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aluminum radiators

84CUCV

84CUCV

3/4 ton status
Joined
Jul 1, 2002
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NJ for now
mine old rad is now leaking again. looking at a new one from summit. do they really cool better? i can get new one down the street for 100. looks like cheap junk. thinks its worth 300 for the summit one?

thanks
 
I was told that it is not best for motors with mileage on them. The rust and particles in the engine all ready will clog up the new aluminum. A nice 4 core is just as good to me.
 
really? i was going to flush it all out. before i hooked it all up.
 
It is rumored that an aluminum radiator is 50% more efficeint than a copper/brass radiator. I can't tell you at what percentage but definately aluminum will cool much better. The downside to an aluminum radiator is that most are heli arc welded and can't have the tanks removed to be cleaned in the future, some are epoxy bonded and once again can't be taken apart for cleaning but the biggest issue would be all the vibration that it could be subjected to that would eventually cause a leak.
 
never thought of that either. ok know where i can find a good replacement? not a 100 doller china pos

thanks
 
4X4HIGH said:
biggest issue would be all the vibration that it could be subjected to that would eventually cause a leak.
Click to expand...
I Used a aluminum radiator in my race car for years. Never did it leak from vibration. And I raced dirt track with a track that was full of pot holes.
 
thanks for the replys. i was going to fix it again. this would be the 4th time. 60k on it. seams like a better idea to get new now.
 
i parted out a 88-up c/k 2wd with 350 and aluminum factory rad. i had it in stock for a bit . then my current truck needed a rad. so i took a close look.

81-up with the taller core support will fit a 88-up rad. same width and 2" shorter cooling area. but the rad filler neck will sit flush with top of coresupport.

its in there and still going fine. never drove it much with old rad before swap so i cant tell for sure if better.

but 88-up are dime a dozon in pick and pull yards.
 
I run a griffen rad. in the trail rig. the one w/ 1.25" rows. It cools the 547 like nobody's buisness. We ran in muddy wooded trails in the 110+ heat & never had a problem.

If you are not running big inches, I would think you would be fine w/ a standard radiator.
 
Just put the biggest universal aluminum that summit has in my crew cab and I dont think I could ever get the truck to overheat. It was at least twice as thick as the factory 2 core that was in it. Really didnt have any problems installing it either, it was the same width but 1" shorter so I made some brakets to lift it up and trimmed the top bracket around the filler neck and that was it. Will put one in the K5 when it needs replacing. They are well built.
 
i got a perfectly good one for ya




:haha: :haha: but seriously i'd like to see how an aluminum one does myself in extreme conditions
 
The model I got was a Summit brand universal fit part# SUM-380470. As I said didnt take a whole lot to make it fit in the crew cab. All the heater fittings and transmission cooler lines hooked up no problem, just made some 1" square mounts to put under the lower bushings and trimmed the top passanger mount a little to clear the fill neck.
 
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