29 coupe radiator

[pops29]

i am new to this chat room. i am building a 29 coupe with a 350 vortec motor. would a walker radiator be a good choice for a hot climate? the radiator will have to have a a/c condensior also. or what radiator would you recomend?
Thank you,
Cory

[techinspector1]

Pops, you'll get answers from one end of the spectrum to the other on which radiator to use. Personally, I used a Walker copper/brass 4-core on my T project, which used a 28-A shell, but in retrospect, I think it may have been overkill. A 3-core would have been plenty I think, even cooling a BBF like I had in the engine bay.

[rspears]

Pops,
Like Tech says, everyone has their favorites. I'm working with the guys at N&N and they like the PRC aluminum units, saying that they have had great experience with them at pretty healthy savings. They buy them as a set, with the AC Condenser core mounted.

[Itoldyouso]

Yep, there are a lot of good choices out there these days. It depends on if you like copper or aluminum. In recent years I've become a fan of aluminum, I just think it cools a little better. No scientific proof to bear that out, but I do know my T with the same 350 Vortec you have never gets over 160. Even sitting at lights it MAY come up to 180 but the fan kicks it right back down, and as you can see I also live where it is a little warm.

PRC has built us 4 or 5 so far and each one is really nice and efficient. Even the chopped one in my Kids 30 rpu with a 464 Olds ran somewhat cold during the hour breakin period.

BTW, welcome to the group.

Don

[Bob Parmenter]

If you're concerned about appearance be careful in the unit you pick. The '28-9 rad shell requires a shaped radiator to fill the hole properly, not just the usual rectangle. Some vendors who build down to a price don't go through the extra work to make it so.

[pops29]

would they work well with radiator and conderser combos? and thanks for all the help

[Bob Parmenter]

A picture is worth a thousand words, see below for example of what I was talking about.

As for the condenser, that will mount in front of rad, again depending on who and how, results could look bad. A "fix" for either problem is a grille insert of some sort and black paint to disguise it. Or remote mount the condenser, which could affect it's efficiency, and with the small size of the A is somewhat more difficult.