Author Topic: Aluminum Radiator  (Read 7435 times)

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Mach1428cj

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Aluminum Radiator
« on: December 28, 2020, 08:57:47 AM »
Need opinions on what radiator to buy. Looking at a 24 inch 2 row with 1 1/4 inch tubes or a 3 row with 3/4 inch tubes. both are aluminum. Which one would cool better. Both radiators are ACP's from CJ Pony parts. This is for a 69 mustang with a 462 stroker with aluminum heads and is a street driver. Beat on a little bit but never raced. Thanks for your help

wowens

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Re: Aluminum Radiator
« Reply #1 on: December 28, 2020, 09:24:26 AM »
2 rows will flow more air so I vote 2 row.
Woody

GerryP

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Re: Aluminum Radiator
« Reply #2 on: December 28, 2020, 09:25:13 AM »
The two row radiator with the 1.250" tubes. 

There is more cooling area with the big tubes.  They are also more expensive to make.  The reason copper/brass radiators of high capacity use three or four rows is because using large tubes would lead to an extraordinarily heavy radiator.  The large tubes are preferred but not practical in copper/brass in automotive applications. 

I know there are a lot of cheap aluminum radiators out there advertising their three-row design, but those are inferior small-tube designs and have much less cooling capacity than a two row with big tubes.  They are relying on consumers being experienced with copper/brass with more rows meaning more cooling.

My427stang

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Re: Aluminum Radiator
« Reply #3 on: December 28, 2020, 09:28:08 AM »
I run a 2 row like that with a 489 and A/C, but I do run a big clutch fan and good shroud.  I think either will work, but I like the free flow of the 2x big cores (not that I don't like the 3 row, just haven't used them and they seem to get tighter)

My experience when living in Vegas (you learn temp control quick there) is that having a good fan, 1:1 or overdriven, is more important than the radiator above a certain minimum (think old stock rad), so in the end, I say it's OK to pick the one you like better, but think hard on the fan and pulleys behind it
---------------------------------
Ross
Bullock's Power Service, LLC
- 70 Fastback Mustang, 489 cid FE, Victor, SEFI, Erson SFT cam, TKO-600 5 speed, 4.11 9 inch.
- 71 F100 shortbed 4x4, 461 cid FE, headers, Victor Pro-flo EFI, Comp Custom HFT cam, 3.50 9 inch

rcodecj

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Re: Aluminum Radiator
« Reply #4 on: December 28, 2020, 09:55:27 AM »
I compared 2 row to 3 row and the 2 row came out on top on my car.
My 2 row I think is only 1 inch cores from Ron Davis Radiator.

FESCJ

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Re: Aluminum Radiator
« Reply #5 on: December 28, 2020, 10:34:27 AM »
Check out autocity1958 on Ebay motors. They have a nice original style radiator in aluminum with 2 row 1 1/8th tubes. Painted version $249 with free shipping, but, I know they offer unpainted for less. I bought my 69 Fairlane Cobra radiator from them. Super nice radiator and packaged very well.

Brian

CV355

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Re: Aluminum Radiator
« Reply #6 on: December 28, 2020, 10:49:26 AM »
Be Cool, Griffin, etc are some of the favorite go-tos, but they are pricey.  Check out Northern:
https://www.northernradiator.com/HIGH_PERFORMANCE/SEARCH_BY_VEHICLE/FORD/MUSTANG/1969/205132

I have this exact radiator, machined polished it to a mirror finish.  Half the price of Griffin.  Another cool one to check out is Engineered Cooling Products. 
« Last Edit: December 28, 2020, 10:52:08 AM by CV355 »

427mach1

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Re: Aluminum Radiator
« Reply #7 on: December 28, 2020, 02:56:18 PM »
I installed an "ACP Radiator MaxCore Plus 3-Row Aluminum Type 379 OE-Style 390/428 1967-1970/With Air Conditioning 302/351 1970" in my 70 Mach 1, 454 sideoiler and it runs much cooler.  It is nearly identical to the stock radiator so I could paint it black and no one would know it was an aluminum radiator.

 

Mach1428cj

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Re: Aluminum Radiator
« Reply #8 on: December 28, 2020, 04:17:02 PM »
did the mounts work and was the fan spacing from the radiator OK. Looks awesome

Keith Stevens

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Re: Aluminum Radiator
« Reply #9 on: December 28, 2020, 10:37:12 PM »
The ACP radiators fit the stock mounts for 68-up cars. Nothing is made anymore that fits the 67 only lower. They also come in a black finish from ACP that is semi-gloss black. It won't peel like a spray paint will either.

427mach1

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Re: Aluminum Radiator
« Reply #10 on: December 28, 2020, 10:39:50 PM »
Everything dropped into place, stock mounts and all.  I installed a new flex fan at the same time so i changed the spacer to put the fan 50% in/out of the shroud.  The old fan was probably not spaced properly to begin with, so I purchased a 2.25" OEM-style spacer from CJ Pony parts that put the new fan right where I wanted it.

