Allum Radiator choices

[67ragtp]

Is there a good quality alternative to running a Ron Davis radiator? What is the next best choice, with intergrated fans?
I have one on my 67, the quality is awesome, the cost is huge, probably the highest in the industry. Building my new 69 in tough economic times, I find myself now trying to save a bit on the real high cost items but don't want to sacrifice quality. Im sure there are plenty of nice rides/builds out there running a different brand. Like to hear some recommendations- Thanks Rich

[dhutton]

I bought one on ebay from a seller called Entropy. I had it made dual pass with a trans cooler, LSx steam vent and it included the fans. Nice radiator for the money.

There is a thread over on pro-touring.com about these radiators:

http://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=32288

Don

[BBC69Camaro]

You might try Alumitech Radiators
http://www.chevellecooling.com/

For the record I have a Ron Davis they are well worth the price. I know Frank at Prodigy can get a pretty good price on them. I think he even has a cheaper alternative as well.

http://www.pro-touring.com/forum/sho...light=Radiator

[chicane]

C&R is another excellent choice. Good enough for the top NASCAR, CORE, SNORE, SCCA teams to use...

I steered CarlC toward an integral heat exchanger radiator for his '68 and its install is shown on his web-page: CarlC's webpage

I believe he paid around $650 for this component... and even with the pounding he can dish out at "Streets of Willow" on a 112+* day... the engine temp never went over 195* cooling both the engine coolant and engine oil at the same time. Dollar for dollar... that is the best money spent for a cooling system and tops the function over form category.

The Ron Davis equivalent to this in capacity and performance would be $1200.00 plus...

[BBC69Camaro]

Hey Chicane -

I was looking at CarlC's pictures of his radiator. I'm sure his setup works wonders. But I don't see a shroud over the radiator. Wouldn't you want a shroud to make sure the air is pulled through more of the radiator instead of just what the fan covers?

CarlC's -


Ron Davis -


I'm certainly no expert but my understanding is the more area you can pull air through the greater the cooling.

[ProdigyCustoms]

Here ya go. $300 cheaper then a Ron Davis. We have Ron Davis also. These are $900 and include dual 13" fans, 3490 CFM, Cross flow design, Steamline, LSX ready. I have them on the shelf, many here are running them.

[WSSix]

Originally Posted by BBC69Camaro

Hey Chicane -

I was looking at CarlC's pictures of his radiator. I'm sure his setup works wonders. But I don't see a shroud over the radiator. Wouldn't you want a shroud to make sure the air is pulled through more of the radiator instead of just what the fan covers?


I'm certainly no expert but my understanding is the more area you can pull air through the greater the cooling.

You're correct to a point. When the car is moving at anything over about 35 mph, you don't need the fan(s). This is why a GM ECM for instance includes a MPH shut off as well as a temp shut off. When air is being forced through the radiator with just the movement of the car, a shroud covering the whole radiator can block the air by forcing it through the shroud opening only. Factory fan shrouds do not cover a radiator completely either. I'm sure full race cars may be different but for a street car, a full shroud is not necessary usually.

[chicane]

Originally Posted by BBC69Camaro

Hey Chicane -

I was looking at CarlC's pictures of his radiator. I'm sure his setup works wonders. But I don't see a shroud over the radiator. Wouldn't you want a shroud to make sure the air is pulled through more of the radiator instead of just what the fan covers?

Well... no... not necessarily. The fact of the matter is, that you dont need or want a shroud unless the vehicle is standing still.

In fact... covering the radiator with a perpendicular panel, like that shown in the Ron Davis and Prodigy picture's, actually adds restriction to gross flow and may only help you when the vehicle is at a low speed, or stopped. In reality, that specific design really only works when the fan is operating (and only up to a certain speed)... other than that... it only provides a restriction to any naturally occuring flow through air. You also loose a fair amount of surface area with the fan overlapping the tanks as well. And, I bet if you did the math... that the single fan that Carl is running has more active surface area than that of the two fan set ups shown in the Davis and Prodigy pictures.

(4 pi r^2)

Also... not to forget to mention... that the fan that Carl is running... pulls way more air than that of the two Spal fans that the Davis... or... Prodigy set up uses.

Now... if you do a lot of parking lot cruising, car shows and sitting in bumper to bumper traffic... then it may work, albiet probably not all that much better.

C&R cross flow radiator with a 13 plate heat exchanger = $650
18.5" Ford/Lincoln Mark VIII fan = $150 - $200

$850 for a radiator with superior cooling capacity, a built in heat exchanger for *proper* oil cooling and a fan that pulls over 5000 cfm = no brainer.