Champion Radiators any good???

[Chevytruc1658]

I have been looking for a new radiator with electric fans, i came across Champion radiators on ebay. Its a 3 row with two dual electric fans. The price has me worried, you usually get what you pay for so I wanted to see if anyone else has tried these?


http://www.ebay.com/itm/1978-1987-B...me&hash=item3cc89533f5&vxp=mtr#ht_4205wt_1144

 

[1979ratrod]

I have been looking for a new radiator with electric fans, i came across Champion radiators on ebay. Its a 3 row with two dual electric fans. The price has me worried, you usually get what you pay for so I wanted to see if anyone else has tried these?


http://www.ebay.com/itm/1978-1987-B...me&hash=item3cc89533f5&vxp=mtr#ht_4205wt_1144

my friend has one in his monte ss with the fans and he loves it. i also have just the champion fans and they rip! wicked powerful and no problems. id go for it

 

[565bbchevy]

I wouldn't let thinking the price is too low bother you, you can find that style radiator by itself for an average of $210 on Ebay along with a set of electric 12" 1400 cfm fans for $26 x 2
So depending on autual parts being used the radiator/fan combo is right in the ball park price wise, plus you can't really go wrong with an all aluminum construction radiator.

 

[Chevytruc1658]

Thanks for the advise guys. Just didn't know too much about this radiator, this helped. Thanks!

 

[DoubleV]

plus you can't really go wrong with an all aluminum construction radiator.

You can if it's made in China junk!

I bought one of those Champion radiators a couple years ago. Luckily they had a good return policy as I thought it was junk. The transmission cooler leaked, the fitment was 'fair' at best, and the cap was very difficult to remove/install. There were a couple of very minor annoying things too, like the overflow nipple was a different size and the petcock was in a shitty location. Overall, if the transmission cooler didn't leak, I'm sure it would've worked fine.

So perhaps if you actually get a good one, don't mine 'forcing' it to fit, don't sweat the 'little annoyances', and generally have no problems buying stuff from China, then it's probably a good deal. If you prefer top level parts for your car, then look elsewhere.

 

[86-blk442]

I put a champion in not too long ago. It fit great. I had absolutly no problems and I didnt have to force it at all. I thought the quality was great and it really made a difference in my cooling.

 

[GhettoRacingKid]

I bought a 4 core aluminum. it fit pretty good. a Little high but that might have just been me. I had to notch my radiator support up top to have it sit level and that made me have to make clearance for the rad cap.

fits good and cools nicely.

I went with derale fans.

 

[olds307 and 403]

I bought the 3 core, in hot weather and heavy load it runs a bit hot. Of course my 403 has always given me issues. The petcock f uped on mine and is in a poor location. A four core is needed on big CI or high compression applications.

 

[DoubleV]

I thought the quality was great

Compare the Champion to a real top level radiator and you won't be saying that. To me, this is a true quality radiator; http://www.alumitechreproductions.com/56.html

Yes it's pricey, but that's because it's a true quality product.

And a quick note about aluminum radiators; if you're running an aluminum radiator, you only need/want 2 cores, not 3 or 4. Why? Because they flow more coolant through 2 large cores than through 3/4 smaller cores. So a big 2 core aluminum radiator will outcool a 3/4 core aluminum with everything else being equal.

 

[565bbchevy]

Definitely a higher quality radiator is the way to go if you can afford it and I agree with DoubleV that a 2 core is best, I went from a copper/brass 4 core to a Griffen 2 x 1.25" tubes aluminum radiator and it keeps my 565 Chevy cool on the street and it is at least 15+ years old now and back then there wasn't a lot of options for alumimun radiators.
I have never bought a Champion so I don't know what their quality is but 2 x 1" tubes in aluminum will cool most engines with a properly set up cooling system and I also run a trans cooler separate from the radiator so I get mine without the built in cooler which is usually cheaper to buy the radiator but more expensive overall because you have to buy a trans cooler too.