Cheap Aluminum Radiatores

azblackhemi

Old Man with a Hat
Joined
Nov 13, 2010
Messages
8,885
Reaction score
13,380
Location
Waddell AZ
Anyone have experience with cheap aluminum radiators? My 69 Monaco runs too hot so I found a 3 row aluminum radiator for around $150. Can it be any good at that price?
 
Anyone have experience with cheap aluminum radiators? My 69 Monaco runs too hot so I found a 3 row aluminum radiator for around $150. Can it be any good at that price?
Probably not. I’m a firm believer in “you get what you pay for”…
 
I had one full (difficult!) semester of Heat Transfer in engineering school and I can tell you this: Paint it matte black.

From the web: The rate of heat transfer by emitted radiation is determined by the Stefan-Boltzmann law of radiation: Qt=σeAT4Qt=σeAT4, where σ = 5.67 × 10−8 J/s · m2 · K4 is the Stefan-Boltzmann constant, A is the surface area of the object, and T is its absolute temperature in kelvin. The symbol e stands for the emissivity of the object, which is a measure of how well it radiates. An ideal jet-black (or black body) radiator has e = 1, whereas a perfect reflector has e = 0. Real objects fall between these two values. Take, for example, tungsten light bulb filaments which have an e of about 0.5, and carbon black (a material used in printer toner), which has the greatest known emissivity of about 0.99.

Mick Jagger and I advise you to "paint it black".
 
Last edited:
I paid $184 for the 4 row with an internal trans cooler in my V10 Fury and it is working great. I did have to "adjust" a couple of the mounting bolt holes but other than that no problems at all. FYI I bought mine from DH Racing Parts on feebay.

If you buy one of the cheaper ones and need to for a auto trans make sure it has a internal trans cooler. When I was shopping I noticed some of them didn't have one.
 
I got a 26" from ECP and have been happy with it. But double the $150 price. I had to modify the mounting holes slightly as my car has a 22" support, so the radiator was not a direct bolt in. And yes, I painted it black. Just because I didn't like the shiny aluminum. I Used Rust oleum BBQ ultra high heat. Its got a little gloss, not true flat like the regular high heat paint is.


ECP 26" Aluminum Big Block Mopar Radiator - Big Cooling Tubes
 
Anyone have experience with cheap aluminum radiators? My 69 Monaco runs too hot so I found a 3 row aluminum radiator for around $150. Can it be any good at that price?
I put one in a 69 Fury 318/auto. For years, no problems. And I have one in a 71 New Yorker 440/auto. I've only had it thru 1 summer out here in Palm Springs area, But I think that is a good test of it's efficiency at 118 degrees f with the A/C on. I would not rule out a radiator just because of price.
 
Hi Fellas, (LABRTF)
The Problem with this Modern World is Simply that Nothing can be Trusted.
My Old Da used to Say, "You Buy a Ten Dollar Spanner You Get a Ten Dollar Spanner, If You Want Something Decent You Pay the $100 & Have Something Decent"
That used to be True But Nowadays You can Pay $100 & Still Get CRAP !
Therefore You Have Two Choices, Either Do the Sensible Thing as This Gentleman has Done & Ask Others Who May Have Had a Little More Experience or
You can Suck It & See !
I Know My Choice.
That's the Benefit of Sites like This & Car Clubs Etc There's Nearly Always Someone Else Who has Already Made the Mistake.
One Thing I Will Mention, It Doesn't Always Have to Be !
About 50 Years Ago I Bought a Set of Long Nose Impact Sockets for $40 at a Swap Meet.
At That Time the Usual Car Parts Stores were Retailing for $160, the Club Dismantled about 40 Spare Parts Cars as Well as All the Numerous Repair Jobs Over the Years.
I Still have that Socket Set Apart from One That Got Lost, Still Haven't Managed to Break Any.
I Used to Weigh 165 Kilos and I Would Stand on the End of an Eight Foot Pipe Trying to Crack a Rusty Nut.
That's What You Call "Good Value !
Regards Tony.M
 
Well I had to do something if I want to drive the car so I bought one for $140. It's supposed to be here today so I will let you know how it works.
 
I Used to Weigh 165 Kilos and I Would Stand on the End of an Eight Foot Pipe Trying to Crack a Rusty Nut.
Giving you about a foot on the end of the 8 foot pipe, that works out to about 2550ft/lbs of torque. 7' x 364lbs = 2548.

Sorry.... The nerd in me had to figure that out.
 
Ok, got it in and test drove it. Temp gauge stayed at the low mark of normal. $143 with tax, I think it was worth it. Easy installation except I had to redrill one mounting hole that was 1/2 inch off.
20250309_130903.jpg
 
Back
Top