Ebay aluminum radiator testing

[Robftw]

So i have a 396 sbc that makes around 550hp N/A so i believe i have a good candidate for radiator testing as *most* of you guys here don't have real high horse power v8's the car is nitrous ready but i won't be testing the bottle on it for the time being.

I purchased a budget ebay 3 row aluminum radiator (item #370627106773) and will be testing it out over the next couple weeks before it gets real cold, i'll tell you guys how well it works and how i feel about it, for $150 i think the small investment is worth it.

In the event that it fails catastrophically i'll get another slightly better one from ebay until i find one i'm comfortable with, hopefully it can be added to a sticky to help guys figure out where to get a good cheap radiator as JTR nolonger stocks one.

[PLATA]

My LS1 is not close to those numbers , I have an Ebay aluminum  rad , over a yr now , no issues . In fact she runs on the cold side, average temp 160 

Edited November 7, 2013 by PLATA

[Robftw]

Came in the other day,

Side by side:

 

These aren't perfect fits, you need to trim them down

 

Seems like an okay feature for the rare chance someone has completely cut up the front end of their car / tube chassis

 

 

easy enough to lay the old one on top and trace out the new pattern

 

 

I still did not install this, i am waiting for my racing transmission and then i will put it in the car along with the motor. I don't want to damage this.

Edited November 14, 2013 by Robftw

[Ryan Merrill]

I used a Mishimoto in my mustang. CHinese rad. Been working great for 2 years now.

[MunkEÂ¥ Z]

Quick question. I'm in the process of rebuilding a 260. The radiator that's in it is not stock and the front rails have been notched to accommodate it. I'm going to repair the notches and was wondering if this radiator, even though it's labeled for a 280, would work? I have found that there are a lot of parts that are interchangeable between models and this might be one of them.

 

Second question, am I missing the smaller coolant lines or is there a mod that's been done?

[PLATA]

Came in the other day,

 

Side by side:

 

 

These aren't perfect fits, you need to trim them down

 

 

Seems like an okay feature for the rare chance someone has completely cut up the front end of their car / tube chassis

 

 

easy enough to lay the old one on top and trace out the new pattern

 

 

 

I still did not install this, i am waiting for my racing transmission and then i will put it in the car along with the motor. I don't want to damage this.

Ebay has plenty of Z radiators for 150$+or- that have the mounting holes from the get go, no need to cut >>>>>   

Edited November 16, 2013 by PLATA

[gorge]

Bought mine from Champion rad, runs my 408 at about 205 in this AZ heat with one 12 in fan, should be upgrading to a dual fan soon. 

[Robftw]

I've got this thing all setup in my car now WITH OUT a fan it runs about 200 at idle and drops to 170 moving.

 

I have a 160* t stat too.

 

I'm assuming with the fan it'll idle around 180

[Robftw]

Quick question. I'm in the process of rebuilding a 260. The radiator that's in it is not stock and the front rails have been notched to accommodate it. I'm going to repair the notches and was wondering if this radiator, even though it's labeled for a 280, would work? I have found that there are a lot of parts that are interchangeable between models and this might be one of them.

Second question, am I missing the smaller coolant lines or is there a mod that's been done?

the smaller lines are for the automatic transmission. It's a built in cooler. I have an external one so I did not purchase a radiator with them.

 

as for the frame yes this rad should fit. The actual body has about 3/4 space between the frame rails. The bracket is the only thing that needs to be trimmed