I am in the process of getting a new 350 for my 86 Firebird.
Nothing wild, stock GM 350 crate engine with a comp cams 268h cam, edelbrock intake with a holley 670 and headers.
My old radiator is questionable and I am looking for a good replacement.
Car is used for street driving.
I have 3 options i am looking at.
1. Aluminum 2 row stock type replacement with plastic tanks
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Row-w-o-EO...f7bd5c&vxp=mtr

2. Champion 2 row all aluminum.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=140934578669

3. Champion 3 row all aluminum.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/190792513224...84.m1423.l2648

I'm looking to spend as little as possible, but I don't want to cheap out and have a hot running car.
I know option 3 would offer the best cooling, but if there are people out there running options 1 or 2 , let me know how its working for you.

 

55hp over a stock TPI 350 hp # isn't to radical for OE cooling.

 

I agree..ur not gunna have that much power to really worry much about cooling..but if ur old radiator is bad..even a stock replacement would be fine

 

One wide row is better than two narrow rows.

Unless the two-row plastic tank unit has rows that are significantly bigger in total than a stock one-row, the stock one-row is the way to go.

Air flows through it more easily.
Wider rows flow better & take longer to clog up over the years.

Add anti-corrosives regularly and you'll get over 10 years out of one.

 

Thanks for the tips. I went with a stock type 2 core. Has to be better than the crappy old brass one that was leaking. Even with that it didn't seem to run terribly hot.

 

I agree that the power increases shouldn't make much of an issue in cooling. I think climate and traffic are the real challenges for cooling. If you live in FL or TX or AZ, then anything spent towards a bigger radiator is beneficial. If you live in the countryside with little traffic, it's not so important. City gridlock? Go for something better.

 

I run a stock replacement Modine 951 in my 467HP 385 stroker and it runs cool.

 

That is comforting to know. My 300hp 350 should be fine then.

 

If its a auto you might want to consider a Transmission cooler especially if you decide to run a aftermarket torque converter with a higher stall.

 

I run my original radiator with stock electric fans and I have no temp issues what-so-ever even on the road course. Hottest I've ever seen was 205 on the track in 85 degree weather. I run a 180 T-stat and it rarely goes higher than that. Even with an intercooler in front which is pretty restrictive being 3" thick. Ensuring good airflow through it and proper shrouding is the key, not so much the thickness of the radiator itself.