Aluminum Radiator...who to contact?

Jon350 · Jun 11, 2006

I am looking for an inexpensive aluminum radiator for my 65 fastback. I would love to just go with fluidyne or griffin or someone like that but i don't believe the prices are warranted. The following are my guidelines: Strong performing aluminum radiator which would fit the stock mounting points (or at least be the same physical dimensions as the stock one), work on the street (and occassional road racing), does not need a stop-****, does not need oil inlets, something that looks modern (ie: a Ron Davis Radiators), and has the inlet and outlet on the passenger side, and finally is in the $100-250 range.

If you guys know of any places that produce universal size radiators or racing radiators for relatively cheap please let me know! Thank you.

5.0ina66 · Jun 11, 2006

Summits drop in 65-66 is $243 and their universal units are $170. Made by Northern and/or AFCO IIRC...good stuff!

mustangman1974 · Jun 11, 2006

I bought a fluidyne from absolute radiator. it was 419.99 delivered. However, I woudl refrain from this route. My motor is not wild just good heads and GT cam. DAmn thing pegs temp guage. To do it again I would put a good copper like modine and a hellish electric.

LMan · Jun 12, 2006

www.afcoracing.com

SoCalCruising · Jun 12, 2006

I use the National. Drop in. No issues. Reasonable price.

66forfun · Jun 13, 2006

sacremento mustang has a very nice drop in with the top to match the original, vintage air has fan/shroud kits

Robdogg67 · Jun 13, 2006

I'll second the universal Summit radiator by Northern. It's awesome for $170 and polishes up nice. Measure your opening, choose your inlet/outlet sides and order up. You'll have to make some base and top brackets but it can be done fairly easily as alot of guys around here have done.

BullittStangV8 · Jun 14, 2006

I have a DSS 331 w. afr 185's which should make 400 or so hp comming my way in 7 weeks, and I need to figure out my cooling. Will a stock size radiator of a different type then stock keep it cool? What about cutting the radiator support opening to fit a larger radiator? Anyone have any pics of this?

SoCalCruising · Jun 15, 2006

This is for your "dead" 65?

BullittStangV8 · Jun 15, 2006

haha yes its for the "dead" 65...which should be alive and kicking real soon.

302 coupe · Jun 15, 2006

Northern 19x27, opening widened to expose the full core of the radiator, 73 bronco upper hose to top drivers side, mystery lower hose to pass side bottom (picked it off the shelf at NAPA). Top mounting bracket is a shortened upper mount from a granada, kinda did it the hard way, would have been easier to make something from flat stock. Easy install, works great. Since the battery was moved to trunk, and the metal on the core in that area was a little rusty, I cut it out and mounted the tranny cooler there, you can just see it in the 3rd pic. Hope this helps.

SoCalCruising · Jun 15, 2006

I have a similar motor to yours and use a 2-row Northern drop in radiator with HotRod fan. I have had no cooling issues this far. I think that opening up the radiator support and using a larger radiator is good insurance, but you will need to move tha battery to the trunk, or use a different battery tray that will allow you to turn the battery 90*, which frees up space for the radiator. I remember seeing that tray swap ... I think it is a 67-68 battery tray(?) Someone help me out. Personally, I didn't want to move the battery.

BullittStangV8 · Jun 16, 2006

Where did you get your northern radiator? I cant seem to find them on summit, jegs, or the other major parts dealers.

Also, the summit drop in units have transmission coolers. Can you simply not use it? I dont have an auto in need of a tranny cooler. Sorry for the stupid question, this is my first aftermarket radiator purchase.

302 coupe · Jun 16, 2006

summit radiators ARE northern brand. If you don't need the trans cooler part, just don't hook anything to it. Personally, for once, I would go universal over thr drop in unit. There's just not enough surface area on a stock sized radiator, IMO. Its easy to enlarge the core support and have it look neat and stock-ish.

dennis112 · Jun 16, 2006

SoCalCruising said:
I have a similar motor to yours and use a 2-row Northern drop in radiator with HotRod fan. I have had no cooling issues this far. I think that opening up the radiator support and using a larger radiator is good insurance, but you will need to move tha battery to the trunk, or use a different battery tray that will allow you to turn the battery 90*, which frees up space for the radiator. I remember seeing that tray swap ... I think it is a 67-68 battery tray(?) Someone help me out. Personally, I didn't want to move the battery.

To turn the battery 90 degrees will require a 67-68 apron too.

I have a 24" wide radiator in my 65' and have retained the battery in the stock location. Basically I modified a 67-68 battery box by removing the entire bottom bracket and then replacing it with the 65-66 bracket. The battery still sits in the original 65-66 direction.

I then bought a battery that would fit the battery box and not rub the radiator. If interested, I could get you the size battery (its not huge, and it is not tiny either.)

Cannoball888 · Jun 16, 2006

Instead of going with a wider universal, you can go with a thicker core drop-in rad (up to 3.5" on a 1965-66), but this limits the kind of fan you can use.

BullittStangV8 · Jun 16, 2006

I assume that allot of you guys when talking about trimming/cutting the radiator opening to allow a bigger radiator are cutting out the sections I marked with an arrow in the picture below?

I'm going to go meassure what the new opening size would be. Hopefully there is a size that will be small enough to allow a battery tray, and still be large enough to cool effectivly. Are the sizes listed for the summit unit the cooling area in height and width, or the overall dimensions?

allcarfan · Jun 16, 2006

I bought an AFCO aluminum radiator...19x22" (I think) for a small block chevy. You just need to change the upper radiator hose. It was $179.99 shipped brand new from either racersoutlet.com or raceparts.com...I cant remember which.

ddonaca351 · Jun 18, 2006

www.summitracing.com
800-230-3030

(is it a bad sign when you know their number by heart?)
DD

BullittStangV8 · Jun 18, 2006

Anyone have the part number for the summit radiator, 27x19, w. the inlet and outlet on the passenger side?Thanks.

Aluminum Radiator...who to contact?

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