Radiator????
- Thread starter Fenderbender
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X3. Mine is a tad different being an LS swap dual pass, but the fit and finish of the Champion is quality!
I run a Champion Radiator as well. 2 row with 1" tubes and twin electric fans. It really does a great job keeping the temps down.
Three row Champion with dual Spal fans. Running a Dakota PAC2750 controller and 3 relays for 2-speed operation.
With most folks touting two 1" rows of tubes over everything else, I am a little puzzled by Champion's specs that show the following.
Two 3/4" row with 2-1/2" = 525hp
Three 5/8" rows with 2-1/2" tanks = 750hp
Two 1" rows with 2-1/2" tanks = 700hp
They say that their two 1" row radiator outcools 'others' 3 and 4 row radiators, but stop short of talking about their own 3 row. I have a new 3 row Champion that came in the car when I got it. I personally don't think it has 5/8" tubes (more like 1/2" max). I'll try to get a measurement to confirm.
If I find that my tubes are smaller than 5/8" I'll be purchasing new, but now I am unsure which one. My new 519 Cadillac is idling at about 210F in the garage with a 16" SPAL fan running constantly and a shroud. It has a 180F thermostat which isn't really helping since it just stays open all the time. I have a 195F coming which should at least partially close and hold the hot water in the radiator a bit longer to cool. This had worked on my Ford 429/460/514 and Buick 455 as it allowed the engines to maintain 195F instead of free flowing at 200F+. I believe I'd be better off with no thermostat at this point.
Educated and experienced suggestions welcome. Conjecture and opinion not so much...……………..
Two 3/4" row with 2-1/2" = 525hp
Three 5/8" rows with 2-1/2" tanks = 750hp
Two 1" rows with 2-1/2" tanks = 700hp
They say that their two 1" row radiator outcools 'others' 3 and 4 row radiators, but stop short of talking about their own 3 row. I have a new 3 row Champion that came in the car when I got it. I personally don't think it has 5/8" tubes (more like 1/2" max). I'll try to get a measurement to confirm.
If I find that my tubes are smaller than 5/8" I'll be purchasing new, but now I am unsure which one. My new 519 Cadillac is idling at about 210F in the garage with a 16" SPAL fan running constantly and a shroud. It has a 180F thermostat which isn't really helping since it just stays open all the time. I have a 195F coming which should at least partially close and hold the hot water in the radiator a bit longer to cool. This had worked on my Ford 429/460/514 and Buick 455 as it allowed the engines to maintain 195F instead of free flowing at 200F+. I believe I'd be better off with no thermostat at this point.
Educated and experienced suggestions welcome. Conjecture and opinion not so much...……………..
Doesn't surprise me in the least, their hp numbers are very optimistic. My 8 to 1 403 with that rad ran at 195 to 215 with the Champion 3 core with a 160 high flow thermostat. It ran a 230+ pulling my boat. It just isn't big enough for heavy duty cooling. Their 4 core is Macar1993 on here has one on his 87 with a 10 to 1 403, stays below 180. I don't buy the hold the water in to heat it, many others also disagree. If that worked than Mr Gasket no flow, I mean high flow thermostat which mostly closed off at high speeds would have cooled very well. A b*tch to diagnose, flow at idle through the thermostat, then less and less over time at higher speeds. My 403 with NO thermostat ran the coolest at idle never above 190. But towing it would sneak up to the same 230 mark, just took longer, proving their 3 core just isn't big enough. My car is poor at cooling, the same rad in my 94 Z71 with an Olds 350 never got above 190. Same thing again, a recored 34" wide 2 core copper/brass rad from my 70 never got above 195, runs at 215 with a 260 in my 88 CSC. My 88 has the side flaps and repaired lower dam but needs the GN surrounding flaps to help it out.
Their 4 row looks promising but the tanks are 3/4” thicker and I haven’t measured to see if it would fit without issue. I’ll like swap thermostats first thing just to note the difference before buying anything else. And then likely the 1” tube 2 row.
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