it is so much cheaper that I would be saving about as much money as I have in the whole car! I know I hate buying anything from freaking china, but he has so many radiators and this is the only one with the size I need at a decent price!

 

Spoken like a true patriot!!....

Buy American!...

 

Eff the haters, if the seller backs the product and you save coin, do it.

 

Asking is probably a bad idea. Personally, I have had unfortunate luck with quality built name brand as well as cheapo radiators. I have also had good luck with both. The difference I think is if there is anyone standing nearby to be behind the product when you do have a problem.

Honestly, I bought a cheapo aluminum radiator for an OT car on the auction sites. It failed and I figured that was that, even though it had a "lifetime warranty". You know what though, the guy was still around and made good on it, and the new one has been just fine for several years.

If it gets ya down the road and you are ok with it, go for it.

 

I have bought many eBay/china whatever they are cheap radiators and haven't had a problem. I'll probably keep buying them when I need them.

 

If everybody could afford the Walker and Griffin radiators there wouldn't be a market for the cheap ones. Just go to any of the part houses and look at the new radiators they sell,99% are made in China. Saw some last year at the 3 day swapmeet. 4 core aluminum,$ 159 and they looked like pretty good workmanship pieces.

 

This guy:
http://http://wwwsuperiorradiator.com/
Will build you one in Michigan for very close to those prices.

 

You'll never regret buying the best. BUT If your like me, you can't afford the best.

Alotta my buddies use these rads for their OT Drift cars & import street race cars.
Always seem to be the ticket for them.

Summit brand ones are pretty affordable as well! check um out.It would be nice dealing with a company like summit/jegs.

I on the other hand will be ordering one for my 55 from "Champion Cooling Systems" Looks good at a reasonable price. Hear alotta good things too!

Good luck.
I couldn't afford a "Name brand" one at all at the moment, gets you down the road with some gas money left over then shoot!

 

If you want Chinamen crap in your hotrod that's your business,I guess, but if you do a little homework you will find something appropriate that will work... It ain't that hard.

 

Superior radiator(outside of Detroit Mi.)
They will build you anything you want.
They are around $300.00
I think they have a e-bay store.
They are all welded no glue.
But I got a cheap one for our off topic van and it has held up well summer&Winter.
good luck russ

 

Jake, (Jim Jacobs) told me once a long time ago..."You only have to buy a quality part once". I have never forgot that.

 

It's really too bad, some of those slaves really do nice work, but that stuff still isn't going on my hot rod. Plenty of quality alternatives right here.

 

I bought 3 they work great.

 

OK I went to the site to look , THE PICTURE shows decent welding and the mounts are there. I dont understand the "Silver spray finnish"

 

First it's c@#p then it's good?

High $$ does not always mean quality.

 

Champion radiators sells on Ebay and there like $199 with shipping and they are American made welded not glued, I have used them a couple of times with no problems. Mainly there cheaper because they don't have a huge brand name and two there not as show quality.

 

That is true, and I will certainly agree for the most part.
except Its not always the case when it comes to consumable parts, service life limited items. (radiators, alternators,waterpumps, etc. (Baring any warranty of course) Even the best wears out, and you WILL be buying another one.
I've bought Napa/ dealship stuff that hasn't lasted as long as the Brand X cheap stuff.
These days its luck of the draw.

This shoudn't turn into another "Patriots VS the guy who just wants his hotrod to run"

If it goes bang everytime you pull the trigger, Then pull it and have fun.

Buy what you can afford to, Personally i dig our local Pic-a-Part . thats my level.
make due with what you can... Hotrod

 

Guess I'm trying to say that it's crap produced by highly skilled slaves.

 

I bought a champion rad off ebay. Looks decent but I haven't used it yet. Welded not glued. Only downside I saw was, it didn't have the bracket for the support rods.

 

I have a Champion from eBay in an OT Willys pick up (mild 351W). No issues. The guy was helpful in getting what what would fit and work well.

 

My buddy put one in his 57 Chevy, has had no problems with it. Actually looks micer than I thought it would when he got it.

 

Superior. Sells on Ebay and they're good quality. I had one in my bucket the first time I built it. Cooled TOO good. My car never got over 160*.

 

That's what thermostats are for. Buddy has a rad off the internet that is the second. First one looked like the 12 yr old girl was high & drunk when she put it together. Second was way better. Company did the exchange - no question asked. Even paid the shipping.

 

I also purchased a Champion Radiator for use in my 1959 Impala. 348 / 4-speed air car and so far, 1st summer and I have had no issues. Had to modify one mounting bracket hole but other than that it bolted right up using the factory fan shroud.

 

I bought one for a Model T Roadster I built. I was happy with the quality and price. However, I agree with everyones despair in regards to parts from China, of course, everyone buy's from Speedway, right? That's mosty Taiwan made.

 

I have installed 6 Champion radiators in customer's cars, no problems. I do, however reccommend installing brass fittings in the radiatorfor the tranny cooler lines, Then install the hard lines, this way if you have to remove the rad, you won't chance stripping the threads. The only problem we had was threads stripping out in one from NPD, they warranteed it no problem.

 

I'm embarrassed to say I bought one, and it works great and for $200 I'd buy another. Im going to paint it with semigloss black paint to hide it a little. I'm a supporter of made in the USA parts when possible. But $200 or $600 is enough savings for me to take a chance.

 

Just finished a sign for a friends wife that is a Champion Radiator distributor



You can get them made to your specs and bracket needs

http://www.theradiatorlady.com/

Champion Radiators are made Right here in Lake Elsinore, Calif. America. Not china