Aluminum radiators? How do you feel about them?

Im now starting to look at radiators for my caddy flathead powered '32 roadster. Been looking at br*** and aluminum, there are some pretty good deals out there including one company in Alabama making really nice fully welded aluminum ones for very reasonable money.

Anybody have good or bad things to say about alum. rads? Other than it not being black??

Pete-

 

i'm gonna run one on my roadster...

 

I like them. And you can paint them black if you want!

 

I have one in my 40 Merc. It has a 350 chev engine. Works great. Looks good. A lot lighter than the stock one. I had all kinds of overheating issues but the aluminium radiator (with proper air flow) works great.

 

I actually just called the company and spoke to guy named Joey, very nice and helpful. He said everything is made in Alabama buy US citizens! Im sold!!! they also make custom mods to any of the rads they sell.

Pete-

 

If there a universal rad ,I would shy away from them ,You have to make them fit ,The originals fit the best ,If its a closed hooded car your allright ,

 

Not as cool looking but they are reasonable on cost and work very good (in my limited experience).

Some times you have to go with what works in a price range you can afford.

 

Can you tell us who they are? Im going to be needing a radiator soon.

 

Just had a Griffin fail on me and not repairable - tubes separated internally from the top tank. Replaced it with a real radiator, you know, one made of copper and br*** - a Walker Cobra - and since this is the second failed and non repairable aluminum radiator I have had this year, you should be able to guess how I feel about aluminum radiators....

 

Brice Thomas Radiator 1-800-223-4299
I spoke to Joey.

I have a pal with a new Walker, leaked after only a year of service....two of the tubes leaked where they meet the top tank???

Pete-

 

Does anybody have a picture of a stock 32 V8 rad???

Im running a Model A front cross member in my '32 rails, does this affect anything with the radiator??

Pete-

 

They keep my truck very cool.

 

Run them in all types of race cars for many years.They are not all the same,there are good ones and bad one.Just like any thing do your homework.

 

I have them in three old cars,never any issues.I do run a filter in the upper hose to keep the crud out.My 2002 F350 came from Ford with an aluminum radiator,as do most new vehicles so I would guess they must work! ROY.

 

I have run Griffin aluminums for many years in tow vehicles and hot rods. Never had an issue and in each case, they were 20 degrees cooler.

I am going to try an Afco in my current project. Aluminum, all welded or soldered, and a touch cheaper then Griffin.

 

Like someone said earlier, do your homework. Went to a shop that ,provides most of the radiators for the local tracks. Good rep, advice, and reasonable price. Only 9 thousand miles so far, but worked well during the hottest Summer ever recorded.

 

I ran one in front of my 276ci. flatty. I was really happy with it once I finally got it. Ron Davis Racing built it. They seem to know what keeps things cool. It was pretty short 19" top to bottom. A couple times I got up to 220 F in the desert.
Painted it black too.
I would think any reputable company would warranty the leaks others have mentioned.

You are supposed to keep any copper or br*** parts out of the cooling system ei: plugs, senders, etc...

 

I had a griffin radiator too! the pile of **** was glued together not fixable

 

If you don't see them, they're great.

Otherwise, U G L Y

Rich

 

Well they weigh less than br*** and are normally less expensive.

Someone will say that they are not traditional but unless you have a br*** one that looks like an original its not traditional either. so what ya gonna do.

 

Two ways to attach the cores to the top and bottom tanks, epoxy glue or weld. The epoxy radiators will develope cracks at the joints and leak, they are not repairable. The ones that are furnace welded almost never leak and they can be repaired if needed.

As with any radiator it must be mounted securely with minimul vibration and use the correct coolant to prevent corosion problems.

 

What matters is core size and number of cores, that's far more important than br*** vs. aluminum. Truth is Aluminum is cheaper but br*** dissapates heat quicker. But a modern aluminum radiator usually has a larger multi core set up which makes it cool faster than an older br*** radiator.

 

I'm on my 3rd one in 2 years in my 36. I got it from PRC and they gladly replaced it each time. Seems to leak out of the corners. I had issues with it supposed to be an exact fit, it was way off. Car runs very cool.

 

Now that I think about it......This particular roadster im building is being built as a pre-war style, even with the radiator painted it may stick out like a sore thumb!

Pete-

 

Copper and br*** worked, and still works very well..and looks right.
Im not a huge preacher on "tradition" i have my own views on that..its guide not a jailer..

but sometimes when i look at a traditonally styled ride and see the aluminum radiator..it just looks like a short cut to me ,..M2C

check out my build ..im using a ford 5000 tractor radiator..works like a charm and looks like it belongs..was cheap too..238 bucks or something like that

I only moved the filler neck, so i could fit my grille shell better, and get to the filler with the shell on

 

Absent any problem with 'look', when buying a new radiator, choosing aluminum is a no-brainer, cost and cooling efficiency being the primary factors.

If I had a Caddy flathead on a deuce, I'd choose polished br***.

 

I am a big fan ( no pun intended) of using originals and re-coring if necessary. That being said, I am sure '32 radiators are just as pricey as everything else '32 which is out of my league anyway .

 

I had an AFCO when they were their own company. It is nice. Speedway bought em out so I have no idea of the quality now.

 

Bought one at a swap meet 12 years ago for the 38 Coupe and havent had a moments trouble with it and I dont even know what brand it is. Got a superior aluminum in the '50 sedan delivery going two years now with no problems and just bought one from speedway and put it in the mid engine corvair. Hope it works out as well.

 

I spoke to a fella at Br***Works in Paso, Ca a few months ago about a br*** rad. They are a family owned business and have a great rep.

Im all for spending a bit more and keeping the dollar in the USA.

Pete-