I was thinking about going with one from summit, I think it is a Griffin, Any thoughts.

Anybody had really good or really bad luck with any aftermarket rads.

I have a big Northern 2 core that works great. All I had to do was fab the mounts for it and it was good to go. I've had several Griffins and they were fine too.
:cool:

I am very impressed with my Be Cool, but they are way to expensive.:eek:

I always hear nothing but good about Griffins, both from 4x4s owners and car racers.

"Be Cool" are by far the best, Griffins are the best if you suffer from the thin wallet syndrome:D

Originally posted by Old Scout
"Be Cool" are by far the best, Griffins are the best if you suffer from the thin wallet syndrome:D

Be Cool causes thin wallet syndrome. I had been working too much to spend any money, before my engine swap, so I felt rich and bought it anyway. Hey for $435 they threw in a free $35 Be Cool octagon radiator cap:rolleyes:

It is a nicely built radiator though and does a great job of keeping my 5.0 below 200 degrees no matter what condition. It runs at 185, even at the Hammers in the summer. The only time it reaches 200 degrees is when I run the sand dunes really hard in hot weather.

Be cool saved my butt. After I put in the hopped up Ram Air III motor in the Goat it would overheat if driven when it was hotter than 90F. Dropped in a 450.00 Be Cool rad and now you can run the A/C in 110f day!

Is that you oldscout?

I never would have thought that you could fit in the engine bay of a GTO

Can you order a griffen or Be cool in whatever size you want with whatever outlet and inlet position you need or are they off the shelf common application type things? I was thinking that might be a better idea that a factory rad (and cheaper too a stock rad is all of $450!)

Ron

Originally posted by evilfij
Is that you oldscout?

I never would have thought that you could fit in the engine bay of a GTO



Ron

Yea it's me a 400 cubes!

I shave my head now!:D

I think the shaved head is a good look for you.

:)

Is the rad custom or just a standard goat rad?

Ron

summit sells griffin rad's that have no brackets on them for $181. i figure if you are going to go aluminum this might be the way to go. get one the size you need and then build a set of brackets. it'd be alot cheaper than the custom sized jobs with the brackets.

Originally posted by evilfij
I think the shaved head is a good look for you.

:)

Is the rad custom or just a standard goat rad?

Ron

Be Kool will build you what you want, for about the same price, as an off the shelf assembly.

haven't heard anything bad about griffin. my friend uses one in his road race valiant with no problems. look in a circle track magazine, there cheaper their.:D

Originally posted by high5
summit sells griffin rad's that have no brackets on them for $181. i figure if you are going to go aluminum this might be the way to go. get one the size you need and then build a set of brackets. it'd be alot cheaper than the custom sized jobs with the brackets.

I went with a 26X19 Griffin. I got it for under $160 from PitstopUSA.com, but I just checked and they're up to $189 now so you're probably better off going with Summit now (cheaper shipping).

I had a local welder put the brackets on it and he charged me $50, but I got bent over--you could probably get it done cheaper.

It cools my 350HP Ramjet 350 just fine. I probably should've gotten a smaller one because it took quite a bit of hacking to squeeze it into my YJ.

Jake

Hey '46-

Where are you putting your radiator? I am a few weeks away (hopefully) from dropping my 4.3 into my '47. I am going with a mechanical fan...how about you?

Originally posted by Jakesteramalamajama


I probably should've gotten a smaller one because it took quite a bit of hacking to squeeze it into my YJ.

Jake

I dont know, I would say you went the right direction.
There is nothing like not ever having to worry about your engine running hot. And if you get it out on a sand dune or if your the lead vehicle cutting the trail in deep snow, you can start to develope a lot of heat with a hard charging V8.
Id say you were wise to get the biggest radiator you could shoehorn into the YJ.

Originally posted by H8monday


I dont know, I would say you went the right direction... Id say you were wise to get the biggest radiator you could shoehorn into the YJ.

Well, if it's the biggest you're looking for (for a YJ anyhow), look no further. And don't forget your shoehorn. ;) Another inch in either direction would've been nigh impossible without moving the headlights further apart and/or moving your radiator back from the grill (wasn't an option for me because my engine had a long water pump).

Of course, you could always go down I suppose...

Jake

A 26 incher has got to be tight. But since it's been done...........

I didn't read the whole post but Summit sells Griffen radiators under the Summit name now for $169 rather then $189 for the Griffen brand one so keep that in mind. I learn this after I ordered my 3rd Griffen from them:(

Well...I have a 5.2 in my TJ and I am sick of the cooling issues. I would like to go with some sort of Be-Cool. I know they make the one that bolts right in...for something like $450. How are you guys making the brackets for the universal ones?

thanks.

Aluminum Radiators are OK just be sure to get a good ground wire on it, they are very prone carrosion, and only a good ground will stop it

summit also carries the universal fit be-cool radiators for about $270..

Check out these guys....may have already heard of them?

http://www.radiator.com/


Not for my Jeep, but I got a Chevy 454 radiator (4 core) with tranny cooler from them for $159 delivered. They might have something that would work for you? Mine was on Ebay, their name on there is "radiator_doctor" if interested.

Originally posted by 97_jeeper
How are you guys making the brackets for the universal ones?

I can't speak for a TJ, but with a YJ grill, it's pretty easy. You just weld a couple of aluminum plates to the tanks on the front side of the radiator that go out a few inches on either side of it in the same plane as the radiator, then cut away the parts of the plates that you don't need with an angle grinder until they fit. Bolt to what's left.

In the case of a YJ, you also have to remove the standoff portions of sheetmetal where the original radiator was mounted (and most of the sheetmetal on the inboard side of the passenger side headlight as well if you want to fit a 26X19 Griffin in there ;) )

Jake

Originally posted by 97_jeeper
How are you guys making the brackets for the universal ones?


I used aluminum angle for my mounts. Just measured, cut to fit, fired up the TIG welded it up, bolted it in and was done. Works great.
:cool: