Radiator Needed Help

[Bill W]

My '02 RT/10 is at the shop for heater hose exchange and they tell me the radiator is rusted pretty bad and recommend replacement. I'm about to start looking for one but asking for recommendations from the forum. Thank you.

[JonB ~ PartsRack]

Bill, I can ship an upgraded aluminum one today. Call me: 360.837.3937

www.PartsRack.com

[dave6666]

The Howe is the only aftermarket radiator worth a flip. I've tested most every brand of them in my car sans Fluidyne. Most failed within a few months/miles or in one case leaked new out of the box. I've been on the Howe for well over 5 years at 100+ ambient.

[jdeft1]

I suspect Dave has had unusually bad luck with radiators..... I installed a 'no name' Al radiator purchased from Alan's Performance (now defunct) 10-12 years ago for my '94 after busting out the bottom of my old one. I'd love to know who made it because the thing is tight and the welds look beautiful. No complaints.

[Fatboy 18]

The Howe Radiator I ordered sku 342601 Is no longer listed on their website? It was a nice radiator but I had to buy a aluminum radiator drain plug (extra and a screw in angled bit for the top RH corner).
So there are slight differences (not a straightforward fit).

Bill, Do you have any rad shops near you? You could get your original re-cored

[Bill W]

I have one radiator shop. They want $500 to re-cor if I bring the radiator to them.

[MH60M]

Just had mine re-cored with a 3row core for $450 locally.

The Howe is about $1000 and only available through RSI........nope.

[01sapphirebob]

While I have not done it myself everything i've read points to just getting the OEM one re-cored AND having them make it a three row.

[99RT10]

Recore your stock one. Go with a 3-core

[qc-teky]

I went to 2 supposed "Go To" radiator shops locally (Memphis) and neither wanted to mess with it. Went ahead and ordered a Roe, which they have made at another shop close to me (Galloway Tn). This shop builds aluminum radiators for a lot of race cars and other assorted hot rods - and now vipers I guess. I don't know how long they have been making them for Roe. I made the order on 1-30 and picked it up at this shop this past Monday, Roe had already sent a hardware pack that contained one of their anode radiator caps, a 90 degree hose fitting, and some bolts. I'm going to try to get it in this weekend, I'll report back on how it goes. John

[lane_viper]

I went with a X2 Builders OEM upgraded Radiator. It's been over a year and has worked perfect.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/94-95-96-97...UAAOSwG7Bde8gp

I read horror stories about the all aluminum ones and opted not to try them.

I kept my original to have redone once I find a shop.

[MH60M]

I went to 2 supposed "Go To" radiator shops locally (Memphis) and neither wanted to mess with it. Went ahead and ordered a Roe, which they have made at another shop close to me (Galloway Tn). This shop builds aluminum radiators for a lot of race cars and other assorted hot rods - and now vipers I guess. I don't know how long they have been making them for Roe. I made the order on 1-30 and picked it up at this shop this past Monday, Roe had already sent a hardware pack that contained one of their anode radiator caps, a 90 degree hose fitting, and some bolts. I'm going to try to get it in this weekend, I'll report back on how it goes. John

Awesome!

[dave6666]

I went with a X2 Builders OEM upgraded Radiator.

What exactly do they do to the OEM radiator as you state it that constitutes an upgraded OEM radiator? I thought they offered an ill fitting copper one that had nothing to do with OEM. That many have complained about the fit. Have they changed what they are selling?

Went ahead and ordered a Roe

Sorry to hear that. Theirs is one of the ones I ran in my GTS. The fabrication quality was pathetic. It failed - started leaking - within a few months. Sent it back for "warranty" and they spooged it with some epoxy crap. It failed again in less than a month.

[Bill W]

What exactly do they do to the OEM radiator as you state it that constitutes an upgraded OEM radiator? I thought they offered an ill fitting copper one that had nothing to do with OEM. That many have complained about the fit. Have they changed what they are selling?.

Dave, upgrade to a 4 core according to their advertisement.

[lane_viper]

What exactly do they do to the OEM radiator as you state it that constitutes an upgraded OEM radiator? I thought they offered an ill fitting copper one that had nothing to do with OEM. That many have complained about the fit. Have they changed what they are selling?

My understanding is the ones they sell now fit much better than the early ones they sold. The early ones def had fitment issues. The one I got fit perfect so I can testify to the current ones fitting better.

Their radiators are also 4 core compared to factory 2 core. IMO this is an upgrade to cooling capacity.

[Ron]

More cores doesn't necessarily = greater cooling. Fitting addition cores in the same overall LxWxD area can limit airflow externally and coolant flow internally.

[JonB ~ PartsRack]

More cores doesn't necessarily = greater cooling. Fitting addition cores in the same overall LxWxD area can limit airflow externally and coolant flow internally.

EXACTLY !

It's the single-double-triple cheeseburger analogy: The middle patties stay hotter, while the single gets cold faster.

Two Fat Rows cool better than 3 skinny rows. The middle row is insulated and stays hot.

[Hoonin88]

I do love a triple steak burger. Dang now I'm hungry again.

[ellowviper]

Eh...so many variables. Aluminum core vs. copper core vs. two row vs. triple row. I think we can all agree its airflow across cores best capable of dissipating heat. Copper is a better conductor of heat better than aluminum. BUT design matters since you can design a crappy copper core that works worse than a better designed aluminum core. How you want to address that will be up to your understanding of what is the best approach for your application. Plus the aspect of weight can be a factor if that is important to you. My Fluidyne three core aluminum was pretty, worked great, but HEAVY...and ended up leaking after a few years (aluminum does not like to expand/contract time and time again without cracking). My OEM two core was great...but since I fell into the 'three is better than two" I had it recored to a three core. It actually works worse than when it was a two core in stop and go traffic....since the fan was designed to move air past a two core and not a three core. At cruse, the three core works fine. Like I said, it all depends on your application/needs.

[MH60M]

Poop......Hopefully my newly re-cored 3-row works. Just picked it up yesterday.

[Hoonin88]

Poop......Hopefully my newly re-cored 3-row works. Just picked it up yesterday.

I wouldn’t be too concerned. I’m sure it’ll work fine.

[Ron]

Radiator Trivia: Working in Indy on Gasoline Alley has it's advantages. I asked a friend that works in engine development for Indycar and he shared that their race radiators were all single row as they were the most efficient.

[white out]

Radiator Trivia: Working in Indy on Gasoline Alley has it's advantages. I asked a friend that works in engine development for Indycar and he shared that their race radiators were all single row as they were the most efficient.

They also have 2 radiators . . .

[JonB ~ PartsRack]

Radiator Trivia: Working in Indy on Gasoline Alley has it's advantages. I asked a friend that works in engine development for Indycar and he shared that their race radiators were all single row as they were the most efficient.

Almost 100% of the surface area is directly exposed to airflow.

[Hoonin88]

Radiator Trivia: Working in Indy on Gasoline Alley has it's advantages. I asked a friend that works in engine development for Indycar and he shared that their race radiators were all single row as they were the most efficient.

Ron- I am in indy as well and in need of a radiator repair shop. Who would you recommend?