Radiator suggestions for SBC conversion???

[King Kong]

Hi gang,
I am in the process of a SBC conversion and was looking for advice on radiators. Any particulars? 3 or 4 core? Aluminum? The SBC will be pushing 380hp with a manual toyota 4 speed trans. Cool NW climate with a few weeks over 100 each summer. I see that some people have used Champion radiator off of e-bay with what appears to be good results. Any additional feedback on the Champion radiator, fit, finish etc, would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Lashcat]

My LC runs on the warm side and it has a 4 core in it. I have been looking at Summit and Speedway. Speedway has a large selection to choose from. I plan to go with one that was made for a GM truck/car that will fit in the LC. If it was made for a OEM, it should do the trick. The prices are not too bad either. I have a freind that put a Vortec V6 in his, he found a GM radiator for his and has had no problems. The other part of it is if you go with a GM radiator, you don't have to figure anything out on hoses.

 

[nuclearlemon]

i ran a two core aluminum griffin for a while and didn't like it, although i had ahave poor fan setup at the time. changed over to a cheap standard three core bolt in and a taurus fan and loved it. that was in a 68 v8j40.

getting ready to start taking measurements for a rad for my v8j55 soon, taurus fan already in the cargo area

 

[riderjgs]

I'm running a 350 in front of a Toyota four speed and just took my stock radiator and had it redone without doing anything special. Put on a fresh high volume NAPA water pump, new belts and hoses and 190-degree thermostant, seven blade fan with a new GM pickup fan clutch and have had no problems in high desert heat. Have not yet fabbed a fan shroud and probably won't unless it becomes necessary. Maybe I'm just lucky but I see no need to get fancy.

 

[FJROME]

Radiator Barn 4 core unit has been doing a great job for me

 

[reddingcruiser]

CFR Performance Radiators. Decent prices and I've had zero problems since installing my aluminum cross flow radiator 3 years ago. I went with the maximum size that would fit between the fender wells and fit under the hood, and had custom supports and an aluminum shroud fabricated. For those that don't know, Redding CA gets hot, with mid 90's to 100+ most of the summer.

 

[middlecalf]

Well KK you asked for feedback on the Champion radiators, so I'll give you my experience with such. I'm on my third one - nope, same vehicle unfortunately. The first two leaked after almost a year, I paid for shipping one-way on the first replacement (return shipping) and both ways on the second replacement. The leaks were all small and somewhere in the fins near the bottom, never really loosing too much coolant but enough to be an annoyance. My current replacement has the same type leak, I've decided not to replace it but just keep an eye on it. I've since also added a custom fan shroud and an additional radiator rod support (like the one that's there on the passenger side, just added one to the driver side). My conclusion was that flex between the radiator support and the radiator was eventually causing a stress break. Also, on my current replacement the mounting flange on the passenger side has about an inch crack, happening before adding the additional radiator support, again I think due to flex. My radiator mount is stock. All of the replacements have bolt up with perfect fit so at least that part of the homework was done. If you go this route, or even with any aluminum radiator (vs a more solid, rigid one like the stock) make sure you have the radiator mount shock/flex-mounted or such to avoid flex-stresses from going into the radiator itself. My '65 radiator mount didn't have such, I think the later FJ40's did have some sort of flex-mount for this reason. As far as cooling, even before getting a custom fan shroud made (I have an SBC - 283) my temps never got above 205 or so, now with the shroud they climb to about 195 and then come back down after the 180-deg thermostat opens (I notice more movement in the temp now but all at a 10+deg lower temp). Well, that's my experience.

 

[TCinVA]

I got an advance adapters aluminum radiator and a spall sp? Electric fan. The 40 runs 190 on the street no matter what temp outside and no more than 210 while crawling through the woods.

 

[Strait Cruisin]

I used my old stock one when I converted and used a cheap electric fan I got from the wrecking yard. Driving around was ok but push it and it would get hot.

Put in a new 4 core and a taurus fan and it does just fine. You can, however, tell when then fan cycles on and off, its a big current draw.

 

[1973Guppie]

go with an aluminum radiator and a ford taurus fan and you won't ever have to worry about it, do it right the first time.....

 

[Lashcat]

go with an aluminum radiator and a ford taurus fan and you won't ever have to worry about it, do it right the first time.....

What year tarus did you get the fan from?

 

[1973Guppie]

can't remember, search around and the info it sout there......

 

[green40]

4 core from Radiator barn. Mid 90's Taurus fan. 190 degree thermostat.