Hot Rods Aluminum VS Copper/brass Radiators

If your engine doesn't get up to thermostat temp, your stat is stuck open. Unless it's -20 below zero out.

 

I think it comes down to quality. I have 2 Champion aluminum radiators, one in my 59 El Camino, one in my 49 Ranchero. The Chevy has no issues, with either a 427 or 327. Just an ebay unit. The one in my Ranchero, for a 292 equipped Galaxie, had problems cooling my 289. I have some scrap radiators and am planing on teaching myself how to solder and repair them so I repair the 0e one so ican drive the Ranchero in the summer.

 

I bought a Walker Radiator because my plan is to run a roots supercharger on a 500 Cad engine, and I wanted to be sure that I had the capacity to cool it. Gotta say that I think they are still way too expensive. If I was building a naturally aspirated engine I would just use an aluminum radiator. Go to a BIG show (like the Street Rod Nationals) and ask as many people as you can find with a similar old car what brand they are running and does it do the job. While I didn't do that, I can tell you that the vast majority of 32 Fords there had aluminum radiators and they were driving them, not just showing them. In particular, a lot of them had A/C as well as automatic transmissions compounding the needs. I'm using an aluminum radiator in my LS3 powered S10 pickup thats waiting for me in the pole barn to finish up.

 

Bringing this thread back up as i found some big expensive leaks in my Harrison radiator for my '37 Buick and now i have to make some decisions. Theres been a few suggested shops around Mass from people in regards to having my copper/brass original one repaired, and while money isnt the deciding factor, it does have some input, of either having my old one repaired to great expense or having a new aluminum one made, for probably similar money im expecting $1000-1200+ in either scenario. The 320 straight 8 has been completely rebuilt, and plans for the car are to be able to get in and roadtrip it without having to worry anymore than any other car about the cooling system. The 1937 Buick radiator is a little different than the equivalent year Chevy ones and the aftermarket seems to only mention the slightly thinner ones for the smaller 248 engines, so it cant be completely off the shelf but they arent exactly power houses horsepower wise either. Brice Thomas Radiators makes some made in the US aluminum and copper brass ones, with their aluminum branch having a 37 buick one, but i could ask about having it done in copper brass. Im not interested in playing with the china/ ebay ones, and while id rather the look of the original, the radiator isnt really out in the open on these cars either.
What would you do?

 

You can't ask a question such as this one and get a clear cut answer. Everyone that has an aluminum radiator will tell you they are the greatest and everyone that uses a copper/brass will tell you that they are the best. Even if the radiator that they have sucks they don't want to let you know that their radiator is not what they expected. One thing I do know, is that once you open the hood on a '30s to '50s vehicle and see an aluminum radiator they just look out of place even if you try to hide it with paint.

 

Yep, the best thing you can do for an aluminum radiator in my opinion is get out the black spray paint. Otherwise they stand out like a brass knob on an outhouse door!

 

Yup, just trying to weigh my options. When i first found the leaks, immediately went to trying to find a capable radiator shop that handles the old stuff to repair the original. After a few days, my mind starts to wander and started thinking of "maybe new would be a good idea" since the current one seems to have some big leaks and is just kind of beat up over all. Dented tank, leaking around the water neck, corners had some pissing when it was pressurized, etc.
If there was a new copper/brass one that Brassworks or US radiator or another company had listed as a buyable piece, and i didnt have to have one custom made because 'oddball Buick', i would have already bought it.
I know i want copper/brass because it will look right and im trying to do things correct with the least amount of concessions, but also trying to make the best decision for the least future headache.

 

We had a good radiator shop here in town but it was a one-man deal and he died so it left us in a bind for radiator work until a buddy of mine discoverd that a locallarge truck dealer ( i.e. Mack, Kenworth, etc.) has a radiator man and we take them to him now. He does a bang-up job. Really good work and he seems happy to do it.

If you have a local radiator shop take it to them and see what they say.