Best and most durable radiators?

[Lenz]

I've got a Howe in my Galaxie, believe it to be a good piece.  It kept the previous 390 cool without any shroud and also got the job done running in my new 445 for nearly 25 minutes with half the front end off the car to boot.  Water inlet looks unmolested and is directed straight back.  Don't see a part number anywhere or I'd publish.  I do intend to shroud the fan if for nothing other than safety's sake and I'll also be replacing that nasty $1.32 puke tank at the same time.  Just sayin', even like this the Howe worked well.

[65er]

Lol, I have that same tank and wanting to put in something nicer also.

If yours is doing well as is, I must be going for the super overkill on mine.  Cutting the sheet metal around the core support to allow a larger rad, and also building a  full shroud and dual electric fan setup.  Being in Texas though, I've had problems in the past where I was sitting in stop and go traffic for half an hour when it was 108 out and couldn't run the AC.  Hopefully with this setup I'll be able to do it with the AC on =)

[My427stang]

Wade,

Another option if you want to get fancy is to space the air conditioning condenser further forward and give it its own dedicated fans.

That's what I did on my Mustang to deal with the Vegas heat.  I used an engine driven fan, and it can easily suck around the condenser rather than through.  When I turn the a/c on, the wire that feeds the a/c clutch triggers a relay that turns on 2 fans mounted directly to the condenser.    It solved any issues I had with idle airflow and gave me better a/c to boot.

Sorry no pictures, been that way since 2004 and I don't know if I took any pics back then

[65er]

That's a cool idea Ross, I like it.

I have thought before about doing the low mounted Sanden compressor on the passenger side of the car but am not planning to do that any time soon.   I've only had have engine heat problems under the most extreme conditions and running the AC only aggravated the situation so I had to run it off.   Otherwise  the air has worked real well for the last few years.  If I do end up having fits with the AC at some point, I'll see about moving the condenser and adding a dedicated AC fan or two as well as switching to the Sanden compressor, R134a and all that jazz.

[Lenz]

Lol, I have that same tank and wanting to put in something nicer also.

If yours is doing well as is, I must be going for the super overkill on mine.  Cutting the sheet metal around the core support to allow a larger rad, and also building a  full shroud and dual electric fan setup.  Being in Texas though, I've had problems in the past where I was sitting in stop and go traffic for half an hour when it was 108 out and couldn't run the AC.  Hopefully with this setup I'll be able to do it with the AC on =)

Think you're wise to do what you're doing, don't think you can overkill when it comes to making sure the job's done right .  Adds some good looks to the deal too.  I sure don't have to deal with Texas heat, A/C would have been nice once or twice last year but generally not needed up here by Lake Erie.

[fe66comet]

I definitely agree you can never have too much cooling, the thermostat maintains the temp anyhow. I like the shroud it looks nice, I made the one on the truck I have now out of aluminum and riveted it together. A shroud is really a necessity to have the fan pull through the core, and having it an inch or two helps a lot also. I have seen many vehicles, even stock with electric fans mounted directly to the core with no shroud so that they pull only in the areas of the fan. I have also seen mechanical fans with no more than a upper fender kinda thing on top to hold the caution fan sticker. Either way without a shroud the fan will just pull from the sides and bypass the radiator as air takes the path of least resistance. My stock overflow tank is a monster ford truck one so I am OK there but a nice fan shroud would be better than making my own for sure.