aluminum rad!

[bcsteel]

what do you guys think about these any experience? got the chance to grab one for a around 250canuck bucks is it worth it (any difference)???

 

["N8"]

I just put a nice one in my 88 mini truck, and its nice. The one I got is a lot larger on the x and y axis and it keeps the truck super cool. I haven't even gotten around to putting the fan shroud back on and I never get above factory temp. Definitely not necessary, but still nice to have.

 

[Downey]

The guys who build copper radiators claim that aluminum cools 10% better. The guys who build aluminum radiators claim they cool 40% better. Probably best to split the difference???

 

[Jukelemon]

I would stick with the stock replacement. I bought one from an Autozone. A bit bigger but doesnt cool any better than the stock one which lasted 185k miles.

I suppose if you do a lot of wheeling then it might a different story. Not sure though.

 

[bigndn]

I just put a nice one in my 88 mini truck, and its nice. The one I got is a lot larger on the x and y axis and it keeps the truck super cool. I haven't even gotten around to putting the fan shroud back on and I never get above factory temp. Definitely not necessary, but still nice to have.

Same experience here. I have AL rads in both my FJ40 and my mini truck, no shrouds on either. No temp issues here, even in summer.

 

[Bogo]

The guys who build copper radiators claim that aluminum cools 10% better. The guys who build aluminum radiators claim they cool 40% better. Probably best to split the difference???

Must be due to design. Copper has a much higher heat transfer rate than AL.

 

[WristPin]

gotta be the design. copper is much better at many things than a lot of alloys or metals.

i have only found the aftermarket crap radiators around here that have have plastic tanks. i am not down with that

gotta go OEM

dont know how much 250 maple dollars are but in usd 150 is what i see those crap ones goin for. id rather spend 100 and get my OE radiator rebuilt buy a specialty shop

 

[corax]

Aluminum does a great job, but if you don't have any problems cooling with a stock radiator, or don't have any big modifications on the engine, you won't see any advantage.


I have a relatively small (19"x22"x (1) 1" core) aluminum radiator cooling my Supra swap and it does a great job if I'm not pulling a trailer through hill country. I just got this beauty to replace it though so I can pull those long grades with 2 tons on the rear bumper and no overheating

Ron Davis double pass, 2 core, 24.5"x16"x2.75" - - found it at a flea market for $25! (2 tubes repaired)

 

[bcsteel]

rad

thanks for the info guys. i tow a small trailer and have a camperette for the back of the truck so i was thinking a bigger rad might be better in the long run.

matt

 

[corax]

you could also try this cheap trick for the occasional long grades

Radiator Mist - beat the overheat