New Radiator

Received my new Champion 2 row aluminum radiator for my v6 225.
Direct replacement.
Low cost $ 169 delivered.
Appears to have good quality.
Great fit.

I was concerned about the cooling effiency compared to the original brass and copper radiator I'm replacing which is a 3 row, the aluminum being a 2 row.
Original rad is 29 rows wide, 3 row deep, 3/8 in tubes.
Aluminum is 41 rows wide, 2 rows deep, 3/4 in tubes.
After doing the math the aluminum radiator has about twice the cool area of the original rad and the aluminum has better heat conductivity than the brass. Should not be a issue! We'll see.

 

U will have to stroll to find the right radiator for u.
1968 jeep cj5 radiator | eBay

 

Good looking radiator

 

I'd be very interested to know the life-span in salt country.

A modern copper radiator in my YJ shed all it's fins in just a few years. The old CJ units never had that issue.

 

Why did they stop brass radiators?
Weight savings?
Or cost to manufacture ?
My 70 still original!

 

I wanted to keep my original, but it was going to be $450 to re core. For 169 I can just replace it if I have to and be money ahead. I am going to put a screen or guard over front to help protect it from rocks.

 

Everything is like that today! Engineered not to last. I have a pair of hand brush cutters my dad had. They will last several lifetimes. What is available today is junk compared to stuff back in the day.

 

looks good . one thing I read when I replaced the aluminum radiator in my ford pickup
is only use the orange or yellow antifreeze . and only distilled water . no tap water

 

Technically you should use distilled water in all engines, period. Anything else will cause corrosion. Tap water has ruined more water pumps, radiators and aluminum engines than anything. It also eats freeze plugs left and right.

Aluminum is used for cost over brass. Brass like copper will also work harden more than aluminum and causes joints seperate easier.

This article will also give you insight to why they use aluminum over copper/brass nowadays.

Aluminum VS. Copper-Brass Radiator: Final Thoughts

 

Of course, that’s why 40 years ago radiators were resoldered and recorded on 5-10 year old vehicles.

 

I had the perfect comparison between copper and aluminum radiators about 15 years ago. I have a VW Vanagon with a transplanted Subaru 2.7 six. The original aluminum radiator split the plastic end tank, so I needed to replace it. A new aluminum factory radiator was about $450, so I looked for alternatives. I ended up with a factory copper radiator out of a year earlier model of my van. Exact same size, thickness, both three row core. Identical replacement, only in copper, tanks and all. Perfect interchange. The factory went to aluminum radiators starting in 1986. Prior models were copper.
I installed the copper radiator and all was good. I drove it around locally for about 2 weeks withs temps perfectly in the middle of the guage. Then I took a trip up the turnpike, and in about 15 miles at 70 mph, the temp guage started climbing to over 3/4 guage. 5 more miles, it was nearly in the red zone. I slowed down to 55, and in a few miles, the guage read a bit above the mid-guage reading. I stepped up to 65 mph, and the guage climbed right back up. No Bueno!
I found a Vanagon in the U-Pull yard and got an original aluminum radiator and installed it in my van. I took it up the turnpike a couple days later, and after 60 miles at 70-75 mph, it never got over mid-guage. Same weather, outside tempts, etc.
The all copper radiator couldn't handle the bigger engine pushing a box up the road at expressway speeds, but even a good used aluminum one, the exact same size, had no trouble maintaining the temps.
I think aluminum cools better. Just my experience!
-Donny

 

That may depend on the water where you live. I have used and am using (copper) radiators 50 and 75 years old, untouched for any repair.

 

So you've actually had one for 50 years that has not been touched. Mine had been redone several times over the years, the last time (2005) it was so good you couldn't tell it from stock. Motorcycles since they have been water cooled from the early to mid 80's said right in the owners manuals the warranty on the cooling system was void if anything but distilled water was used. Car manuals have said for the last 30 years not to use tap water in the cooling system.
Sorry but no tap water is good enough to use in an aluminum radiator or aluminum engine, location wouldn't matter.

 

No difference between hard and soft water either? Hard water is thy enemy, was my understanding, plus additives like fluoride et al.

What about well water?

 

Well water may or may not be safe to drink, let alone put in a radiator. Neighbor of my parents actually had TVA close down his well, he would not quit drinking it and continuously went to the doctor for stomach parasites. They finally came out and plugged it up about 1999. I wouldn't put it in my vehicle unless I just had to go somewhere. I look at it this way, Pay me now or Pay me later but you will pay me.

 

Good discussion. I'm surprised everyday as to how much I don't know. New radiator will drink pink chased with distilled.