Thinking of grabbing a new radiator for my 89 does anybody have recommendations for solid work I’m willing to spend money if I know it will last than to take the cheap route and have it break within a month, thanks
CK5
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Radiator recommendations
- Thread starter GregRod21
- Start date
My first recommendation is that you need a radiator!
I will also tell you that I didn't have a good experience with a BeCool radiator, which was expensive. The only other one that I have purchased outright is a Northern and it has been good so far.
@mrk5 has some recent experience with one, from what I remember.
I will also tell you that I didn't have a good experience with a BeCool radiator, which was expensive. The only other one that I have purchased outright is a Northern and it has been good so far.
@mrk5 has some recent experience with one, from what I remember.
Thanks for the input and if it’s not much if you guys can drop direct links I appreciate itMy first recommendation is that you need a radiator!
I will also tell you that I didn't have a good experience with a BeCool radiator, which was expensive. The only other one that I have purchased outright is a Northern and it has been good so far.
@mrk5 has some recent experience with one, from what I remember.
I know this is the usually hated plastic tank style.
But I've been running one for a couple years on a 462 with a healthy cam and it has been great.
No issues at all, and my temp stays at 180-185 always, no matter the temp outside. Even rolling slow and sitting in traffic on 99-100* days.
But I've been running one for a couple years on a 462 with a healthy cam and it has been great.
No issues at all, and my temp stays at 180-185 always, no matter the temp outside. Even rolling slow and sitting in traffic on 99-100* days.
Yeah crappy plastic tank, biggest core radiator you can get from the XYZ parts store. Easy to replace and you can find one everywhere. I’ve got a diesel Spectre radiator in mine with Windstar fans. All found at XYZ (rockauto actually) if a replacement is needed quickly.
So far my best experience has been with the plastic tank aluminum core radiator.
I had a champion radiator in the C10 that started leaking. They would warranty it but I had to ship it to them. That is expensive item to ship plus the downtime. Replaced it with the plastic tank radiator and it's been doing fine. Matter of fact it runs too cool in the winter.
The crew cab also has a plastic tank radiator installed in 2017 when I did the 454 install. It works well also. The biggest problem I had was getting a radiator that didn't get damaged in shipping. Took 3 tries and technically the radiator I'm running now had some damage, just not enough to cause a problem.
My go-to for plastic tank radiators was Spectra, but I guess they stopped selling in the US, so they may be hard to find.
I had a champion radiator in the C10 that started leaking. They would warranty it but I had to ship it to them. That is expensive item to ship plus the downtime. Replaced it with the plastic tank radiator and it's been doing fine. Matter of fact it runs too cool in the winter.
The crew cab also has a plastic tank radiator installed in 2017 when I did the 454 install. It works well also. The biggest problem I had was getting a radiator that didn't get damaged in shipping. Took 3 tries and technically the radiator I'm running now had some damage, just not enough to cause a problem.
My go-to for plastic tank radiators was Spectra, but I guess they stopped selling in the US, so they may be hard to find.
That's why I have been only buying what is in stock.
I have been having good luck with napa radiators
Stay away from Griffin.
I’d rather run a radiator made from cardboard
I’d rather run a radiator made from cardboard
The Murray cu730 I posted about is basically the spectra. When spectra quit making it it just transferred to Murray I believe. Same part number even, and Murray didn't have that part number before.
In my case, the just installed plastic radiator failed in the driveway immediately upon firing the motor up. Easy replacement, and that one has gone a few thousand miles (and a couple of years now) without incident.
The plastic tanks are definitely not OEM quality, and flex far too much due to thin plastic, but if all the welded ones can't be trusted either, whats the point of paying 5x as much, for something you can't swap out for free at your local parts place.
Last I heard however, mishimoto makes a great product, so it's a consideration as well IMO.
The plastic tanks are definitely not OEM quality, and flex far too much due to thin plastic, but if all the welded ones can't be trusted either, whats the point of paying 5x as much, for something you can't swap out for free at your local parts place.
Last I heard however, mishimoto makes a great product, so it's a consideration as well IMO.
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That's basically what I decided.
Same here...I have had a cheap Chines plastic one in my truck for a few years now with no problem. I have heard that the plastic ones do not hold up for hard rock crawling type wheeling because they flex too much.
I've been running a Coldcase radiator that was a direct replacement for a late 90s truck in my 78 K5. Its an all aluminum 2 row with really big tubes, don't remember the size but was the biggest advertised tube size at the time that I could find. Its also has a very large core. I wanna say like 36"x19" core. Its almost the size of the old diesel radiators. That being said it's not a drop in. I made my own brackets. I've had it 2 seasons now and my rig is just an offroad trail rig that sees just trail abuse and its still working great, no leaks and it has cooled a high compression 400 block/ propane burning smallblock very well. It came packed very nicely with no damage. Theres my .02 cents
Mishimoto. Guaranteed for ever for anything...even a crash. Not too expensive. I've had no issues with mine.
www.mishimoto.com
Performance Aluminum Radiators | Mishimoto
Shop Mishimoto's aluminum radiators for improved engine temperatures and enhanced performance. Lifetime warranty and free shipping on orders over $100!
www.mishimoto.com
I just installed a mishimoto 3 row. Had to modify the mounts and trim the shroud on the radiator facing side. Happy with the product. Never gets much above 150 after the thermostat opens. I run a 15 mile stretch of I80 @75 thats pretty much all uphill. Original Radiator would get up to 200, new three row the gauge never moves.
During the install and having to fab the mounts, I was thinking twice about my decision. Would have been a lot easier to install a replacement plastic. The original copper brass radiator was going to cost about the same to re-core as buying a new mishi. Happy I went the way I did.
i look to repower in the near future, still have the original engine, this new rad will deal with whatever I go with.
During the install and having to fab the mounts, I was thinking twice about my decision. Would have been a lot easier to install a replacement plastic. The original copper brass radiator was going to cost about the same to re-core as buying a new mishi. Happy I went the way I did.
i look to repower in the near future, still have the original engine, this new rad will deal with whatever I go with.
