Any y'all used Champion Radiators?

PepeLoco

PepeLoco

Senior Member
They sell a three core aluminum radiator for $325, $25 shipping anywhere. Claim the aluminum will never rust, has better heat dissipation, larger tubes, etc; and made in the USA.
Their online catalog does not have the model A radiator, but they just uploaded the cad and built a few that they are going to send me some pics.
Sounds too good to be true. What am I missing?


http://championcooling.com/Catalog Online/CHAMPION.CATALOG.htm
 
PepeLoco said:
They sell a three core aluminum radiator for $325, $25 shipping anywhere. Claim the aluminum will never rust, has better heat dissipation, larger tubes, etc; and made in the USA.
Their online catalog does not have the model A radiator, but they just uploaded the cad and built a few that they are going to send me some pics.
Sounds too good to be true. What am I missing?


http://championcooling.com/Catalog Online/CHAMPION.CATALOG.htm
Click to expand...

Nope. Thought I could paint it. They said it matches the orig.
If it was painted would you be able to tell? They led me to believe not.
 
I've seen Model A's with aluminum radiator and yeah it was kind of obvious, but not as obvious as putting 16" wheels or chopping the top. If you chose to go this path, you could just put a stone guard on the front and that would kind of hide it a bit.
 
PepeLoco said:
They sell a three core aluminum radiator for $325, $25 shipping anywhere. Claim the aluminum will never rust, has better heat dissipation, larger tubes, etc; and made in the USA.
Their online catalog does not have the model A radiator, but they just uploaded the cad and built a few that they are going to send me some pics.
Sounds too good to be true. What am I missing?


http://championcooling.com/Catalog Online/CHAMPION.CATALOG.htm
Click to expand...

No they do not rust, but alum will react to water and get ate a way. Do not run just plane water for a long time.
 
I asked a guy about those who had one in a 32 Ford. He said that the brackets for the radiator to firewall support rods is not cut out and is made parallel to the rear of the radiator so you would have to bend your support rods to get it to fit the radiator brackets. I don't like that. And they are all welded so the welds show and doesn't look original.
 
I have one in my T-bucket and so far it has been great, even on 95+ degree days. I have a high compression sbc in her and it stays below 185degrees. I did put an anode in it though. It also has aluminum heads. If someone made an authentic looking aluminum radiator I would get one as I think they cool better.
 
Jordan said:
I've seen Model A's with aluminum radiator and yeah it was kind of obvious, but not as obvious as putting 16" wheels or chopping the top. If you chose to go this path, you could just put a stone guard on the front and that would kind of hide it a bit.
Click to expand...


So, $325 for aluminum, plus $25 S&H, plus $150 for a stoneguard (plus S&H), you're around $500... almost the cost of a correct radiator from Bergs....

I'd go with saving your money up and springing for a Bergs radiator... short of an accident or other mechanical damage, it'll be the last radiator you put in the car.

If I were looking at a model A to buy, I would NOT consider an aluminum radiator a "selling point". (At least not one that I would pay extra for...)

SC Frank
 
And once the alum. Rad develops a leak, you ain't gona fix it so easy. Pay the money for a Walker and end your problems. I don't even run a fan on mine and it NEVER overheats, and we get a lot of heat here. Iceman
 
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