Frostbite radiators
#4
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Re: Frostbite radiators
It looks promising. I might order one up with my ATech account and see what their about. I'm on my second plastic radiator in two years. The **** drain on these is unbelievably weak. I got a little hot and it blew out the threads. Made quite a mess of itself. Had to spend another $80 on a new radiator to get back on the road.
GD
GD
#5
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Vermont
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 88 GTA
Engine: 5.7
Re: Frostbite radiators
I'm not sure if they make one for your car, but I have a Wizard in one of my cars and they were awesome to deal with and great quality.
Trending Topics
#9
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: California
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Received 11 Likes
on
8 Posts
Car: Son drives 1989 IROCZ
Engine: 5.7L TPI, AFR 195, LT4
Transmission: 6 spd manual
Axle/Gears: Stock
Re: Frostbite radiators
Has anyone installed this radiator? Looks like a direct fit (excluding thickness) for the height and width.
#10
Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Evansville IN
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 91 Z28
Engine: 350ci "fastburn 385"
Transmission: T56 / Quartermaster clutch
Axle/Gears: 9", 4.11, Auburn Posi
Re: Frostbite radiators
Gonna bump this question back up ----
Has anyone tried the Frostbite setup yet?
Holley Frostbit on sale for $280
They say they have 3 rows of 3/4" tubes, core is 2.20" thick - which makes it actually different I believe than most of the offshore units that you find.
It's not as high priced as DeWitts or Ron Davis etc., but sounds to be better than the Champion / ebay type stuff.
I have some healthy cooling needs with the 78mm turbo and intercooler in front of the radiator. The original stocker actually did OK, but has sprung a leak after all these years!!
Has anyone tried the Frostbite setup yet?
Holley Frostbit on sale for $280
They say they have 3 rows of 3/4" tubes, core is 2.20" thick - which makes it actually different I believe than most of the offshore units that you find.
It's not as high priced as DeWitts or Ron Davis etc., but sounds to be better than the Champion / ebay type stuff.
I have some healthy cooling needs with the 78mm turbo and intercooler in front of the radiator. The original stocker actually did OK, but has sprung a leak after all these years!!
#11
Supreme Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Northern NY
Posts: 1,107
Received 395 Likes
on
309 Posts
Car: 1988 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 5.7 L98
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: Borg Warner 9 bolt 3.27
Re: Frostbite radiators
Anyone try the frostbite yet? Curious about fit for my 88’ GTA. The cold case is nice being direct fit but still would like to know how frostbite install is.
#12
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Re: Frostbite radiators
If you are going to get one and you want a true direct fit radiator - the only one I've found is the DeWitt's. The online vendors (including DeWitt's own site) don't always have the correct picture but here is a post with pics. As you can see the radiator has the upper and lower mounting tabs in order to use the factory style rubber mounting ears. They are also 100% USA made:
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/cool...-pictures.html
https://www.dewitts.com/products/1982-92-camaro
The 1249006A part number is black with the auto trans cooler. If you want stock appearance and the best quality and fit - this is the only option I know of.
GD
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/cool...-pictures.html
https://www.dewitts.com/products/1982-92-camaro
The 1249006A part number is black with the auto trans cooler. If you want stock appearance and the best quality and fit - this is the only option I know of.
GD
#13
Supreme Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Northern NY
Posts: 1,107
Received 395 Likes
on
309 Posts
Car: 1988 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 5.7 L98
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: Borg Warner 9 bolt 3.27
Re: Frostbite radiators
I’ve heard those are great but really don’t want to spend nearly $600 for a car with a few bolt on mods, I was looking in the 200-350 range. The cold case looks like a near drop in as well. In your opinion is the aluminum worth the expense as opposed to the ac delco replacement which is over $200 on rockauto? It’d be nice to have the car run a little cooler and was also debating a 180 thermostat as well.
#14
Supreme Member
Re: Frostbite radiators
While NOT a direct bolt in, these summit triple pass radiators work great,...especially for the money. For an automatic you will need a seperate transmission cooler. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/s...31-3/overview/
#15
Supreme Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Northern NY
Posts: 1,107
Received 395 Likes
on
309 Posts
Car: 1988 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 5.7 L98
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: Borg Warner 9 bolt 3.27
Re: Frostbite radiators
Cold case is on sale right now too along with frostbite, really thinking of upgrading to aluminum radiator when I do water pump, t stat, and throttle body bypass.
#16
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Re: Frostbite radiators
The DeWitt's comes with the trans cooler integrated. And it's an absolutely perfect factory style fit. No cutting of the mounts, etc.
Yeah it's not imported Chinese $hit so it's not cheap. I would Rather support a quality US manufacturer making exact fit products with a lifetime warranty.
And yeah - cold case is Chinese. And it doesn't look like nearly as good of a fit as the DeWitt's. Look at the upper seam area that slots into the rubber mounts. DeWitt's actually builds in an aluminum tab just for the mounting point.
GD
Yeah it's not imported Chinese $hit so it's not cheap. I would Rather support a quality US manufacturer making exact fit products with a lifetime warranty.
And yeah - cold case is Chinese. And it doesn't look like nearly as good of a fit as the DeWitt's. Look at the upper seam area that slots into the rubber mounts. DeWitt's actually builds in an aluminum tab just for the mounting point.
GD
Last edited by GeneralDisorder; 12-17-2019 at 10:00 PM.
