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Radiator Aluminum or Steel?

U-711ipmc

U-711ipmc

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Location
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Well with my small stable of 'burbs I thought I would swap a radiator that was leaking for one that I didn't know had two small leaks under the shroud. So took them both to the radiator shop here in Ft Worth. One is repairable for about $130 the other one is junk...will take about $500 to repair it.

I can buy a Spectra Premium steel one from AZ for about $320 free shipping. Rock Auto has same one for $350 or an aluminum plastic tanks for $270+35$ shipping.

For an '88 3/4 'burb 6.2 Diesel auto trans..

Anyone have better luck than another?
 
I put a NAPA aluminum/plastic tank rad in mine in 2010, no problems since.
 
Sheesh, I remember paying NOT over $200 for my heavy duty cooling 4 row radiator from a local place in Phoenix, they also deal with that 1-800-radiator place. Of course the one I got was aluminum with plastic tanks, but they also had a lifetime warranty with them.

Only downside to their warranty is you have to get the bad radiator to them for replacement, at the time it wasn't a big deal, I lived down the road from them, but my moms radiator just developed a leak and the nearest place to her was over 2 hours away. I'm not there so I couldn't deal with it. :doah:
 
Brass radiator for my truck was $250 shipped to my door from advance auto. Look online for the 40% off coupon code to save some bucks.
 
That's the monster radiator, isn't it? I'm surprised Spectra is that price if it truly is copper/brass, even the smaller 19x27(?) radiator was well over $200 last I looked.

If you've got a smaller radiator, the welded all aluminum radiators can be had either really cheap, or cheap, depending on who makes them.

I'm not a fan of the plastic tanks, another failure point, but if good quality, they seem to last fine in most applications.
 
OK so I got a call from the radiator shop and the rebuildable one is not worth the money. Meaning cost would be to high to rebuild it.

So I ordered a 3 core all aluminum one from radiator express. 235$ to my door price.

Shop guy told me to make sure to have good grounds as electrolysis or something is a hazard with the all aluminum and will eat it up from the inside.
Anyone have any experience with this?
 
OK...I ordered an all aluminum radiator from radiator express for 248$, was excited at the good deal for a three core with all the hook ups for the two oil coolers....then the switch happened. Emailed me back and said order was cancelled due to no longer stocking the inexpensive but they did have on at 300$ they could special order for me.

I ordered one from AZ online and free shipping to home and 25$ gift card for every hundred dollars I spent so a 75 $ gift card is on its way! It was gonna get spent there anyways.... PLUS a lifetime warranty! for 350$ that was w tax to my door. Now I need another one for when I get ready to replace the engine in the other burb.
 
the northern alum units from Summit are nice, and economical... huge, universals are like $175... fit, for under $300 usually...
 
ryoken said:
the northern alum units from Summit are nice, and economical... huge, universals are like $175... fit, for under $300 usually...
Click to expand...

Ditto, love my Northern unit in the Maiden...NEVER gets hot as long as I remember to turn on the fan switch.
 
Well since this was going in a diesel it has two coolers for oil plus the radiator so by the time I purchase auxiliary coolers and the radiator the cost would be just as much and no fab work. The gas burb may get one though!
 
So was the AZ unit copper/brass, or another aluminum? I don't think that was mentioned.
 
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