Radiator electric fan combos??

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denny

Master Mechanic
Feb 4, 2017
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Is it worth the money to go with a good rad,shroud,and dual electric fans? I'm not going to be racing,just cruising. They seem to want $500.00 more for the shroud,fans and wiring over the cost of a good rad.
i just removed my dual fans from my mild street 350. 3 row copper rad. and installed the factory mech. clutch,7 blade fan, shroud and 160 thermo. elec. fans were ok but in 85-90+ heat it started to bump up a little in stop and go. i agree that the elec. does not work well with the old copper rad. let alone the voltage shock when they turn on. 81 malibu. i just cruise and ring it out on the way home several times. i have converted both my hotrods back to factory cooling systems.
 

FluoFerret

Greasemonkey
Apr 2, 2018
184
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Luxembourg
Get a large 2 core aluminum with 1" or larger tubes with good reviews and don't look back.

Is it really such a big difference to copper/brass ones? I googled on Summit Racing and found 3 different models that would be interesting. Could you give me your advice on this?
https://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/fbr-fb163/overview/
https://www.summitracing.com/int/pa...iew/year/1978/make/pontiac/model/grand-lemans
https://www.summitracing.com/int/pa...iew/year/1978/make/pontiac/model/grand-lemans
 
Oct 14, 2008
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I had a Champion 3 core rad in my 88, cooling was so so, 195 to 215 with a 160 thermostat. I had a slightly wider 2 core that did much better. I don't what happened to Summit's rads, they must have changed suppliers, they used to have large 2 core available. Consider this one.https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-384002/year/1987/make/oldsmobile/model/cutlass-supreme
Or even better get this one, 4 is better than 3 with small cores.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-384003/year/1987/make/oldsmobile/model/cutlass-supreme
Or this is the best deal and will cool as well as any of them.
https://www.championradiators.com/American-Eagle-Pontiac-Grand-Am-radiator-shroud-1978-1980
 
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FluoFerret

Greasemonkey
Apr 2, 2018
184
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Luxembourg
I had a Champion 3 core rad in my 88, cooling was so so, 195 to 215 with a 160 thermostat. I had a slightly wider 2 core that did much better. I don't what happened to Summit's rads, they must have changed suppliers, they used to have large 2 core available. Consider this one.https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-384002/year/1987/make/oldsmobile/model/cutlass-supreme
Or even better get this one, 4 is better than 3 with small cores.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-384003/year/1987/make/oldsmobile/model/cutlass-supreme
Or this is the best deal and will cool as well as any of them.
https://www.championradiators.com/American-Eagle-Pontiac-Grand-Am-radiator-shroud-1978-1980

Sounds very interesting. And these should definetly fit into my Lemans.
I found out that Mishimoto has a fitting one and they sell also directly to Europe. Any thoughts on that brand?
 
Oct 14, 2008
8,819
7,766
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Melville,Saskatchewan
The reviews look good. Just go with the 3 core minimum. Contact Champion and see what it costs to ship the large 2 core from them. Weigh the costs, warranty and reviews into the purchase. I bought a mini starter from Summit, it was a POS from day one. If I would have read the reviews, I would have bought the Powermaster one for $10 more and saved myself grief.
 
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565bbchevy

Geezer
Aug 8, 2011
9,611
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Michigan
When you are all talking about Intrepid fans fitting, is that using the shrouds from the same vehicle?
They fit the radiator because they have a built in shroud as part of the dual fan set up, you don't use the factory shroud.
 
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Streetbu

Know it all, that doesn't
Supporting Member
May 22, 2011
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I use a stock three core copper radiator and fans from an 93-97 LT1 Camaro. Works great. Gotta make sure you have at least a 100 amp alternator to run electric fans though...
 
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eric_cspan

Not-quite-so-new-guy
Jan 18, 2019
22
29
13
Cold Case offers a complete kit with 2 rows of 1.25" tubes for around $550. Much less than the big boys out there and the 1.25" tubes makes a world of difference!
Let me know if I can help at all!
 

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FluoFerret

Greasemonkey
Apr 2, 2018
184
243
43
Luxembourg
Cold Case offers a complete kit with 2 rows of 1.25" tubes for around $550. Much less than the big boys out there and the 1.25" tubes makes a world of difference!
Let me know if I can help at all!

Do you have any numbers or documentation on the thermal efficiency for this? I am considering swapping one of those in my car, the problem is, since I live in europe, i don't want to spend a lot of money, just to find myself with a radiator who performs about the same as my heavy duty 3row copper/brass one :( for US-engines, traffic here always means higher operating temperatures, and once my fans switch on at full speed, they rarely switch off during driving...
 
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