Radiator Recommendations

volaredon said
Ok looking at that "ECP" site brings up a question.
Maybe if what I took as a link there would actually open up instead of reloading the same page I found said link on, would answer my question
What is wrong with having a 3 core radiator?
My 83 D250 came factory stock with the HD cooling package, which included a copper 3 row radiator. Worked great.

I've seen [ugh] GMs come from the factory for years with 3 row.
I have a Champion 3 row in my 78 fury. No problem. I still have the original single row that 3 trips to different radiator shops couldn't solve why that car was running hot.
That one hangs on my garage wall for now
It doesn't even come close to "hot" with the champion 3 row.

I went that route because I refused to buy a Toyota -ish appearing plastic/aluminum POS like all parts stores sell for any year make and model no matter what style the original radiator may have been. So the lifetime warranty champion 3 row seemed like the best alternative to what I had . Count me amongst the people pissed off since I can't go down and buy a new modine, copper and brass radiator for anything anymore. Sometimes you get lucky on eBay, something someone has had laying around for years but I can't count on it at any given time I may need a radiator.
I have found a 100%aluminum welded replacement for my 12 ram I have in the back of my mind for "that day". Not copper/brass but better than plastic/aluminum like what's in it now.

There's nothing "wrong" with a 3-row core it's just that traditional manufacturing methods, particularly for copper, didn't allow for the tubes to be over a certain width so if more cooling surface area was needed they had to add a 3rd row. ECP manufactures extra-wide aluminum tubes that have more surface area in 2 rows for the same length compared to 3 rows. Looking down through the radiator fill hole the core tubes are about an inch wide which is pretty massive.

Any newer aluminum radiator whether extra-wide 2-row or traditional 3-row will work fine, I just like to rep ECP because they're an American small business that has nice U.S.-made products for good prices and the radiators I've been impressed with the radiators I bought from them. Back in CO once I was towing my Duster on a U-haul trailer (~6,000 lbs) with my D200 on I-25, I was going up a pretty steep grade and just for kicks I floored the gas for about 30 seconds straight in 3rd gear (727) going 75 mph and the water temp gauge didn't move, stayed right at 200-205 degrees the whole time.