Radiator/Cooling research discussion

[arcane73]

I wanted to open a discussion on cooling and possibly get some input as well. I have a habit of researching things to death before I spend any money and so I come to the point where I need to decide on a radiator for my build so I can budget for it. I also like to put all of my thoughts in a post so I can get it out of my head and down where I can read it and maybe let others fill me in on similar issues they’ve had to address.

Here are my specifics: 1968 Mustang with an aluminum head 408 Windsor with A/C. I live in Phoenix…that in itself presents a bit of a challenge. The primary purpose of the car is reliable road trips and possibly the occasional autocross. There is a lot of info out there to absorb on this. But from what I’ve gathered so far is that, in all likelihood, a good quality radiator setup for my build is going to run in the $1k-$1500 range.

So what experience do you guys have with this? What works, what would you do differently? What is your trusted ‘go-to’ brand and why? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. I know that I’ve got to do it right, once. And it won’t be an inexpensive decision but I want to be sure I’m spending wisely.