Aftermarket Radiator...which are U using?

[Hib Halverson]

What's the consensus here on aftermarket aluminum radiators in the 98-02 V6 cars?

Are any of you using them? If so, which one.

I had a Fluidyne in my 01 (modified to the 275 hp level) for two years, but it developed a leak where the tubes are brazed into the side tank. The leak looked costly to fix :( so I went back to the OE radiator.

I'd like to get back to the better cooing I had before, hence the question in the subject field.

[firebirddrvr]

Re: Aftermarket Radiator...which are U using?

that sucks because fluidynes are pricey arent they?

[ssms5411]

Re: Aftermarket Radiator...which are U using?

I put in a all ALM. 3 core which is 2"'s thick, just had to modify the fan shroud to fit, I might upgrade my fans to more high speed fans.

[Hib Halverson]

Re: Aftermarket Radiator...which are U using?

that sucks because fluidynes are pricey arent they?

Yeah, I was disappointed when I discovered the problem. Fluidyne's stuff has been very good in the past. I have their radiators in two of my Vettes and they've been trouble-free. One of the Vette units has been there for a dozen years.

When I put one in the Camaro a couple years ago, it was an off-shelf product specifically for Camaros with LS1s. The Fluidyne was a little more expensive than some but equivalent in price to others. That said, Fluidyne is currently not making that Camaro radiator as an off-shelf product.

Let me ask this...has anyone ever replaced their stock V6 radiator with one out of a Z28? I looked up the GM parts and found the V8 Camaro radiator has a quarter-inch thicker core.

[Hib Halverson]

Re: Aftermarket Radiator...which are U using?

I decided to look into a Be Cool radiator. They make 'em for V8s but I'm told all you gotta do to fit one to a V6 is cap off a couple of unused connections for small hoses.

[transamtom1]

Re: Aftermarket Radiator...which are U using?

I used a Spectra Premium #CU1485 the core was about twice as thick as the factory POS.

[WarShrike]

Re: Aftermarket Radiator...which are U using?

LSx radiators are also reverse flow from what I recall.

[ssms5411]

Re: Aftermarket Radiator...which are U using?

LT1's are reverse flow, LS1's are same as ours but I think 1/4" thicker something like that.

[WarShrike]

Re: Aftermarket Radiator...which are U using?

Ahh, okay. Sounds good.

[Hib Halverson]

Re: Aftermarket Radiator...which are U using?

Neither LS1 nor LT1 radiators are "reverse" flow. What's reverse flow is the Gen II V8s cooling system but the radiator flows the same way as others, ie: in at the top left and out and the bottom right.

[sekanda]

Re: Aftermarket Radiator...which are U using?

Hello friends,
does anyone know which radiator I need?
I have a 1999 Camaro (231 cui) with AC and automatic transmission.
Do I need the VISTEON 9290 or VISTEON 9584? (rockauto)

thanks
Alex

[Hib Halverson]

Re: Aftermarket Radiator...which are U using?

Visteon 9290 is the one you want.

The Visteon 9584 is for a five-speed...it lacks the transmission oil cooler.

[landj]

Re: Aftermarket Radiator...which are U using?

If you have a little extra change, throw on an external tranny cooler while you got all that crap out. Route it in series with the built in tranny cooler on the radiator and stick it on the front of the condenser down low. Just a suggestion.

[Hib Halverson]

Re: Aftermarket Radiator...which are U using?

I wanted to update interested members on my cooling system saga.

First, some crow to eat...I was a little harsh in my treatment of Fluidyne in my first post. Now that I've talked to some guys who make aluminum racing radiators, it is possible the leak in my Fluidyne could have been, at least in part, self-inflicted. I learned that one cause for a leak like I have--right where a radiator tube goes into a side tank--can be vibration. Another can be thermal cycling--the constant expansion/contraction that happens with aluminum. I can't rule-out the possibility that some action I took might have contributed to the failure.

In my searches for radiator alternatives, I learned that the stock GM V8 radiator used with Gen 3 V8s fits (obviously) and has a slightly thicker core (more cooling) but it, also, has two connections not used by V6es and those connections must be sealed off in a manner that's reliable. Additionally, it's only capable of limited extra cooling. If you have a 250 horses on the motor and 300 or so with nitrous you'd be ok. But if you have 320+ horses with a blower or a bit shot of nitrous, even the stock V8 unit might not be enough.

I had discussions back in late December '09 and early January '10 with Be Cool about adapting its V8 radiator to a V6 car but, once they heard about the connections being capped off, they lost interest. Be Cool's core business is fast moving products sold through high-volume sources such as Summit and Jegs. Be Cool was not interested in the V6 market because, they feel that direct-fit products being "adapted" for other uses causes them headaches with returns and so forth. Also, Be Cool doesn't feel V6es are a growth market. Bottom line, Be Cool doesn't make a V6 radiator and won't knowingly sell a V8 radiator to a V6 customer.

Late in January contacted Fluidyne and learned that, while the drop-in Camaro radiator was discontinued as an "off-shelf" product a year or so ago, they can make a V6-specific radiator on a custom basis and the cost, while somewhat higher than the off-shelf radiator they used to sell, is not unreasonable and...one gets a radiator which has only V6 hose connections and has more cooling capacity than even the OE V8 radiator.

So...I ordered a custom-built Fluidyne. When it arrives and I get it in the car, I'll report back to this thread.

[Hib Halverson]

Re: Aftermarket Radiator...which are U using?

If you have a little extra change, throw on an external tranny cooler while you got all that crap out. Route it in series with the built in tranny cooler on the radiator and stick it on the front of the condenser down low. Just a suggestion.

Route it in series, but install it downstream of the TOC in the radiator, otherwise you cool the fluid, then, heat it back up, again. Many times I've seen aux. trans cooler installations done with the aux. cooler first and the regular TOC second.

Also, aux. trans coolers are not necessary in the typical street application as long as the engine's cooling system is working properly.

On the other hand, if you race the car, or drive it hard in hot weather, then an aux. trans cooler is a good choice.