Technical Great service from Brice Thomas Radiator

I have a US radiator in my 470 CI wagon with air. Never gets over 190 degrees. Super happy with the product.

 

It would seem so; I had an OT car with a very small radiator from the factory by design. It spent a lot of time nearing the red (235) on the gauge until the radiator sprung a leak. I changed it for an aluminum one because that's what was available at the time and it looked looked more like a transmission or air conditioner radiator, with large flues compared to the factory original.
Never set foot above 205 after that, once the thermostat was wide open and the fan came on that was it, the needle would drop.
I quite like that idea, the larger flues are less prone to clogging up with sediment.

You're giving me ideas, the old Harrison in my car needs repair again, and this looks like it may be a viable option.

Thank you for the reviews and information.

Phil

 

Thes same guys in Gadsden re-cored a Harrison for a friends 59 impala. Looks great.
A re-core isn’t much if any savings but preserves the original appearance if desired.

 

The top tank has a few stress cracks that I soldered up (and aren't leaking), but the join between the core and the tank has started to weep again.

What's their view on old brittle tanks?

 

Don’t know.
Give ‘em a call, fixing dents is one thing, cracks is something else.
The radiator I just replaced was leaking at the seam. Had a repair from decades ago. The big part was the support bracket on bottom was rotted off. But I’ll save it, like I do most old radiators, to keep the tanks for such an issue.

 

My name is Phillip Cochran one of the owners of Brice Thomas Radiator and I thank you for all the kind words about our radiators and customer service!! Yes we use heavy tube and fins in our aluminum radiators. The same tube and fin we use on our Kenworth radiators. We manufacture everything in house. We expanded our company with the purchase of U.S. Radiator!! This company had been in business in California for over 50 years. We felt like it was a natural and would enhance our aluminum radiator line. So now we have the best of both worlds and can build radiators to fit most car enthusiasts need!! If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

 

^^^^*Talked with this dude Saturday.^^^^^
Trying to set up a shop tour with a couple other teachers. Maybe watch one get built. I’ll post pics (with permission)
He stated his aluminum radiators have zero glue/epoxy. The cores are furnace “brazed” or soldiered very similar in process as a copper/br*** radiator.
Tanks are welded.
The core design for aluminum differes in size than br***/copper. The flues can be as wide as an inch and a half.
His opinion is that br***/copper is a better heat transfer material overall but the soldier that attaches cooling fins to flues impede that transfer (somewhat)

just a little update

 

A few pics Brice Thomas posted for their hot rod products

 

Had US Rad/BT built for my 53 Dodge PU. I've run it year now and has been great!

 

They posted some build process pics
HD aluminum core with micro tubes

some tank stampings

A reverse engineered oil cooler


this thing

4 row copper core

fully fabricated radiator

 

Looks like very nice products. I had them build me a best of the best radiator for my 64 El Camino out of aluminum that looks like a stock unit. I previously had a champion 4 row radiator in it but sprung some unfixable leaks. Their radiator wouldn't recover as fast as the champion and would heat up quicker so I went back to the champion. Everything else was the same on the car so I don't know what was up but no big deal I've got it on the Shelf for a spare or somebody else that might need one

 

It ran hot?

 

With the Brice Thomas Radiator it ran about 15° hotter and coming up the same grade every day that I usually do it would take twice as long to cool down to regular temperature