#17
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Re: Frostbite radiators
As far as ACDelco is concerned. Forget about them. For a 3rd gen it's just the same old rebranded Chinese garbage the other brands are filling their catalogs with. You may as well buy a spectra or CSF or whatever. Coming out of the same Indonesian factory.
GD
GD
#18
Supreme Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Northern NY
Posts: 1,107
Received 395 Likes
on
309 Posts
Car: 1988 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 5.7 L98
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: Borg Warner 9 bolt 3.27
Re: Frostbite radiators
Yeah the delco stuff is just rebranded typically but basic replacement is either that or spectra or other junk which might be worse. I was unaware that Dewitt came with a integrated Trans cooler...that is impressive. Thanks to all who replied
#19
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Re: Frostbite radiators
Where does it say that on their site? I couldn't find mention of origin and that typically means Asia.
3.8 of 5 on their Facebook reviews. Lots of problems being reported with fitment and leaking. In the last week someone has posted they have been sent three radiators and they all leak.... sounds like you get what you pay for.
Edit. Looked around more..... can't find a single reference to where they are made. I stand by my conclusion. I use a lot of aluminum radiators from Koyo, CSF, and Mishimoto for other vehicles and if it were US made (or Japan, or even Taiwan) they would be using that as marketing.
GD
3.8 of 5 on their Facebook reviews. Lots of problems being reported with fitment and leaking. In the last week someone has posted they have been sent three radiators and they all leak.... sounds like you get what you pay for.
Edit. Looked around more..... can't find a single reference to where they are made. I stand by my conclusion. I use a lot of aluminum radiators from Koyo, CSF, and Mishimoto for other vehicles and if it were US made (or Japan, or even Taiwan) they would be using that as marketing.
GD
Last edited by GeneralDisorder; 12-18-2019 at 09:11 AM.
#20
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Re: Frostbite radiators
GD
#21
Supreme Member
Re: Frostbite radiators
My brother-in-law used to work for a company in philadelphia that made aluminum radiators,& intercoolers of all different shapes and sizes. He told me the boss had no problem selling tons of them and letting other companies put they're sticker/name on. Said they would test competitors radiators at times, & had seen a top name that was epoxied fall apart when they hit it with a mallet. Also told me his boss went over to china to see other production radiator companies. A bunch of woman working in a factory, laying rows, tubes, fins, on an art eisle looking fixture. It somehow all gets soldered in an oven. Needs to be at a precise degree for "x" amount of time. About the only thing TIG welded is the tanks, filler, and inlet/outlet.
#22
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Re: Frostbite radiators
Okay, I have to retract part of what I said. They are NOT made in USA; they are TESTED in USA (Pennsylvania).
Again, they have tranny coolers, 1-1/4 inch tubes, and a lifetime warranty. Not everything made in China sucks. I put a Champion radiator in another car 4 years ago and have had ZERO problems. Not gonna pay $250 extra for " Made In USA"...
Again, they have tranny coolers, 1-1/4 inch tubes, and a lifetime warranty. Not everything made in China sucks. I put a Champion radiator in another car 4 years ago and have had ZERO problems. Not gonna pay $250 extra for " Made In USA"...
IDK - we all drive old American cars built with largely American sourced parts and labor (Canada too) - and then you want to put cheap Chinese crap in there to save a few bucks today that in all likelyhood will be spent and more over the next few years due to product quality? Not for me. I'll spend the money today to save it tomorrow. I've seen too many of these "name brand" (Mishimoto is a great example - F*CK those A$$holes), radiators leak, or not cool well, and most fit like crap.
GD
The following 2 users liked this post by GeneralDisorder:
91ls1t56 (12-19-2019), redneckjoe (12-18-2019)
#23
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Re: Frostbite radiators
It's not exactly an assumption. It's happening to people. Read the reviews for yourself on their Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/coldcase...=page_internal
LOTS of complaints. 3.8 out of 5? If a mechanic told you there was a 25% chance the radiator they installed would leak within the first year what would you think of the parts they are using?
I own a professional shop. I use only the best parts I can get for my customers and for my own projects.
Remember: Quality remains long after the price is forgotten.
I remember having this same discussion on the Optima battery thread. Their products are $hit also.
For a radiator "importer" all they really need to do is provide a 99% reliable product that actually fits and cools properly. And then handle that 1% crib death by overnighting a replacement to the customer with an apology and a gift card....... This doesn't seem like it would be that difficult but I'm sure the logistics are a nightmare of shipping damages, recycled Shlitz beer cans, and poorly trained Chinese school girls.
GD
https://www.facebook.com/pg/coldcase...=page_internal
LOTS of complaints. 3.8 out of 5? If a mechanic told you there was a 25% chance the radiator they installed would leak within the first year what would you think of the parts they are using?
I own a professional shop. I use only the best parts I can get for my customers and for my own projects.
Remember: Quality remains long after the price is forgotten.
I remember having this same discussion on the Optima battery thread. Their products are $hit also.
For a radiator "importer" all they really need to do is provide a 99% reliable product that actually fits and cools properly. And then handle that 1% crib death by overnighting a replacement to the customer with an apology and a gift card....... This doesn't seem like it would be that difficult but I'm sure the logistics are a nightmare of shipping damages, recycled Shlitz beer cans, and poorly trained Chinese school girls.
GD
Last edited by GeneralDisorder; 12-19-2019 at 01:15 AM.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post