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02-15-2022, 09:32 AM | #1 |
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Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 28
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"Aluminum radiators are no good"...???
This is what I was told by someone who ought to be in the know. I'm building my first Flathead and I'm about ready to fire it up. There's a lot of odd things about this engine compared to a more modern V-8 and I didn't want to screw up. So instead of buying a Champion, I bought a used original radiator as it was the best I could afford in non-aluminum. It didn't seem right that all aluminum radiators are garbage, but maybe the guy knew something I didn't. Well, turns out the radiator I bought isn't that great. It ought to hold me for some bench running but I'd never want to take it down the road. I asked the guy why he was so against aluminum and he came back with electrolysis, flex cracking, and poor build quality. I figure electrolysis would be taken care of with proper coolant and maintenance and rubber isolator mounts. The rubber isolator mounts would probably deal with the flex cracking too. The poor build quality, I'd try to get a decent one and hopefully that wouldn't be an issue. Nope, HAS to be Walker or Brassworks. For real? We're pretty much all of us running aluminum radiators in our vehicles anymore. Does anyone on here have a dang concrete reason why I shouldn't go with a Champion radiator for my 8BA? I can't shell out $800-$100 as much as I'd love copper.
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02-15-2022, 09:44 AM | #2 |
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Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SoCal-Redlands
Posts: 3,024
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Re: "Aluminum radiators are no good"...???
Opinions of aluminum versus copper are all over the place. I have an expensive copper Brassworks radiator in my '39 p/u BUT that isn't to say that aluminum radiators are junk. There are many many posts over on the HAMB regarding aluminum radiators cooling blown big blocks with no issues. My thought is that whatever route you decide on go with a quality brand. I've never heard anything bad about Champion but then again I've never owned one. I did buy an aluminum radiator off the internet for my '54 Ranch Wagon project because I need one in a hurry for the 302/AOD mock up. Can't say how it will cool since its not running yet but it fit perfectly and the quality seems good. And welcome aboard.
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02-15-2022, 09:49 AM | #3 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Huntsville Al
Posts: 1,526
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Re: "Aluminum radiators are no good"...???
There have been aluminum radiators in Corvettes since the 1960s...factory equipment. They are fine if you have a quality built one.
My humble opinion..
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Matt 24:36-41 |
02-15-2022, 10:22 AM | #4 |
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Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SoCal-Redlands
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Re: "Aluminum radiators are no good"...???
More info on Champion radiators:
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...#post-14358059 Or another source for supposedly USA made aluminum radiators: https://www.wwwsuperiorradiator.com/
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Making the simple complicated for over 30 years. |
02-15-2022, 11:01 AM | #5 |
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Join Date: May 2012
Location: u-rah-rah-Wisconsin
Posts: 1,137
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Re: "Aluminum radiators are no good"...???
After the original radiator in my '46 59AB couldn't be rebuilt (so said the shop), I bought a Champion. It has performed flawlessly. Zero issues. At the time, I faced the same dollar difference and couldn't justify 3X the cost for a driver restoration.
Buy the unit you believe is the best solution and thank others kindly for their opinions.
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19 and 49 F1 - jes' like Henry II built 1946 Deluxe - as Henry built it |
02-15-2022, 11:32 AM | #6 |
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Green Bay Wi
Posts: 400
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Re: "Aluminum radiators are no good"...???
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02-15-2022, 11:32 AM | #7 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Montgomery, NY & Port St. Lucie Florida
Posts: 936
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Re: "Aluminum radiators are no good"...???
I put a high-quality aluminum radiator in my 1965 GTO.
The one I installed has stamped top and bottom tanks and I painted it with a light coat of self-etching black primer. Now it looks like an original Harrison unit. If you think flatheads run hot, try a hipo Pontiac. Yikes. Also installed the proper fan shroud and fan along with it. It's still a blast furnace when you open the hood but no more overheating.
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Early Ford Lock & Key Service http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=46583 Last edited by 32phil; 02-15-2022 at 11:34 AM. Reason: more info |
02-15-2022, 12:37 PM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: West Salem, Wi.
Posts: 281
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Re: "Aluminum radiators are no good"...???
Running an aluminum radiator in my 34 with no issues for ten years. Ditto my 30 roadster for the last four.
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02-15-2022, 01:03 PM | #9 |
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Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Shelton, WA
Posts: 3,800
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Re: "Aluminum radiators are no good"...???
Like anything, you get what you pay for. A cheap Speedway fits-all aluminum radiator won't be as good as an expensive Griffin. My Avatar car which made its maiden run on the highway after sitting in the rain since 1949 has a Griffin radiator that I installed in 2000. It cools so efficiently, with no thermostats it wouldn't get above 110 degrees and ran terribly. Put in 170 degree stats and it warms right up and never gets above 190. So this aluminum radiator is 22 years old and has 7k miles on it with absolutely no problem. It wasn't cheap, I think it was $750 back in 2000. I don't even try to drive the car until the temp gets above 150, then it is sweet. This i my experience with an aluminum radiator and a flathead.
