Thread: I Need Advice on Aluminum Radiators

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Thanks for the info on the radiators and paint.

The most basic question is: Is it worth another $150 just to have a shinier radiator? Is there any reason to believe that there will be any significant performance difference?

Speedway has been great to work with and have offered to take it back if I am not satisfied.

Originally Posted by 37 Caddy

The most basic question is: Is it worth another $150 just to have a shinier radiator? Is there any reason to believe that there will be any significant performance difference?

The answer to that may or may not be yes, although the real question depends on construction not appearance. If the one you got from Speedway is an epoxied construction then it is basically unrepairable in most parts of the country if you spring a leak. Ones that are fully welded, though not all shops are setup to do aluminum welding, can be repaired. So the actual extra cost may end up being what you paid for the rad you have now if you end up throwing it away in a couple years. If you do a web search you'll see many stories about Griffin radiators (epoxy type) from unhappy customers who learned they had a rad that performed well until it sprung a leak and was found to be unrepairable.

As an aside, anyone needs to be careful in comparing price on copper/brass radiators. If the frame of reference is more than a couple years old the difference may not be as much as believed at today's prices. Copper/brass has skyrocketed recently and newer production radiators reflect that.

mine got a little old looking and i brushed 320 grit paper across it and it looks like new. just do not go in a circular pattern, keep it in a straight one direction motion and you will be amazed at the difference.

Originally Posted by 37 Caddy

Thanks for the info on the radiators and paint.

The most basic question is: Is it worth another $150 just to have a shinier radiator? Is there any reason to believe that there will be any significant performance difference?

Speedway has been great to work with and have offered to take it back if I am not satisfied.

Well, first off you have to make sure you're comparing apples to apples...Is your radiator a single pass or double pass? What are the cooling fin sizes? Is it a single row or a two or three row???? Lots of variables besides which one's look better. Not all radiators, either aluminum or copper/brass are created equal!!!!

I have been considering a $179 aluminum replacement from JEGS.
Anyone got experience with those?

Its going in a manual tranny car.

Thanks - Bert

Could you have it powder coated or anodized??

Originally Posted by Troglodyte

Could you have it powder coated or anodized??

It could, but just like paint it will have a bad effect on the cooling ability.



Just keep sanding, then wet sanding down to 2000 grit, and some Mother's...It'll look great!!!!

Maybe you could use a Mothers small ball. I used the big one on my wheels and they look great. I also polished a couple other things and it really works.

I have a Speedway cross flow and really like it. I welded a couple tabs on it and it fits my car as I intended.

I surely would not paint it. Just buff it up a bit. I se a lot of them at the weekly shows that way.