Ive been checking prices again and it sure seems like most the aluminum radiators are big bucks?, I'm running a 700R4 and I was thinking about getting a manual tranny radiator and using a auxillary cooler only but Ive heard your tranny can run too cold??? Are there other aluminum radiator companys that dont charge a extra 100.00 for their name?
Thanks,
Mike

[ 02-25-2004, 12:02 PM: Message edited by: stenn5 ]

Anybody??????????????????????????? graemlins/clonk.gif

These guys have a great product for a reasonable price. www.streetrodstuff.com/Products/157 (http://www.streetrodstuff.com/Products/157)

I would NOT worry about running your tranny cool. This is the OEM default mode with use of tranny coolers in the radiators. And, trannies are NOT like engines that expect a certain heat range to operate. Tranny lubricants flow over a wider range as well. In fact, the cooler the longer lived they are within the factory design spec.

I would highly recommend Aluminum Radiators from
Ron Davis Racing Products http://rondavisradiators.com

graemlins/hurray.gif

And I will recommend this guy:

http://www.alumrad.com/

Nice guy, very high quality and excelent turn around and prices..

See my site for pics of the one he made for me.. $600 for the whole deal with fan brackets (not fan though).. thats shipped smile.gif

I bought a Griffin
from http://summitracing.com/

i bought the direct fit one 6-567AE-BAX
2 row, 1.25" X X 23 inch core original big block

$563.69
GRI-6-567AE-BAX
http://griffinrad.com

C&R doesnt charge for their name and they are used by 95% of most professional racing teams, with the biggest being NASCAR. They have an excellent radiator that actually has a build in 13 plate heatexchanger/oil cooler for %595.00. It however is not a direct bolt in for the first Gen.

Watchout for Davis, they will give you an estimate and when you go to actually purchase it, you'll find out that your $595.00 radiator is actually going to cost you over $900.00 for a bolt in.

Griffen also sells a bolt in radiator for the first Gen for $485.00. It is a true bolt in and is just as big and bad as the two previouusly mentioned 'big boys'.

The street rods unit is a really nice piece. I found it to be of excellent construction like the C&R and the Griffen.

The world is open, you just gotta justify what you really need. For a bolt in, no hassle unit, the Griffen in the best thing I have seen and their is an excellent company to back it up. One the other hand, I specifically use C&R and only C&R because their end product is equal and in my opinion, the best thing out there. Having the ability of a heat exchanger built in for $595.00 says enough for me. Well, that and we get to see this same exact product on the "tube" every weekend blowing around tracks across the country at 175 to 200 mph.....

Nascar- one of the best test and proving grounds on the planet....

I too like the C&R product. It does take some fabrication skills to get the final product, but once done it's killer.

For a drop-in radiator the Griffin is nice, and there are some AFCO parts that look promising but need some bracketry added. Welding on a Griffin is touchy due to the epoxy used to hold the core to the tanks.

I have some pics of the new C&R radiator with Mark VIII fan and radiator support brackets. I wish I could post 'em up.

this place makes al lthe Jeg's house brand radiators
http://northernfactory.com/
i've never used one of their rads, but looked at one up close and personal last summer at the Car Craft Summer Nats, and it really looks and feels like a nice piece- light weight compared to a copper brass rad, but not so lightweight as to feel "cheap". they even look really nice,and the $189 price is hard to beat.
the cheap ones they sell thru Jegs won't bolt right into a first gen Camaro, but with 2 pieces of angled aluminum with a couple of holes drilled in them and a little Tig welding, it will bolt in.

Northern Radiators also makes the generic fit radiators for Summit Racing. I bought one two years ago and put it in my '68. It wasn't an exact fit, but making up some brackets was easy.

Just be aware regardless of what kind of radiator you ultimately end up with that there are differences between radiator designs. YOu have to understand what makes for a good or better design and why and who? Do your homework here.

First, square/shear area....the bigger the better. Crossflows are the standard here even tho there are really no inherent COOLING advantage to this design when compared to downflows. Next is tube size...at least a two-row, 1" OVAL tube is an absolute. There are bigger tube sizes and bigger is usually better in oval tube designs. I recommend at least a 1.25" tube with air and/or hot climates. Next is fin count per in. More is good and 14 is minimum. Also, I would stick to single pass radiators for the most part unless you have absolute success/knowledge with any other design. Multiple pass radiators (which are usually touted by racing teams....and racing issues do NOT translate to street issues very well.. for example NASCAR or any circle track racing wants multiple-pass radiators that are effective at high constant engine RPMs as opposed to street use which live at low rpms) require significantly more pressure to flow the same amount of coolant....and flow is king. Ron Davis makes the only double-pass radiators that seem to have a happy customer contingent because they have done other tricks to improve overall radiator performance. Also design your specific radiator to accept whatever fan technology you are planning. PRC is good at this.

Hope this helps in you choice whatever it is.