Champion radiators

What's the consensus on champion radiators? Did the quality get better? Did rubber bushings fix failure issues? Is there another company making equivalent radiators?

 

They're of poor quality and design , they leak at the welds and don't any better cooling than OEM

I would look into higher end mfgs such as be cool , Griffin , Ron Davis , C&R , Afco and Flexalite

 

Those mfgs I listed if they don't stock them they can custom make a radiator to your specifications . And again the mfgs I listed are all top quality

I've got a Griffin aluminum radiator not in my Tacoma but in my Camaro . And for being a high flow two core with 1.75 tubes it keeps my 600 hp sbc very cool . A friend of mine has a champion radiator in his Barracuda that has a 600hp 505 cubic inch motor and is struggling to keep it from overheating

 

I have a champion radiator in my 98 4runner. It's got about 15k miles on it. So far, I have not had issues. I have seen some have issues though.

 

Idk about not cooling better than a stock replacement. I’m idling at 184*. If you repair the leaks it’s much cheaper than a full custom rad.

 

I am very happy with my KOYORAD radiator. It is for a auto 4 runner so it is a little longer. Solution was to buy an auto skid plate from ethan22. Had no problem installing, had 1 hole that was a little off but a little push and all bolted up great. Only modification was to extend the lower hose a couple of inches. Pics if the other champion thread. Good luck.

 

I don't really want to spend $500 on a radiator.

Not a bad idea I guess. Would definitely be easier to test it first.

Is it an off the shelf? I was looking at the champion due to its size. I'm going leaf sprung sas, so skids don't matter.

 

For the cost of SAS what's another 500 for a high quality radiator?

 

I got it through Battle Born Off Road. They had it shipped from KOYORAD. They offer 10% off which covers price of radiator cap(sold seperatly), total around 300.00

 

5 or 6 regular quality radiators lol

 

If it was my radiator I would take out the OEM one and taking it to a repair shop, they're alot further and farther between than they used to be, but they're still out there. Just had one fixed for a kubota engine on a hydraulic power pack at work.. 250 was way better than 600 for a new one

 

I literally don't have one. I'm piecing together a truck. I need a radiator and condenser. I'll build my own sheet metal shroud for the electric fans and call that good. I don't want the trans cooler built in because it'll hang down and I have a hayden cooler that will be more than enough to cool it.

 

My bad, I missed that bit of information. This is what I used on my 4runner before I massacred it in the name of my tacoma. Held up to basic forest roads and thousands of miles in the almost year and a half I had it installed

 

I just put vacuum line caps on the cooler lines cause I had a manual trans

 

I have a DeWitts radiator in my '73 Vette 406ci 550hp Dart setup with no problems. I'd for sure buy another if my Taco needed it and they were available from them. I installed a Griffin in my '96 Z28 that I recently sold. Great radiator never had a problem with 'um for 3 yrs. and I flogged that ride pretty hard during that time. Great for releasing frustrations and bothersome irritations, but damn if those spark plugs were so difficult to replace with headers installed.

 

The Griffin aluminum radiator I'm running in my Camaro I've not seen temps over 175° on a 95° day . Even with a 4500 stall converter coolant temps are perfect . Try changing spark plugs on a 427 sbc with AFR heads that have1" raised exhaust ports and running 1-7/8th headers . It's about 45 minutes per side to change plugs

 

I have a Champion CC1778, for the 2wd 4 cyl. So far so good, I have used the rubber bushings to fir it out about 1/4” from the core support. About 10k miles with out issue. However I haven’t done a lot of wheeling with it, and in consultation with a couple of wrenching buddies and mechanics, they suspect the quality (Lightweight) of the material and the rigidity of the core as the likely cause of leaks.
In regards to cooling, no real issues but most of my driving has been up in Ak and no farther south than the southern border of Montana.
I am looking at a couple options:
1) stay with the Champion till it leaks but keep looking for a better option. Probably buy a spare from NAPA full boat warranty to carry on my next AlCan trip. Not the best place for a radiator leak.
2) maybe this Koyorad:http://battlebornoffroad.net/battle-born-offroad-specials/koyo-radiators/vh010665n/i-7532947.aspx I hear that this might be too tall to fit-hood clearance issues. I have asked a few folks that have them how far they stick up above the core support, no answers yet.
3) Maybe I’ll start a thread to see if an answer surfaces. If the filler neck isn’t too proud maybe I can get it cut, shortened and welded back on.
4) go full custom, I don’t need a trans cooler

 

What rubber bushings?

 

Hey ccctaco:
I think there is a clearance issue for the filler neck on the Koyorad for my 98.
Would you be able to pull a couple measurements?
Say one vertical from the upper bolt mounting holes to the top of the filler neck? I’m wondering if I could get the neck cut down and re welded to clear my hood.
Maybe one from the top of the core support to the top of the filler neck?

Thanks

 

These mount between the flange on the radiator and the core support. I put a fender washer between the core support and the bushing.

Hard-to-Find Fastener 014973175368 Bushings, 3/8 x 1-1/4", 5-Piece

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OP3C614/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

not the best picture