Who manufactures the biggest baddest radiators for our cars? I am working on a project of putting an 18* 427" SBC in my 87 IROC, and I want it to be able to stay cool in the middle of summer while stuck in traffic. I want it to be specifically made for our car. Not so concerned about the price. Just the best. Thanks, ARN

 

I have a Griffin radiator. Dont remember exactly which model i ordered but i think its this one http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

 

Look into www.performanceradiator.com go to do it yourselfer's and look up your car. the part #5062 is a direct replacement for our cars. If you would like to order it, give us a call. we have a warehouse in Cincinnati Oh. If you want, i can order it in my Austin warehouse, and have it shipped direct to you. give me a call @ #512-454-8850 Thanks, Jack

 

how would something like this be:

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

opinions?

 

Looks like it would work. Check to see if they are welded together, or epoxied together. If they are epoxied together, i wouldn't trust it.

 

So far, it looks like the Griffen is superior. It looks like it is 3/4" thicker than the others. Any others?
ARN

 

def the griffen

 

the griffin one would be fine, but you did not mention what kind of power you are planning, a 427 could be a dog with 200 hp or could be a beast with 800+ and anything in between. As for a bigger radiator, be-cool makes them as well, they are 4 core, so they are twice as thick as the griffin ones, while they are made for our cars, im sure they will not just "Bolt in"

 

Yes you are correct. None of these will just "BOLT IN", but i know for sure the one we sell at my shop, all the have to do is trim the rubber mounting pads. Just another heads up, A radiator with 2-1inch rows, or core what ever you would like to call them, Will out flow ANY 4 row/core. It has been proven with all the test they put our radiator throught before we will sell them.

 

You didn't notice the little (18*) next to the 427. That means 18 degree heads. These heads are flowing 350+ cfm. Noone puts 18* heads on and plans to put out 200 hp. Actually, it really doesn't matter because all I asked is who makes the biggest baddest radiator for our 82-92 f-bodies. I didn't even say for my application only. If it does matter, I am still building the engine and it should be finished and dyno'd soon. I fully ported the Dart 18* heads & Bowtie manifold, will be running a .690" lift solid roller, 11.25:1 CR, Demon 1000, 1 7/8" headers to 3 1/2" collectors, twin disc clutcth McLeod Six Speeds Inc. T-56 set up. Now with that out of the way, the question is the same.
I look at the total thickness of the radiator, not just the number of rows/cores. I have no problem fabricating and/or modifying. Just do not want something that was not designed with our 82-92 f-body cars in mind.
ARN

 

Well, total thickness is not all what you want to look for. We sell radiator's for chevy 454 trucks that are half the thickness of the stocker. The reason is fins per square inch. the more fins per square inch, the more heat the radiator will pull away. i can have a radiator built that is 4 inch thick core, and one that is 1 inch thick and have the 1 inch thick core out cool the 4 inch. It all has to do with fin angle, and fins per suqare inch. Jack

 

I look at fins per inch also. The problem is, I can't find the information on this specification. None are listed. I guess I'll have to call to find this info. I'm just trying to find all the players. Thanks for the responses. ARN

 

opps, well i did miss the 18 degree heads, my bad, i was not trying to make trouble just looking for info. I personally have the jegs "direct fit" 2 row radiator. Its made by northern. It is more than enough for my 408, and fit pretty well under the stock supports, though it did require cutting the rubber pads and a little piece of the end of the upper plastic support.

 

look for a 31x19 radiator best I have seen is griffin c&r something like this would fit with minor fab work http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NASCA...spagenameZWD1V
depending on the space you have from the water pump and mech fan if you are running that or the thickness of the electric one that will be in it's place.

 

What I have come to find in researching this is, it would be nice if there was an industry standard way of measuring a radiator's ability to dissipate heat. Everything else in the auto industry has ratings. From cfm, to gph, to psi, to lbs/ft and so on and so on. Why couldn't radiators. Maybe there is one and I just don't know about it. It would sure be a better way to find the right radiator rather than "guaranteed to lower water temp. by a minimum of 20 deg. or your money back". What a bunch of crap. It just needs standardized. Such as X amount of btu transfer at 220 deg. F water with X #gph flowing through it with X cfm 80 deg. f air. Something like that. Then we could find the correct rating of radiator for x amount of HP.
ARN

 

Hey A Atwood, have you looked into the Ron Davis Radiators? The website is www.rondavisradiators.com. I plan on buying one for my Camaro Z28. They are fully welded, not epoxied. Hope this helps.

 

No I haven't. I have never heard of them. I will be checkng them out now though. Thanks.
ARN

 

Running the big Griffin 2-1.25 rows in my 87 Iroc and
really does the job. They had 2 choices, 2-1'' rows or
2-1.25 rows, got the latter.
They claim good for 600+HP.
Have my fans setup low and they hardly ever come on
when warmed up.
I went direct thru Griffin to make sure I also got the
heater hose return nipple as some don't.

Kinda pricey though, over $500 but figure just one more
thing not to worry about on down the line.
Also had to do a little mount work as not a full drop in
but easy mod.

HTH

Later

 

I have a custom made C&R on my setup... The only issue I had with fitament was the fill neck...I had to cut/weld the top right side of the core support with a holesaw then repaint it... Not a big deal since I was fabbing the car at that point... Just enough to clear the cap...Ill check and see if I have pics... The width was exactly what it needed to be..By design... it was quite a bit thicker than stock BUT since I was not running AC the width was no problem. This setup can cool well beyond anything Ive ever thrown out of it..

 

have the griffin, the universal one, went through griffin direct for the universal SBC one that was 2 rows of 1" tubes, it was welded then epoxied, like all of their radiators (at least they were before i went to iraq). i have limited run time with it, however, but no issues on the 406/stockblock/iron head/t76 Turbo with single elec. fan/edelbrock alum. waterpump. 589RWHP thru the stock 700R4 before i blew it up and pulled the car apart for a full resto/t56. The universal one fit just like the specific one for our car, go thru girffin direct and they welded the heater hose return fitting on the universal rad. for free, the 26x19" one i believe.

 

That's pretty cool of them. Do you know who you might have talked to?