Good/Best Radiator?

Topic: Good/Best Radiator? (Read 2340 times) previous topic - next topic

Good/Best Radiator?

June 07, 2005, 12:14:16 PM

Did the 5.0HO/3.8 swap, thinking of getting a new radiator, as its running sort of hot & I'd like to keep it cool (even with a electric fan). Has an AOD, so also need tranny cooler in the radiator.

Whats the best options?

1) Generic brass/copper 2 row around $84
Same as I have now, so probably won't imp[rove things unless something is wrong with the existing one

2) Generic brass/copper 3 row = $130

3)Ford Racing 2 row "crossflow" aluminum/plastic = $250
- Don't like the sound of plastic??

4) Fluidyne Aluminum 2 row "crossflow" =$300

Quite a spread of prices!!

One ad says an aluminum 2 row is better than a brass/copper 3 row
- doesn't make sense, copper is a good heat conductor and isn't 3 row better than 2?

Aren't all these radiators "crossflow" ?

Re: Good/Best Radiator?

Reply #1 – June 07, 2005, 12:39:03 PM

I believe the thing with the aluminum radiators is that the rows themselves are physically wider.

I'm just pulling these numbers out of thin air, but if you had 3 rows where each row was only 3/8" wide, or 2 rows where each row was 3/4" wide, which has more surface area? (3 x 3/8 = 9/8, or 1.125".. 2 x 3/4 = 6/4, or 1.5") Remember, I am just making these numbers up for illustration purposes. I also haven't had my coffee yet, so I could be way off. :wtf:

We also had a discussion recently in another thread about eliminating copper from the cooling system. This was it, I think: http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?t=3163

And yes, I do believe all Fox radiators would be crossflow, with a tank on either side vs. over/under tanks. I think my '62 Impala might have had one of those, (top/bottom tanks) and it was probably the last one I've personally seen.

Re: Good/Best Radiator?

Reply #2 – June 08, 2005, 01:15:54 AM

I got the 3row heatbuster for a 84 5.0 it has the tranny cooler and such. It keeps my 2.3 turbo cool on the hottest days even with the A/c on max. I do have two hayden Electric fans with there adjustable controller on there and they move alot of air. By the way I run the water cooled turbo setup so that has got to add some extra heat to the system. Also I would tell you to forget about the in-rad tranny cooler and just get a good extrenal one. I put on on my 94 jeep charokee and the tranny fluid keeps looking better than ever.

Re: Good/Best Radiator?

Reply #3 – June 08, 2005, 11:08:14 PM

Ok, I ended up getting the Cu/Brass 3 row.. If it lasts as long as the 2 row, I guess there is nothing to complain about. Hopefully this will fix my overheating problem.

I actually did get the tranny cooler radiator, but am hesitant about installing it. Turning on the 16" fan in front of the AC condensor with the radiator removed, I sure don't feel THAT much air blowing into the compartment through the air conditioner condensor. The thought of putting another radiator for the tranny in front of it has me worried there will be even more resistance.

The other thing I was not too keen on was patching in rubber tubing to route the present tranny cooler hardlines over to an external radiator. Doesn't it invite more chances for leaks? Did you cut the metal couplings off the tranny coolant lines to add the tranny cooler?

Re: Good/Best Radiator?

Reply #4 – June 09, 2005, 01:40:26 AM

I've been thinking about this from time to time, for when I finally do my own separate tranny cooler. What I'll probably do (if this is all feasible, which I don't see why it wouldn't be) is get some metal lines and fittings, and the appropriate line bending/shaping tools. Then fab up a line running from the output of the radiator's tranny cooler to the input of the separate cooler.. then fab up another line running from the separate cooler's output back to the original return line. Then I'd leave the original line from the tranny to the radiator cooler in place.. let that scavenge some of the heat from the fluid, and let the separate cooler do the rest, as I have seen recommended elsewhere. Yeah, the metal line stuff will take more planning and cost more than running some flexible line, but I hopefully won't have to hack up the original connections at all.

Even if you don't go this route, I have seen multiple people/articles/whatever recommend that you run the fluid into the radiator cooler, out to the separate cooler, and then back to the tranny. My guess is.. if it's good enough to cool a stock slushbox, it must pull SOME heat away, right?

I could've worded this a bit better, but I'm two hours past when I should've been in bed. :p

Re: Good/Best Radiator?

Reply #5 – June 09, 2005, 09:02:38 AM

When I ran my trans cooler, all I did to the lines was pop out the little plastic clips that hold the lines in the fittings. I then ran some 300 p.s.i. line to the cooler and haven't had a problem yet.

Re: Good/Best Radiator?

Reply #6 – June 09, 2005, 12:12:13 PM

Someone else told me to keep the existing radiator tranny connected and add the external cooler also. They said it was for reasons in cold weather (FL obviously excluded) to actually help warm the tranny fluid somewhat.

I didn't know those couplings just pop off. I like the hardline approach (except for the work!). It would be nice to put a temperature gauge inline also at the junction.

When I pulled my radiator last night, car had been sitting a couple days, but I was surprised that there was really no tranny fluid in the radiator, except for a few drops. I guess the system emptys out when it cools??

Re: Good/Best Radiator?

Reply #7 – June 09, 2005, 01:11:19 PM

The only possible flaw I see in that logic is that, if you're doing it for warming up in cold weather, wouldn't the external cooler just cool the fluid down again? I have no idea how it would function in actual use.. just speculating.

I hadn't thought of the trans. temp gauge being put in at the same time as the cooler, but it was late when I posted that. :p Then again, what trans. temp reading would you want? Uncooled fluid going into the radiator, somewhat cooled fluid coming out of the radiator, or cooled fluid coming out of the second cooler? I would think the worst-case temperature would be best to have, but I don't really know one way or another.

Re: Good/Best Radiator?

Reply #8 – June 09, 2005, 09:44:30 PM

Quote from: Bird351

Then again, what trans. temp reading would you want?

With my overheat problem I was thinking that it would be nice to have a sensor on each side of the radiator, you would know how efficient the cooling is with mods such as electric fans, putting more sub-radiators in front of the main radiator etc..

Of course the dash will start looking like the Kitt car, I won't have time to look at the road, the eyes will be too busy scanning the gauges

I also heard concerns about how you want the sensor in the flow, but by definition you will be constricting the flow which may cause problems..

Partially got the Advance Auto 3 row radiator in, looks like I will have to drill new holes to mount the top hold down brackets, as they need to be in a slightly different location. Plus the overflow tube is nearly hitting the battery..