Thread: Ebay radiators --Any Good?

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Found these radiators on Ebay, was wondering if they are too cheap to be any good, or should I stick with my local radiator shop. 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 Chevy Pickup Truck 4 Row Alum Radiator | eBay Been a long time since I have been on here but recently started working on my pickup again so thought I would check with you guys again.

call jeff ...for the money why not try one i would.. alot cheaper then the one i have in the chebby

I got one from their sister company , haven't used it yet but it was highly recommended on an other site.
Come with a great warranty plus it was a hellva lot cheaper then anything I found.
The copper/brass ones has a stupid crazy cost, so guess why I chose the above.....joe

4 row aluminum tube radiators DO NOT exist. What some aluminum radiator companies do is market a 2 row 1" tube rad as a 4 row. Most all aluminum rads start at 2 row of 1" tube and you can larger tubes inside from there like 1.25" or 1.50". I have even seen 3 rows of 1" tube which Fluidyne used to make but never anything like a 4 row.
What they do is compare a 2 row alum. to a 4 row copper. Most all copper/brass rads are 2-3-or 4 rows of 3/8" tubes. So 1 row of aluminum tube is actually wider than 2 rows of copper. So 1" will flow much better then 2 rows of 3/8"
So anytime you see an ad for 4 row aluminum rad, you know it will be 2 rows of 1" tube. Which BTW are are a very good radiator so if it's a good price, get it.

"......4 row aluminum tube radiators DO NOT exist......"

Gee I'm getting older but I still can count, and yes 4 row aluminum radiators do really exist.....I've used 2 of them so far.

My understanding of aluminum radiators is that aluminum is actually LESS efficient than brass/copper in transferring heat, but as it is more rigid, it allows for a more efficient DESIGN .....wider tubes which equates to more cooling surface area.

The tubes on the 4 row aluminum radiators I used are only 3/8" which gives a total surface area of only 1 1/2" as compared to 2" of surface area for a 2 row with 1" tubes. So why did I use the 4 rows......because that’s what the customer wanted. In defense of the radiators, both cooled the engines with no problem and have been trouble free.

A word of caution when looking at aluminum radiators. Look at the tube width. Do not automatically assume that a 2 row radiator is two one inch tubes. If you see a radiator listed as having 2 rows and a total width of 2” chances are you will be getting a radiator with two 3/4" tubes (or I have even received on with one 1” and one 3/4” tubes), as there needs to be a gap between the tube rows.

Mike.............I should have been more specific..........aluminum rads are usually 2 rows of 1" tube. I have forgotten about special 3/8" tube alum rads. There are and can be custom made alum rads. But most offered in Jegs or Summit are 2 rows 1' tube.
A 2 row 1"tube will measure 2" at the core.
When using a wider tube alum rad , you must be careful when running higher pressure. the pressure can ballon a wider tube and actually cut off flow to the tube on top and the one below.
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Actually the 4 row aluminum radiators are showing up more and more on E Bay and other places with Champion seeming to be the major supplier.

"..... A 2 row 1"tube will measure 2" at the core....."

The front and rear rows of tubes on a radiator are not stacked one on top of the other, there is a gap between them. A 2 row with 1" tubes has to measure wider than 2" at the core. If the core measures 2" then the tubes are narrower than 1 inch.

All I'm getting at is you need to carefully read the description carefully especially when buying a mail order unit.

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I have a champion rad 3 row, and I know of ten others that do in the 60-66 chevy pu, they were a drop in no mods needed fitment was great, i`m running 350/350 3.73 gears and it keeps it cool even in 105 degree ambient heat.

of course it does--you have an oem fan with stock pulley sizes and a very nice shroud--if you want it to overheat you need undersized pullies and one of those 15 amp electric unshrouded fans

No Jerry I don`t want to follow the masses....I can`t count the number of people I see running that way and complain about over heating, and when you tell how to correct they look at you like you`re crazy

I just ordered a new radiator from Performance Cooling - will keep you all posted as to arrival, fit, etc.. Price was very reasonable for what looks to be a quality product.

thanks guys, I think I might give it a try, it's also nice that I can have an internal trans cooler.