Radiator replacement/upgrade

[Guest]

Hello fellow members,<BR> I am considering replacing the stock Radiator in my 57 special. My car has been getting hot this summer and I would like to replace the radiator and possibly add an electric fan(I'm going to add AC from Vintage air next year). I thought about just getting it cleaned out but the top of the radiator looks pretty dented up. Has anyone tried Griffin or US Radiator? <BR>Thanks,<BR>Raul<BR>57 Special<BR>65 Riv<BR>66 Riv

[Guest]

Try radiator.com.

[The Old Guy]

I have a Howe radiator in my 57 and it works great! I also installed Classic Auto AC as they have a unit that fits in the trunk and you dont have to remove the original heater -defrosterunit. My wife likes it because the air doesn't blow directly on you ,but comes over the top and it becimes a breeze off the windshield. classic Auto Air is located in Tampa

[our51super]

"Old Guy",<BR>Would you by chance have a phone number or e-mail for the classic auto air company in FL?<BR>Thank you,

[Guest]

Thanks for the info. I'll have to check on Howe radiators and Classic auto air. Are the Howe rad. brass? Direct replacement? PHone or web page??<P>Thanks again.<BR>Raul

[brad54]

Classic Auto Air in Tampa, Fl.: <BR>(813) 251-2356. Al Sedita is the owner, and a darn nice guy. I've got one of their systems in my '54 Special, and I'm very happy with it.<BR>Regarding your overheating problem. I've also got that in my '54 Special. No interchange between the '54 and '57, but the problem might be the same: the Special radiator in my '54 was much shorter (from side-to-side) than a Roadmaster, etc. It also didn't have a fan shroud on it. Plus the 4-blade fan doesn't do a whole lot. I found a steel fan shroud out of a wrecked Super, and found a good used radiator out of one of the bigger cars. It's a three row (my Special was a two row), and it's wider from side to side. Plus the fan shroud bolts up to it. I also went with a bigger (in diameter) six blade fan when I went with the A/C unit.<BR>I haven't installed any of it yet, but I expect it will work nicely. Mine only overheats in the summer when I get stuck in traffic. As long as air is flowing through the stock radiator, it doesn't overheat.<BR>Two more things: I'm putting a later model 401cid aluminum timing chain cover/water pump housing on the front of the 322 I'm building, and that will let me order an aluminum "A/C" water pump. I don't know if that will make a difference, but sometimes when an early car called for a specific water pump for A/C applications, it was because that pump pushed more water.<BR>Finally, I've dropped in some stuff called "Water Wetter." Darned if that didn't work really well! It lowered the temp noticably.<BR>The best part about going with an early radiator is that it looks "right" in the car, and I can polish that top tank.

[Guest]

Brad, the 401/425 A/C water pumps from the factory were indeed a higher flow unit. The problem is that getting a high flow pump is a crap shoot. The aftermarket only lists one pump for 401/425 whether A/C or not. They are just rebuilding what comes in. <P>However if you find a good source for high flow 401/425 water pumps, please post it here. I would like a couple of new/reman/rebuilt pumps that aren't 35-40 years old.

[Guest]

Hi, all: As far as I know, the only difference in radiators in '54 was from Dynaslow to synchromesh. My '54 Dynaflow-job came with a fan shroud, and I've never had cooling problems except for a pull up to Big Bear at 5,000 feet or a drive to Ridgecrest (very hot desert) at 100 plus. That was all back when I was dumb and in college...<BR>Was the bigger-series a different radiator?