Aluminum rads in stock
 

I need to replace the factory radiator in my stocker. Heard rumors that aluminum replacements are coming to NHRA. Sent a email to my SRAC rep. Anyone have some insight? Thanks

Re: Aluminum rads in stock
 

Rumor is they will be legal 2015.

Re: Aluminum rads in stock
 

2015, ok.

Re: Aluminum rads in stock
 

This is a rule change that should have come about long ago. A two row aluminum radiator can be bought for less than a four row copper/brass radiator, and will cool better.

A new radiator that cools better is good for the sport. Less chance of leaks, and a faster cool off time between rounds. The lower cost is icing on the cake.

By the way, the water is really where the weight is, and the difference in weight between copper and brass is not any real advantage as far as weight goes.

If you don't want one, don't buy one. It won't be the material that the radiator is made from that decides the race.

There are a couple of companies out there that offer a package deal on an aluminum radiator, an electric fan, a shroud, and a wiring harness complete with the relays. It's a big savings for a racer, on something that will make assembling their car and making it reliable a lot more simple.

Re: Aluminum rads in stock
 

The SRAC approved the aluminum replacement 100% and sent it up the ladder. We thought it was done. This was some time back, nothing off the presses. The next committee said no ( I think it is the stock/super stock committee). We disagreed and sent it back recently. Hoping it gets done, and before 2015, but than again .......

Re: Aluminum rads in stock
 

Jeff, thanks for your efforts, hope to see you at the races, big guy.

Re: Aluminum rads in stock
 

What radiator will be allowed? Can we buy a custom Don Davis radiator, or does it have to be a plastic tank aluminum core type? That plastic Alum radiator is not a great deal at all. Those leak constantly where the core is crimped to the tank. The only good reason for using one of these is weight savings. They will not last longer

Re: Aluminum rads in stock
 

I think your refering to "davis radiator" not don davis as he use to build race cars but used davis radiators....don davis lives here in elpaso and i believe has retired....

Re: Aluminum rads in stock
 

Thanks for the correction. It's Ron Davis. Any answers?

Re: Aluminum rads in stock
 

Todd, you dont need a new radiator, just a new wheelie bar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Aluminum rads in stock
 

Try and even find a copper-brass rad for some applications?NLA

Re: Aluminum rads in stock
 

Alex, my point exactly. And yet, for many applications, I can get an aluminum radiator, fan, and fan shroud combo for not much more than some of the "cheap" import copper/brass radiators alone.

And in answer to another question, I was not suggesting the plastic tank and aluminum core radiators. What I suggested to NHRA a while back was a direct fit, correct dimension, all aluminum replacement radiator. There is no intent to try to stick postage stamp radiators in old muscle cars. At least not on my part.

Re: Aluminum rads in stock
 

So the rule will be like the SS rule. Anything that fits, as long as it bolts in the factory location? Going to be impossible to regulate any sizes so sounds like anything goes. Another common sense rule for the good of the racers. What is the next rule to change? Aluminum intakes for all?

Re: Aluminum rads in stock
 

Not impossible at all. It's pretty obvious whether a radiator belongs or not.

FYI, there are big block cars with six cylinder radiators in Stock right now.

Re: Aluminum rads in stock
 

Yup, and I can remember whe you would get pitched for that Alan especially in division 2 or 3 Travis and Wesly territory

Re: Aluminum rads in stock
 

There are some tech guys, like Travis and Dave, who know what they're looking at, and would toss offenders if they could.

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I'm wondering when they'll give the go ahead to put the second 'S' on the class designation. The cars are pretty much de facto super stockers as it is.

Re: Aluminum rads in stock
 

I'll try to shorten this story. On Oct 20th I went to Numidia for T+T to make sure I was ready for the Hagerstown combo that was two weeks away. After the second pass I let the car cool for about 45 minutes while chatting with a racer. I decided to make a timing change and as I was timing it I sprung a leak in the lower part of the radiator, it was frustrating but I had no way of fixing it there. Rather than do my own repair as I have done on many street cars I brought it to the most recommended Rad repair shop in the area, while searching everywhere online and Mopar forums to see if I could find a good one, everything I found was junk. On the Wed before the Hag race, the shop told me it was in poor shape and they couldn't promise it would hold but they could recore it for 500 dollars or 150 to try my luck, I said I'll pass on both options. In my basement I had a 3 core version of the one that was in the car that appeared to be in clean shape, I installed it on Thurs eve and it had a small leak in an outer core. Friday I left work for a couple of hours to repair it myself and as I gently removed some fins to remove the bad core I could see this too was nothing but scrap,it was falling apart, I was pretty depressed at this point and knew I'd be staying home.
I was desperate to get some more runs before winter by going to Island Drag and decided to buy an aluminum replacement to use temporarily that was also a bolt in listed for my Challenger which I'm building for SS.
Here is a link to the unit I bought, it required one 1/4" hole drilled to bolt in. http://www.championradiators.com/product/EC2375
Todd, my 50 year old intake is as good as the day it was made, it's dated 5-63, not the same thing here.

Re: Aluminum rads in stock
 

My understanding is that in such EPA strongholds as California, it's almost impossible to get an old brass radiator rotted out and repaired. Same reason the days of the chrome plater are pretty much numbered for all but the biggest shops.
I bought a direct replacement aluminum radiator for my AMX while in SS/H off ebay for less than $200. It fills the entire radiator support opening corner to corner, end to end. Cools down a lot faster than the OEM radiator, and is not that much lighter with water. I'm adding a heavy Volvo electric fan and shroud I scored so I'll bet in the end I save no weight at all but I will have a superior cooling system to (hopefully!), go some rounds in the hot days of Arizona.

