Thread: aluminum radiator ok??

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Getting ready to swap out my radiator. Want to get thru summer easy. Is a 2 row aluminum ok? Right now have the stock one there. Would a desert cooler 4-row be better than the larger tube 2 row aluminum? Opinions wanted, and thanks.

Depends on who you talk to. Some feel copper cools better, some like aluminum. I am a fan of aluminum, because everything I have read or researched leads me to this choice.

I had a very lengthy discussion with a radiator guy at Turkey Run last year, and he really impressed me with his knowledge. He sells both, and hands down says aluminum outcools copper. I am running one in my Jeep, and we have just purchased one for my '39 (double pass through) and my Son's '29. His is a real work of art, and should cool the 455 well.

With either one, a good shroud and, if using an electric fan, it must be a good quality brand, not one from the local auto parts store.

My '27 has a custom unit from the Brassworks, and I have never been impressed with it. For as thick as it is, and what it cost, I feel it should be more efficient. I plan to put an aluminum in it when I rebuild the car.

Others may have a different slant on it, and that is ok, but this is just my view.


Don

Aluminum is Ok, they make them much bigger and beefier than copper units, so they can cool more efficently than most copper. Aluminum is slightly more effifficent metal for dissipating heat, but not much better.

I've used aluminum radiators on about the last 5 or 6 projects, no complaints yet. Just make sure that you have some sort of cushion on the mounting points to cancel out some of the vibrations.

Dexcool is a marginally better coolant specifically developed for aluminum too. It will stay liquid over a long time over the green stuff which will turn to a higher viscosity and even gel at worst. Of course those considerations are more for people that drive the hell out of a car and rarely service it. I've found more cars with blocked aluminum radiators than copper ones. I feel they might clog easier than copper. But if you service and flush your system there should be no problems with either. I mean I wouldn't drive a car 50,000 miles before flushing/changing which is supposedly "normal" these days.