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02-15-2022, 01:51 PM | #10 |
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Sask. Canada
Posts: 2,424
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Re: "Aluminum radiators are no good"...???
I've never had an aluminum radiator in any of my flatheads but did install one in my 81 GMC pickup. A "Spectro" I think was the manufacturer. Its been good but my one complaint is that I can't solder repair it when it gets damage to the core. And wouldn't you know within the first thousand miles I got a stone bruise right in the middle that started it leaking. JB Weld to the rescue and its been good but I'd feel safer with solder.
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02-15-2022, 03:36 PM | #11 |
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Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 522
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Re: "Aluminum radiators are no good"...???
I have aluminum radiators in all three of my old Fords, two of which I put in myself to replace the original units...but not because I feel aluminum is the better option. I couldn't find a local person I could trust to recore the originals decently, among other considerations. All three cars have worked fine with aluminum cooling. However, here are two things I would suggest if you replace the original radiator with aluminum:
1- Keep the original radiator, no matter how poorly it's working. Some potential buyers of your car down the road may insist on a copper unit. 2- Install a zinc anode in your cooling system. A lot of people don't do this, but it apparently helps reduce any corrosion that might happen because of dissimilar metals. Kind of a theoretical solution to a theoretical problem, but I figure it can't hurt. Last edited by JimNNN; 02-15-2022 at 03:44 PM. |
02-15-2022, 03:59 PM | #12 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys
Posts: 10,320
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Re: "Aluminum radiators are no good"...???
Quote:
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02-15-2022, 04:33 PM | #13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Williamsburg, VA
Posts: 1,627
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Re: "Aluminum radiators are no good"...???
I tried a Champion in my '41 coupe. It would overheat quickly in traffic, and over 60 on the highway, on any 90+ day. That was with timing advanced, Dennis Carpenter water pumps (improved flow), water wetter, and baffles to direct more air flow through the radiator. The engine is 284" with a Schneider 248f cam and compression near 9:1. The block was thoroughly cleaned out during rebuild. I was able to fix the 01T truck radiator that the car came with, and that keeps it cool. The other thing that helped is running a much lower concentration of antifreeze. I think my problem was largely the boosted engine power, and the fact that I could not bring myself to put in an electric fan to remedy the poor air movement power of the low crank mounted fan in my '41..
The Champion aluminum radiator should be fine on a stock engine. |
02-15-2022, 04:40 PM | #14 |
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Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: SW WA
Posts: 639
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Re: "Aluminum radiators are no good"...???
I think the biggest difference is going to be fully welded versus glued. The glued radiators are the ones that typically fail, not the fully welded radiators. It’s much quicker to glue the core to the tanks versus welding so watch out for the cheaply priced aluminum radiators since they are typically the glued type. With that said, I’ve never had any issues with good quality, fully welded aluminum radiators. I still prefer brass on early restorations though.
Last edited by OldGold360; 02-15-2022 at 05:22 PM. |
02-15-2022, 05:38 PM | #15 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 522
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Re: "Aluminum radiators are no good"...???
Quote:
Thanks for the education tubman. I knew I should've taken chemistry in high school! |
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02-15-2022, 06:29 PM | #16 |
BANNED
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 3,019
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Re: "Aluminum radiators are no good"...???
Wizard Radiator in West Falls N.Y.....5 minutes from me....builds rads for everyone in
Western N.Y. as well far far away. Wizard is a small efficient operation, all disaplines are there from design to shipping. The cad guy will scan your odd ball rad and have a print ready for the shop . On the other side of the wall in the boss office is the welding equipment. Charlie ny |
02-15-2022, 07:21 PM | #17 | |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Orchard Park NY
Posts: 93
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Re: "Aluminum radiators are no good"...???
Quote:
If and when my flattie needs one, it will be a Wizard. |
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02-15-2022, 08:12 PM | #18 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 611
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Re: "Aluminum radiators are no good"...???
Is that anode just in there hanging on a string or what? After 4 or 5 years I still really like my Champion radiator.
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02-15-2022, 08:26 PM | #19 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys
Posts: 10,320
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Re: "Aluminum radiators are no good"...???
I solder one end of a short piece on #10 wire to the rivet head (?) in the middle of the sealing disc with an eye terminal on the other. I tap the chunk of of magnesium anode with a #10 tap and use a short screw through the eye terminal into the anode chunk.
The electrical circuit has to be complete through the cars ground system to work. A weak electrical current has to flow from the anode (magnesium chunk) to the cathode (iron block). This erodes the magnesium anode rather than the aluminum radiator (and in some cases, heads). |
02-15-2022, 11:17 PM | #20 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 611
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Re: "Aluminum radiators are no good"...???
Thanks Denny!
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