Slant Six Forum :: Aluminum radiator for early A body

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Aluminum radiator for early A body https://slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=35276	Page 1 of 1

Author:	Exner Geek [ Sun May 10, 2009 7:55 am ]
Post subject:	Aluminum radiator for early A body
I am changing engines is the white 62 Valiant and I would like to put in an aluminum radiator at the same time. Cooling isn't a problem just want to save a few pounds. Years ago I bought a Griffin universal 22X19" unit with the outlet on the passenger side and the inlet on the driver's side. It seemed as close to the stock configuration as they had. The problem is the outlet is welded into the side tank about 6" from the bottom and angled toward the driver. The stock radiator has the outlet on the bottom and angled the other way. Have any of you worked out a similar problem? Is there a similar universal radiator that has a better outlet placement? I'd rather not pay for a custom fit unit, I am not affraid to use the saber saw if I have to. I have made up hoses before by splicing different pieces that have the right bends so if I could get it close I can make it work. The pictures in the catalog all show the outlet down in the corner like I would like to see it. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Author:	ceej [ Sun May 10, 2009 8:11 am ]
Post subject:
http://www.slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=29514 CJ

Author:	SlantSixDan [ Sun May 10, 2009 10:17 am ]
Post subject:
Wait a sec, wait a sec...you don't have any cooling problems, but you're going to take a Sawzall to a '62 Valiant and spend a day hacking in a non-spec radiator just to save what, five pounds? Why?

Author:	68barracuda [ Sun May 10, 2009 10:24 am ]
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...Nope cant think of a reason either - if it aint broke dont fix it - and please put down the sabersaw and move away from the irreplaceable 62 vintage Valiant..

Author:	MichaelS [ Sun May 10, 2009 10:41 am ]
Post subject:
I put an aluminum radiator in my '74 because the old one had lots of holes and I thought an aluminum one would be lighter. By the time it was done, and no sheetmetal was cut, the new aluminum radiator weighs the same, maybe a little more. The stock slant radiator in the '74 Dart is realy small and the aluminum one I used is for a Chevy V8 bigger, hold more water. Thats my story. I still like it though

Author:	ceej [ Sun May 10, 2009 11:04 am ]
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Quote: to save what, five pounds? Why? Drag Racer, say it with me Dan, Dra-a-ag Ra-cer. Five Pounds?!! Located where? Cool! CJ

Author:	Rob Simmons [ Mon May 11, 2009 2:07 am ]
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Yeah, you kinda gotta be a racer to understand a racer... Although I'm not sure Seymour is looking at slicing up his car rather than modifying the radiator to fit his application.

Author:	Dart270 [ Mon May 11, 2009 6:19 am ]
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I have done 4 custom "universal" alum rad installs (Griffin, Afco, Summitracing brand). All worked fine. Dan's $400 custom fit unit looks like the easiest to me. I have a Be Cool on the shelf that is shorter than a SB Chev rad will go into Project V. I have a small alum rad (Summit brand, small tanks too) in the '64 Dart which is very light and has cooled just fine. I think it was $170 and I used universal "wire-in-wall" rad hoses from the parts store. This saved 10-15 lbs over the stock 3 core I had in there. Best place on the car to save weight, except maybe the hood. If I were to do it over, I would probably get an Afco "lightweight" version (1 core), or just get the one Dan had made. Seymour, I'll see you next week. Will try to bring some pics. Lou

Author:	MichaelS [ Mon May 11, 2009 6:59 am ]
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Dart270, The generic summit radiator is the one I used, $170.00 . My stock radiator was the smallest one for a '74 single row I think. Not heavy. I would suggest the single row aluminum if I did it again also. The thinner radiator will allow more choice in electric fans also, the 2 row is a bit thick. Call me nutty but I have been weighing everything I take off or replace on my car to see if I can get a few pounds off. If you can get enough off it may save some gas, handle better, accelerate easier, less stress on chassis parts (ok maybe thats a stretch). Have fun

Author:	MichaelS [ Mon May 11, 2009 7:06 am ]
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Exner Geek, to answer your question. My summit radiator had the lower with a too large hose connection. It was also a bit high. We cut it off and welded up the hole, drilled a new hole lower down and welded in the new pipe. The stock hose fits fine, its off a small amount but it flexed to fit. For the top I got a straight thermostat housing and dug thru the hose bin at the auto parts store for a hose that would work. Car cools fine, hoses work no Dart was cut up in the process.

Author:	Exner Geek [ Mon May 11, 2009 7:05 pm ]
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I looked into Michael's advice about the aluminum radiator holding more water. Sure enough eventhough it weighs 11 pounds versus 16.5 for the one I have been using, the aluminum one holds 1 1/2 quarts more reducing the weight advantage to 2.5 pounds. Even I would admit that is is hardly worth doing. My objective is to take enough weight off my car that it will run 100MPH in the quarter before gasoline gets too expensive to do such things. A Scirocco radiator like the one in the race car weighs only 4.5 pounds and doesn't hold much water. What I need to find is a stock replacement type radiator with an aluminum core and plastic side tanks. They tend to be much narrower than the all aluminum units so I could get some needed clearance between the radiator and the engine. The one in my S10 has the hoses in the right place but is so wide it would fill the whole engine compartment of my 62. I would guess it has more cooling capacity than I really need. Has anyone else tried a radiator of this type? Some of you guys sound like you think old cars should be subject to some sort of historic preservation legislation. Personally I have never seen a car that couldn't benefit from some judicious attention with a saber saw.

Author:	slantzilla [ Mon May 11, 2009 8:51 pm ]
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Quote: Personally I have never seen a car that couldn't benefit from some judicious attention with a saber saw.

Author:	Dart270 [ Tue May 12, 2009 8:06 am ]
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Here is the wee radiator I have in the '64 Dart. http://store.summitracing.com/partdetai ... toview=sku Summit part # SUM-380645 Holds less than a stock radiator for sure, probably 2 qts less or better. I'll be damned if this didn't drop 8-10 lbs off the car, and it takes up a lot less space than the universal SB Chev rads. It's been in there for about 4 yrs and no troubles. I have a 12" elec fan behind it and no mech fan, and this is not quite adequate for 90+ degree days when hot idling. I'm sure a 14 or 16" fan, or a mech fan, would fix this. Every other condition is fine. Lou

Author:	MichaelS [ Tue May 12, 2009 9:18 am ]
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Nice and tiny, mine was from Speedway not summit(my mistake) and it is the 22"x19" 2 row so it holds twice the water of your's, heavy. I would have chosen that one if I had seen it. Hindsight is 20/20.

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