View Full Version : New radiator or re-core?


dmaita
Jan 7th, 06, 11:36 AM
I have a 68RS with a 327 that has around 275-300 HP (almost stock). I need to re-core or replace the radiator because of a leak.
Summit seems to have a nice radiator for a good price:

http://store.summitracing.com/default.asp?target=partdetail.asp&part=SUM-380456&FROM=MG

Any thoughts or suggestions?
I may eventually, well my plan, drop a 383 in the car and store away the #'s matching 327. I am using a Flex-a-lite electric fan.

Larger Dave
Jan 8th, 06, 07:28 AM
I am a big (no pun intended) fan of aluminum radiators. If you don't mind the appearance Be Cool makes a nice welded unit. If you are more for original appearance then the Griffin radiator with it's die formed tanks epoxied on can be painted black to look like a brass unit.

Larger Dave

edd Gordon
Jan 9th, 06, 05:16 PM
Nice Rad for the money and Summit (I bought alot from them) is a great company to deal with. On my 68 I was lucky and recored the original three row and it runs 180 all day with a fan clutch and original shroud and that is with a 406 SBC running 9.5 to1 compression 36 degrees full in timing at 2800 rpm

JimM
Jan 9th, 06, 05:52 PM
I haven't seen that one before, new maybe? Looks nice. Says a direct fit, and looks it if that's really a pic of that radiator. Price is right, too.
Put me down for one!

I don't see the clips for the fan shroud, but some jbweld will handle that.

Brian Lewis
Jan 9th, 06, 08:14 PM
Summit just started carrying it. Its actually a Northern Radiator 5072 just like what I run
http://69camaro.nextmill.net/photos/radiator/
I bought mine at hotrodsusa.com but now Summit offers it at a cheaper price.
Great radiator. Keeps my 383 nice and cool. Looks good, has built in flanges to mount to stock location. Built in Automatic cooler and peacock. Can even use the stock shroud like I did.

JimM
Jan 9th, 06, 08:45 PM
it's on my wish list at summit, will be on my next order. It's gonna look great in front of the alluminum shroud with Eric68's alluminum catch can, and it will keep the new 383 nice n cool! (and save a C and a half compared to the others at 400+)

DOUG G
Jan 10th, 06, 07:05 AM
If I was to buy a new one anytime soon, looks like that one would be the ticket. Aluminum,and priced right.

dmaita
Jan 10th, 06, 10:24 AM
Thanks all. I am going to order the Summit radiator. One other question, the guy that owned the car before me used a hard line for the trans cooler, but he joined to pieces together with a rubber hose and clamps. Should I order the hard lines from Year One (and will they fit a TH350 since a 68 did not come with a TH350) or is there something else I can use? I am assuming when the Power Glide was pulled the trans cooler lines would not fit the TH350 so they rigged it.

JimM
Jan 10th, 06, 05:49 PM
ya know... the real unfortunate thing is... with this "gotta buy, right price" radiator, it's gonna end up costing me another $200 to do the hoses in braid with a swivel therm housing to miss my oil fill tube...sigh... it's only money, right?

dmaita
Jan 10th, 06, 06:16 PM
Hmmm, I wonder is I am in the same boat? Does that braid hosing cost that much? What else could I use?

edd Gordon
Jan 10th, 06, 07:53 PM
I used hard lines on my other cars for the trans lines you can either get them from Ricks or other Line makers you may have to tweak them a little but most of the time they go in pretty easy or on My Chevelle I used Brake lines and bent them carefully to fit, the hardest bends to make are at the trans I used a tubing bender and lots of patients and if you screw one up the lines are cheap at Discount auto parts. I used Earls braided lines and fittings for the fuel system on my Chevelle It was really expensive but that is more of a race car application.

JimM
Jan 10th, 06, 08:12 PM
I did my heater hoses with Sceptre braid and py-thon compression fittings, they look like AN, but seal to the tube fittings. Cost for 5/8 & 3/4 was about $50 per hose... There's no way I'll get the fitting on past the oil fill tube with the thermostat housing I have, and I don't like the look of a straight up. The swivel housing is near a hundred clams...sigh...

But it'll look great!

dmaita
Jan 11th, 06, 07:39 AM
I have a TH350 now, but a friend of a friend is giving me ($free.99!!) a 700R4. I have looked and can't find pre made hard lines for that trans to the cooler. Am I stuck making my own or does anyone know of a place that sells these lines?