Rory428

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Re: Aluminum Radiator
« Reply #11 on: December 29, 2020, 10:40:58 AM »
Check out autocity1958 on Ebay motors. They have a nice original style radiator in aluminum with 2 row 1 1/8th tubes. Painted version $249 with free shipping, but, I know they offer unpainted for less. I bought my 69 Fairlane Cobra radiator from them. Super nice radiator and packaged very well.

Brian
I have an Auto City Classic stock appearance aluminum radiator in my 59 2 door sedan, with a 428 Cobra Jet engine. It looks almost identical to a stock 57-59 ford radiator, including the shape and fins of the top tank. I also has 2 1 1/8" tubes, and I am very happy how it cools, I have a 160 thermostat, and it will cruise down the road or freeway right at 160. In gridlock, or long idling periods on a hot day, the temp does slowly start climbing, but pretty sure that is more of a airflow/fan issue, since these cars never used a shroud from the factory. But not much of a concern, as it takes quite a while to creep over 22o, and as soon as you start moving, the gauge drops back down quickly. If the AutoCity radiators for Mustangs and other cars keep the factory looks, I think they are a great radiator for the money. By the way, Auto City offers lots of other products, my 59 also has a new gas tank and windshield that I bought from them, they also have door and side glass, disc brake conversions, and lots of other stuff too. They are in Minnesota, and they have been great to deal with. In fact, they travel to many major swap meets, and can deliver to the meets they attend. 57tru 59 Ford car windshields have large wrap around sides, so the take a much larger box than most windshields, so shipping can be pricey. So when I noticed that one of the swap meets they were going to was the big meet in Portland Oregon,  I arranged to have them deliver the windshield to there, and I picked it up from them directly. That way if the windshield was damaged in transit, it wouldn`t be my problem, plus I saved the shipping costs. Worked out great.
1978 Fairmont,FE 427 with 428 crank, 4 speed Jerico best of 9.972@132.54MPH 1.29 60 foot
1985 Mustang HB 331 SB Ford, 4 speed Jerico, best of 10.29@128 MPH 1.40 60 foot.
1974 F350 race car hauler 390 NP435 4 speed
1959 Ford Meteor 2 dr sedan. 428 Cobra Jet, 4 speed Toploader. 12.54@ 108 MPH

cjshaker

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Re: Aluminum Radiator
« Reply #12 on: December 29, 2020, 11:34:28 AM »
I have an Auto City Classic stock appearance aluminum radiator in my 59 2 door sedan, with a 428 Cobra Jet engine. It looks almost identical to a stock 57-59 ford radiator, including the shape and fins of the top tank. I also has 2 1 1/8" tubes, and I am very happy how it cools, I have a 160 thermostat, and it will cruise down the road or freeway right at 160. In gridlock, or long idling periods on a hot day, the temp does slowly start climbing, but pretty sure that is more of a airflow/fan issue, since these cars never used a shroud from the factory. But not much of a concern, as it takes quite a while to creep over 22o, and as soon as you start moving, the gauge drops back down quickly. If the AutoCity radiators for Mustangs and other cars keep the factory looks, I think they are a great radiator for the money. By the way, Auto City offers lots of other products, my 59 also has a new gas tank and windshield that I bought from them, they also have door and side glass, disc brake conversions, and lots of other stuff too. They are in Minnesota, and they have been great to deal with. In fact, they travel to many major swap meets, and can deliver to the meets they attend. 57tru 59 Ford car windshields have large wrap around sides, so the take a much larger box than most windshields, so shipping can be pricey. So when I noticed that one of the swap meets they were going to was the big meet in Portland Oregon,  I arranged to have them deliver the windshield to there, and I picked it up from them directly. That way if the windshield was damaged in transit, it wouldn`t be my problem, plus I saved the shipping costs. Worked out great.

Checking out their website, the radiators don't have the correct inlet and outlet locations for an FE in a Mustang. One is for small blocks, and the other I'm not sure, maybe 385 series, or 6 cylinder? Or maybe they're just generic pictures?
« Last Edit: December 29, 2020, 11:39:09 AM by cjshaker »
Doug Smith


'69 R-code Mach 1, 427 MR, 2x4, Jerico, 4.30 Locker
'70 F-350 390
'55 Ford Customline 2dr
'37 Ford Coupe


cjshaker

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Re: Aluminum Radiator
« Reply #14 on: December 29, 2020, 01:18:58 PM »
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1967-1968-1969-1970-Ford-Mustang-Mercury-Cougar-Big-Block-24-Aluminum-Radiator/291620347931?fits=Model:Mustang&hash=item43e5ed601b:g:TXYAAOSwwE5WYIIe&redirect=mobile

Sometimes I wonder what the quality of these cheap parts are. $200 for an aluminum radiator is an almost unbelievable price. By comparison, US Radiator has a great reputation, is built in the U.S., but has a starting price of $525. It makes me wonder how they can produce that one for 62% less money  ??? And yes, I'm aware that it probably came from China.

http://usradiator.com/ford-mustang-1968-70-v8-302-351-390-428-aluminum-radiator
Doug Smith


'69 R-code Mach 1, 427 MR, 2x4, Jerico, 4.30 Locker
'70 F-350 390
'55 Ford Customline 2dr
'37 Ford Coupe