I am looking at the 31" X 19". Its only like $60 more than one from autozone. Anyone using one? any difference in temp over the stock one?

 

I'm running one on a stock 350. It seems like it takes a little longer for the water to come up to temp, but once I'm moving there's little difference from stock. If you do get one, be ready to make your own upper radiator bracket. I spent 7 hours yesterday making my own bracket out of aluminum.

 

How much taller than the stock one did it end up being? Would it be easier to build a spacer to go under the stock upper bracket?

 

Check out my pics on this thread:

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=110893

I don't remember exactly how tall the stock radiator was, but I believe the new one might be a half inch taller. On my car, the stock upper bracket wasn't wide enough on the passenger side, so it wouldn't fit around the radiator, which is 1/2" thicker than stock.

 

i'm using the 19x31 griffin. its a little taller and wider. the stock single fan fit fine. i added the dual fan setup this year and i had to modify the mounts alittle. i had to space the fans top and botom out with washers so the blades wouldn't hit the radiator. the drivers side was worse. with a hi volume water pump it hasn't got above 190 yet.that was sitting in traffic

 

Although a Griffin radiator might be extra insurance, the factory 2-row is sufficient enough. I’ve been using the factory 2-row heavy-duty radiator for all my 400’s since 95 with out a single problem. Every 400 I’ve dropped in for my friends also use the same set-up with out a problem. You’re better off going with a Stewart Stage 2 water pump and adding a plate style transmission cooler like B&M’s. Average temperature has always been below 200* with only one of my dual fans going during the summer. All you have to remember is to make sure you have the steam holes drilled into the heads and that the gaskets have the steam holes also to vent the steam from the siamesed cylinder walls. No need to fabricate anything and very simple to install.

 

I am running the Griffin radiator AND the Stewart Stage II pump, and have no complaints what so ever. Right now I'm running without a thermostat (getting really hot down here), and the car stays nice and cool for me usually right below 160. Sitting in traffic it may get as high as 210, but never hotter. I bought this setup when I was having overheating problems with my 305, and it brought the temperature down by 70+ degrees.

My car did not come with electric fans and I have the fan shroud on there. I just had to cut out one corner piece and was then able to bolt down the shroud. I just took out the bottom rubber mounts, and tilted the radiator a bit more.

 

i run the 27.5"x19" in my car with the 383 in my sig. i use a single permacool fan with a 160 stat and no coolant additives and my car MIGHT see 200deg in traffic on a hot day. usually runns 185deg all day long except on the drag strip it gets up to about 215-220 by the time i get bacl to the staging lanes after a run.

 

fast did you use the factory upper bracket? Or did you have to make one for that too? got any pics of your radiator int the car?


Shawn

 

The Griffin radiators are excellent quality. It'll run cooler over a stock design rad core.

 

i just modified the stock upper bracket and made it work. i thought i had some pic of the new radiator in the car but all mine are before. i'll try to get one for ya



i thought i had one.....i found it. not a good one though

 

that is with last year's set-up. i have since then put my 383 in and pretty well gutted everything else out from under the hood and switched from edelbrock headers to hooker super comp long tubes.

 

Looks good. So the 27 1/2 X 19 worked out and you didn't have to make an upper brakcet? Did you make something on the rad support to boost it up a bit or did it still fit in there?

 

I've had the Griffin for about 1.5 yrs. So far it's been great. I run just around the temp rating of my stat. And about 10* warmer in traffic.

 

Mark do you have the 31" or the 27 1/2" ?

 

I'm pretty sure it's the 31, I'll check tomorrow if I get a chance.

 

thanks Mark.


Hey FAST did you make a spacer for it to sit on?

 

nope, this week we are installing my roll cage and my 9" with ladder bars. i'll be taking pics of the progress so i will snap some of the radiator and post em up in a week or two.

 

What did you guys do about radiator hoses?

 

Hey, you guy's all have the automatic transmission. Would that make a difference in what size radiator I need. I have a 305 TPI i plan on doing mods to, maybe bore it out and put heads on it but that won't increase the ci's that much. Should I go with the 27 and half or the 31 I want to keep the car nice and cool. Also should I go with the dual 1'' inch tubes or 1 and quarter? I do have the dual fans on my car. How hard is this going to be to mount it up. Will a mechanic do this work for me? So far they're going to charge me $100 to put in a radiator is this worth it? They didn't say anything about what it would be for this type of radiator. Thanks

 

i got the 27.5" keeping my 383 cool as a cucumber. i would think it would keep your 305 cool enough to where it probably wouldn't even reach operating temperature. if that happens wouldn't it mess with your computer?

 

The thermostat won't let it run cooler the the rating.

 

Hey John did you ever end up fabbing a radiator support for your rad? Or what are you guys doing for upper radiator supports?

 

wanna bet hahaha.......my buddy's 2nd gen camaro runs no hotter than 170degrees at all times.......he's got a stock gm t-stat. and yes we've checked it with laser thermometers, multiple temp gauges and it always reads the same. oh and it is a 6" rod solid roller 383 that put out 560hp on the dyno N/A. wierd huh