2.25 in. or 3.00 in. radiator for my 454

Im looking at radiators from Summit and I noticed the thickness is either 2.25 or 3 inches...I heard somewhere thinner is better....Im going to be cooling of a stock 454...I know bigger is usually better but is that the case here? Once again, Thank You.

Lou

 

how big is it height/width?

Thicker will cool a little better than thinner, but wider and taller will usually help more. More tubes and more fins is good too.

and making air flow thru it is important...

 

Always listen to Squirrel. Having a fan shroud will help a lot, also.

 

Got a 4 core cooling off my Windsor...
No problems here..

 

I've had a few 454s....the more cooling area and water capacity, the better. Those BBCs really like to overheat if you shortchange any part of the cooling system. Shrouds are a must.

 

A clutch fan is also a must!!!!....

 

Number of fins per inch is also important. Years ago a 454 truck I had needed a new radiator. I bought one from a local shop and it wouldn't cool decent when towing. The shop was sure it was my truck and checked and tried everything to no avail. One day the owner called and told me he'd found that there were two different 4 core radiators for that truck. The difference being the number of fins per inch. The difference was just a hair over 3,000 fins total. Put that radiator in and never had any problems after that.

I have a 454 in my cpe and use a 2 core aluminum with 1 1/4" or 1 1/2" I don't remember which. I run a 6 blade non clutch fan with shroud and it does ok. It did better when I had a triple p*** 2 core aluminum. but when I needed a new radiator I thought a regular single p*** would do fine

 

Big blocks need big radiators. Thicker is better.

 

I heard of triple p*** radiators and was discouraged because they somehow put more pressure on the water pump. I'm going to run a edlebrock aluminum hi flo pump. Should I get the triple or just stick to the normal flow?

 

Your water pump doesn't care what radiator you have

 

Simple. 3"

 

Just remember the thicker the core,the more air you have to p*** through it especially at slow speed or idle. Remember those Desert cooler radiators,don't know if there still around or not,used 5-7 tubes. What radiator guys use to telll me is when there that thick at slow speeds you just preheat the inner tubes closet to the fan side of the radiator.

 

I'm looking at some of the triple p*** radiators on the summit site. The biggest they have are the 31x19 which is perfect but all the two rows are 2.25 in. They have one that's the right size but it's a three row. My understanding is that a two row is better. I'm confused. I want the biggest best cooling radiator for my 454. So a simple regular p*** 3 inch two core aluminum should do it?

 

I just put one of these in my 55 in front of a blown 454, it works good.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/330625700273

 

Thanks squirrel. That thing is huge. I'll have to see if I can squeez a few more inches on the sides. I think I can only fit 30 inches. I think I'll put the triple p*** radiator to bed and grab one of what you have. Once again. Thank you.