What radiator would you suggest?...

[5spd GT]

It's about that time of year and its getting "hot" again...my car doesn't like it...any suggestions for a radiator that can fit without any modifications, cools better than stock, and is under $300 dollars

Thanks in Advance

 

[Tstang90]

Well the Summit drop in one for $299 it wasn't a direct drop in. Atleast on a blower car. If you dont have a blower. I guess it would just require bottom bracket massaging and upper bracket bending. Bit it does cool stuff down big time. I just swapped this in from a no name 3 core. And go figure this 2 core is actaully bigger than my old 3 core.

 

[5spd GT]

Thanks for the reply...I was seeing Summitt Radiators going for $180...must not be as good...yeah I'm looking for something to idle all day and not overheat...

 

[65ShelbyClone]

I was seeing Summitt Radiators going for $180...must not be as good...yeah I'm looking for something to idle all day and not overheat...

They're definitely good, but you want something that doesnt require fabrication or new hoses to make fit. Also, at low speed a radiator is only as good a your cooling fan. Your best bet is probably a Summit Fox3-specific aluminum radiator or a three-row brass.

 

[TC93]

I use an Afco racing rad and it works good. Before the blower the car never ran past 180, it did get to 195 one time in stop & go traffic last summer. My fan can't keep up in traffic with the blower now, it's one of those 16" from adavnce auto that only pulls about 1500cfm.

But back to the topic,, you can get the Afco for $185 shipped to you from there site. I used part# 80101-FN from Afcoo Racing The only real mods you have to make is to the rad hold downs and. The stock hose's fit but, fit tight.

 

[Michael Yount]

What makes you think it's the radiator that is causing the overheating problem? If it's low speed/traffic/a-c related, I'd first take a look at the cooling fan you've got. Does it overheat in traffic, but cool off once you're moving? You may have plenty of radiator capacity but not enough air moving across it. Many people (not everyone) experience difficulties with that fan - there's a reason many refer to it as the Black Tragic fan.

 

[sidewayzisbest]

dont mean to steal this thread but maybe this will help you..

i have a 91 gt wih the stock autozone 2 core and a mark 8 fan and my car stays in the 210 range and sometimes over and its startin to get really hot(SC weather go figure lol) but any 3 cores that i can still fit the mark 8 fan thats relative cheap?

 

[rd]

The Ford FRPP 3 core has worked great in my 79, with ac for about 8 years. Highly recommended.

It is probably a direct fit for a 1982 and later, took a bit of bracket tweeking on the 79 to clear the ac lines.

Otherwise, www.radiatiorexpress.com and similar places would be my suggestion. They offer a 2 core direct replacement for just over $100 and a 3 core upgrade for a bit more. My toy 82 hotrod has the 2 core. With my $20 electric fan conversion (no ac) it seems to work fine.

Nearly any of the name brand units will also probably work well.

 

[TheUser]

go check out the stangnet part reviews...the way it looks, Fluidyne's have leaking problems and be-cool's didn't seem to be all that great...I know these weren't mentioned, but just thought i'd throw that in. I'm actually gonna be buying a new one since mine just developed a leak and i'm kinda scared to drop a couple hundred bucks on a bad one.....

 

[JaysGreenLX]

I bought a 3 core from a local radiator fabricator for $105.
Its been in for 3 years and works great.

 

[t69r00p69]

i spent a little on my radiator but if it helps it could be your heater core? i bought a new heater core steeda radiator and the blue hose kit from ford car never over heated since and its' hot and real humed i live in houston TX works great !!!!!

 

[ratrapp]

i have a griffin nascar style radiator with a 15" proform electric direct fit fan.my mustang will sit at 180 all day long.the radiator was less than 200 and the fan was 120.i also have a griffin with 2 10 flexalites on my 69 ss396 nova that will cool all day long.i too was fighting with an overheating problem that turned out to be a cracked block from where some idiot bored and sleeved the block to .060

 

[Marks5.0!]

got a fluidyne 2 core, stock fan, 180 thermostat my car runs at 185 during a 100 degree summer day with the a/c blowing sitting in traffic

 

[tvmango]

Thanks for the reply...I was seeing Summitt Radiators going for $180...must not be as good...yeah I'm looking for something to idle all day and not overheat...

that the one I have, works great, but it takes some time to fit it, the hose sizes are different too,, the thing is very thick!!

 

[5spd GT]

So what is all involved when you all say you modify it to fit...I know that is a vague question...

I didn't ever say I have an overheating problem...but I'm getting some stuff from FTI pretty soon...(AFR's, cam) when I get around to ordering...once I get past my Finals at school...hopefully will be in by mid June...so I'm going to be creating more power...more heat...and just want suggestions on a good radiator...I don't want to spend half my time fabbing the radiator to fit while I'm doing the H/C/I install...but if it needs to be done...I'll get it done...

Keep the suggestions coming...

But ocassionally my car does shoot up all of a sudden if I'm at idle for a while...and when I get on it for a spirited run...the temp shoots up...and then eventually goes back down...

What do you think would be a good setup to cool a 300rwhp car...in the heat at idle...I'm tired of always looking down at my guage (out of paranoia) to see if it is overheating... ...I was thinking a 180 Mr. Gasket Thermostat, some good radiator...(still waiting on that one)...and what else could I use...

Thanks again...

 

[5spd GT]

I think I'm going to go with the Griffin 31x19 "Nascar style" Radiator...$189 bucks...

What else could I use to keep my car cool...maybe 180 Thermostat from Mr. Gasket?....what else?????

 

[5spd GT]

suggestions????

Is a 180 degree thermostat from Mr. Gasket good?....what else could I do to keep my car cool...

Thanks

 

[HISSIN50]

suggestions????

Is a 180 degree thermostat from Mr. Gasket good? Thanks

i like it a lot.

 

[gaslight]

I just got the FMS aluminum radiator from summit for $250. Real nice piece if you don't mind the plastic tanks. Fits great with minor work(the tanks are slightly wider). It also comes with the cooler for a auto built in. If you have a 5 spd you could always use that cooler for a oil cooler in the future, just a thought. It is supposed to be a direct replacement for the 3 core brass radiator but with better cooling according to Ford.

 

[Michael Yount]

Just remember - if you use the in-tank cooler that's part of a radiator spec'd for an auto-tranny car, you're basically using the radiator coolant to cool the other fluid. Whether an oil cooler, or tranny cooler, I prefer to have the coil for that in separate air flow than the air flowing over the radiator and a/c condenser (e.g. - under the car) so that all the capacity of the radiator can be used for dealing with the engine's coolant. Also, has anyone actually switched the tranny cooler over to be an engine oil cooler? I've wondered about it - what kind of pressure is the tranny fluid under? Is it comparable to the 50-70 psi the oil will produce? Just curious if the tranny cooler is rated for that or not.