Re: Aluminum rads in stock
 

Shoot Alex, I remember when they argued with you over trim pieces and radio knobs here in Division 3.

Re: Aluminum rads in stock
 

Well it doesn't really matter if the rule is a done deal. Looks like something else to buy this winter. What is the next thing we are looking to change in stock?


My point exactly, no reason to buy a full size radiator. The smallest one that is absolutely needed, should be good for 20 pounds off the front end. I don't feel sorry for the guy that has to spend 500 bucks to get a radiator restored for his 50 year old car. That is the price of playing this game.

I along with others, have been trying to get a replacement cylinder head for my car for the better part of 2 years. The only answer I get from the powers at be is no time and time again. . Apparently the guys who race Pontiacs job is to maintain the integrity and spirit of our class while everybody else gets what they want. My heads cost 2500.00 for a set of cores. At least my radiator will be cheap and light.

It's too bad that guys with 40k plus race cars can't go to the Local Auto Zone and pay 150.00 for a replacement radiator. I'm sorry, I guess now you can. It's all for safety, a quicker running event, good for the economy and the environment. Every day we try to hammer another nail in the coffin of our eleminator, and make our cars closer to super stockers. Good stuff

Re: Aluminum rads in stock
 

If you think you have to buy a new aluminum radiator to be competitive, well, it's your car.

All this rule will do is make it affordable for a guy who needs a new radiator to go buy one.

You won't be taking 20 pounds of the nose with a direct replacement aluminum radiator. You might take that much off, if you go from a full size 4 row big block copper brass radiator to a single row six cylinder aluminum radiator. Good luck finding one.

As far as your heads go, I find it amusing that you'll complain about an aluminum radiator that won't make a single HP, or make the car 0.001 faster, while complaining about not getting aluminum heads that will make it cheaper for you to go faster. I'm sure you completely fail to see the irony in that. Sort of makes it damned near impossible to feel sorry for you, too.

Re: Aluminum rads in stock
 

Alan,
How much quicker do the plastic headlites make my car?

Re: Aluminum rads in stock
 

lol.

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:~) I figured I would get that...Thanks

Re: Aluminum rads in stock
 

As far as your heads go, I find it amusing that you'll complain about an aluminum radiator that won't make a single HP, or make the car 0.001 faster, while complaining about not getting aluminum heads that will make it cheaper for you to go faster. I'm sure you completely fail to see the irony in that. Sort of makes it damned near impossible to feel sorry for you, too.

No sweat Alan, your sympathy will not change the outcome, or results of my race program either way. If I was smart I would have build a 396 375 car. New billet carb, new crate motor intake, new production aluminum heads, and a dome piston that is most likely bigger than a factory piston. Now you will get a nice aluminum radiator that is cheap, and cools the engine better etc... Don't forget the racing aftermarket seats we had to buy the year before that had no affect on performance. One day we will have to tub the cars whey they fold stock up.

I just want to preserve our class for what it is. Not have so many rule changes in a short time like these days. Have a great offseason

Re: Aluminum rads in stock
 

How much quicker did you go with the new seats you had to buy? We left the stock seats in the car, maybe we'll replace them and pick up a tenth. We aren't going to buy a new radiator either, but if you do, let me know how much you pick up. We may want to buy one.

The Quick Fuel SS780 ain't billet, and the Edelbrock Q-Jet was approved long before the Quick Fuel was even thought of.

I went to bat for the Pontiac guys to get replacement heads with Len Imbrogno and Wesley Roberson several years ago, because of friends who were struggling to find cores, and I've also asked Bruce and Danny about it 2-3 times since then.

Re: Aluminum rads in stock
 

So Adger, were they worth 0.05?

Re: Aluminum rads in stock
 

Delete

Re: Aluminum rads in stock
 

You sir are a pistol!!! Jim


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Re: Aluminum rads in stock
 

Just run into this today. Dad's H/PS 93 Mustang GT (that he just drives on street now) had a leak in rad...it's 20 years old with 93,000 miles...well $50 to fix or $85 for a new one....it has a new one in it now....that was from Advance Auto in Jackson Oh.

Re: Aluminum rads in stock
 

2014 NHRA rule changes are up on nhraracer.com. No changes regarding radiators in Stock.

Re: Aluminum rads in stock
 

There are aluminum replacement radiators out there that are a direct fit for a lot of vehicle applications. As stated before, the copper-brass radiators are getting hard to find in some parts of the country and if you can find them, they are expensive. The NHRA should mandate that if you go to an aluminum radiator, you have to mount it in the stock mounting location with the stock brackets and hardware. This will prevent issues with trying to undersize/oversize the radiator for weight advantage.

There may not be an aluminum radiator for every application currently however, I would think if the rule change was made by the NHRA the aftermarket would respond with more applications.

Re: Aluminum rads in stock
 

Mopar stock radiators are covered by a shop in Wisconsin, from rebuilds to complete replacements.

Re: Aluminum rads in stock
 

I glanced at this thread and thought it was about aluminum RODS in Stock.

Good to see it was about radiators,although I'm sure that is next week's rule request.

Re: Aluminum rads in stock
 

^^^ lol
..or aluminum driveshafts

Re: Aluminum rads in stock
 

Try US Radiator,they have a very good selection.

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Just checked, aluminum only and they don't look like the original, the one I bought does but I'll keep searching. I called NHRA, they said no aluminum in 2014

Re: Aluminum rads in stock
 

Glen-ray radiators is the company in Wausau, WI , that does the OEM Mopar replacement radiators

Re: Aluminum rads in stock
 

radiatorbarn.com has both copper/brass and plastic/aluminum replacement radiators (at least for my 66 A body).