Radiator recommendations/opinions

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I'm looking for a radiator for my Camaro, and I would like some feedback on the options out there.

First though, I am going to be running Evans NPG+, and they recommend 1-1/4" tubes in the radiator. I have only found one company (Griffin) that has this. Also, I'd like to run a built-in transmission cooler.

Now, I have found two radiators that fit my requirements, they are the 1-55272-T and the 6-570AE-BAX. The first one is a "Circle track" radiator and the second is a "direct fit". The direct fit version is much more expensive, but I don't know why. What are the differences?


TIA!

[6'9"Witha69]

First though, I am going to be running Evans NPG+, and they recommend 1-1/4" tubes in the radiator. I have only found one company (Griffin) that has this. Also, I'd like to run a built-in radiator cooler.

1" tubes are fine. I have run in 90*+ weather in traffic that took almost an hour to go ~1 mile and with a single fan it never cracked 205* in the heads. I run an AFCO rad BTW.

Now, I have found two radiators that fit my requirements, they are the 1-55272-T and the 6-570AE-BAX. The first one is a "Circle track" radiator and the second is a "direct fit". The direct fit version is much more expensive, but I don't know why. What are the differences?

You are paying for a radiator that is set up to bolt directly to an application specific support. This means a narrowed range of customers they can sell to. The universal fit one can be sold to anyone who can then adapt it to what they want. Simple supply and demand from a pricing perspective and opportunity cost from yours (you trade purchase price for fabrication and mock up).

Also, most circle track stuff usually doesn't have the trans cooler you are looking for. That is, if you are looking for trans cooler v. oil cooler.

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Do you run NPG+, or some other coolant? I'm not exactly sure why they spec the 1-1/4" tubes, so I just want to be sure I'm getting the right parts.

According to the info I gleaned from Summit, both the part numbers I listed are for automatic transmission cars and have a transmission cooler. The pictures (which could be generic, so they don't prove anything) show the racing version with the outlet a little higher. I don't know if that makes any difference. If the only other real difference is it not dropping into the saddle mounts then I'd go with the racing version, but I wonder if the fin density is different, or if there are other changes that might affect street use.

[Z-man]

I'm running the 25272-X and it's doing a great job. Just using the tried and true green stuff...