NASCAR surplus Griffin Rad

[CTX-SLPR]

Howdy,

Has anyone used a NASCAR surplus Al Griffin rad with built in oil cooler? I've read something about the fin density being too high despite the massive cooling tubes and core thickness. Its a steal at $165 for one in just about any size to fit a RWD car.

Thanks,

 

[strikeeagle]

I think as long as you're willing to run 200 MPH or more, you're probably onto something...

 

[broke1]

Originally posted by CTX-SLPR
Howdy,

Has anyone used a NASCAR surplus Al Griffin rad with built in oil cooler? I've read something about the fin density being too high despite the massive cooling tubes and core thickness. Its a steal at $165 for one in just about any size to fit a RWD car.

Thanks,

Link to buy please

 

[CTX-SLPR]

Ok, ok, so I was $35 off on the ones with the oil coolers in them ($199.50) still a steal: http://www.musclemotorsports.com/crgrifwoilco.html if you want to run an external cooler only they have ones without coolers for $165.00. The only thing I'm worried about is not being able to cool the car at slow speeds without a huge set of fans, what do people think?

Thanks,

 

[CTX-SLPR]

Something to consider, can you make aftermarket fans run in the high/low speed modes that the factory fans used? I'm thinking a pair of the huge fans off of 9C1 Caprices or cop car Crown Vics, opinions anyone?

 

[ijames]

I don't understand why you wouldn't want the fans to run on high all the time. Yes they will draw more current but they will cool the radiator down faster so they won't run as long, so the total power consumed should be about constant (if that was any kind of issue). The ramchargers fans move so much air and are so cheap ($80 plus they have the free adapter sale on half the time so you can save that $25 or so) that to me it's a no-brainer. I've felt the air movement from 9C1 LT1 fans and the ramchargers move more air.

 

[87grandnat]

could these radiators be used on a mostly street driven car?

 

[CTX-SLPR]

I really need to make a big disclaimer that I AM NOT PUTTING THIS IN A REGAL This engine is going into a 67 Skylark so the Ramchargers setup is even farther from a bolt in. I don't want a hurricane under my hood all the time to I want to be able to run the fans at low when I'm cruising at highway speeds and letting the car warm up and high when it gets warm and I need the airflow through my intercoolers. What are the ramcharger's fans from?

 

[ijames]

I know you are going in an a-body, but I thought you were using the stock 7148 ecm and harness (including the 3 fan relays) so you would have all the stock fan controls based on coolant temp and a/c high side pressure. If not, Ramchargers offers a full manual setup with three position switch (off, low, hi) and two relays, or you can use a simple thermostatic control (from Summit and others) and hi only. I've been told the fans are from a 1999-2000 Intrepid. They aren't a drop in on a TR, you have to fab up the mounts. In a TR the simple way is to use 1"x1/8" steel strip. Cut 4 pieces about 6" long, drill a hole in one end to go on the stock fan mount studs, bend to shape, drill a hole in the other end and through the fan shroud at the edge (away from the blades, obviously), and put a bolt through shroud and mount with a washer on the inside of the shroud. You can get galvanized strip from HomeDepot with a hole every inch and just cut to length. On the a-body you can do the same thing but you will have to drill holes in the radiator cover plate and the bottom of the core support since you don't have the electric fan studs.

 

[Nashty]

I have a Howe aluminum radiator in my Geo. It is a generic sized GM unit with no coolers built in. I believe it is 27 X 16. It is a (2) core (1" oval tubes) and it cools no problem but I have 2 PUSHER fans no AC condensor and no tranny cooler up front.

They are very nice and if they fit, I'd definetly recommend one.

 

[TurboDave]

Originally posted by CTX-SLPR
Howdy,

Has anyone used a NASCAR surplus Al Griffin rad with built in oil cooler? I've read something about the fin density being too high despite the massive cooling tubes and core thickness. Its a steal at $165 for one in just about any size to fit a RWD car.

Thanks,

I tried a Griffin several years ago. The cooler fittings were an odd size (or our oil lines are odd sized). Either way, special adapters were required, that I couldn't make completely leak free.

The radiator's cooling performance was dismal at best!!!! The fin count was just way too high, and couldn't get the air pulled through very well at all. Especially in traffic.
Marginal at highway speeds.

I would strongly recommend NOT even trying one.

 

[strikeeagle]

Not surprising...

 

[Nashty]

Re: Re: NASCAR surplus Griffin Rad

Originally posted by TurboDave
The radiator's cooling performance was dismal at best!!!! The fin count was just way too high, and couldn't get the air pulled through very well at all. Especially in traffic.
Marginal at highway speeds.

I would strongly recommend NOT even trying one.

My GN had a Griffin on it (no oil coolers or tranny cooler though). I had a FMIC, AC & tranny cooler there at one time, later moved the tranny cooler under the battery. With the stock fan, my car never overheated but I must admit, it never had to deal with significant highway driving then sitting in traffic. I only drove it around in town, not intense city traffic. On the highway, it was completely adequate. Prior to installing the FMIC, I spent about an hour with a small flat blade screwdriver removing all the dead bugs and small rocks from the radiator and AC condensor cores. I also boxed off the header panel to the radiator support and bumper to radiator support to force all grill opening air through the IC & radiator.

The Howe radiator in my Geo, I forgot to mention, is one of the 2 sizes you see listed in Summit for a GM oval track car. It is recommended for dirt or asphalt racing. The instructions give explicit instructions for removing caked in mud. The fin count on that one is definetly not too high for the street. Howe is a pretty good name in dirt track racing. The Howe is also a very quality piece, beautiful welds and nice sheet metal.

Like I said, mine works great. Let me detail my application a little more so you can appreciate what it deals with. My intake is turned around backwards and the water pump bypass has been eliminated. I also have a BGC underdrive pulley on the crank and it is like 3" in diameter - small. All this with a limited area for the radiator to get into the airstream. I do use water wetter and DI water though. I can let the car sit till the fan comes on (185º) and quickly cools down to the fan off temp (170º).

Your results may vary but I've had very good luck with both of these radiators.

 

[CTX-SLPR]

Well did some calling around to the Muscle motorsports guys and the guys at Griffin its self and they say, if you can keep the core under 3" thick and run a healthy set of fans you could get it to cool just fine. It looks like the Muscle rads won't work for you TR guys because they are 19" tall but heck if your willing to do some fab work I think it'll fit. They said they had some 19x32x2.5 rads but they all have AN -16 fittings as the upper hose, so you can either hack it off and get someone to weld you a push on bung on or you can fabricate an AN fitting for the manifold. Muscle also sells 15" spalls rated at 2100 cfm and they "think" they only pull 20 amps but they aren't sure, but they are only $45 a piece, they also have bigger 16" fans that are rated at only slightly more but probably pull less amps.

Just thought I'd fill ya'll in.