Need a new radiator, '66

[chris66dad]

Any more definition on what constitutes 'big' and 'small' rows? Where's the tipping point?

chris66 - Definitely going to check to see if I can squeeze a 20" radiator in. There are definitely a few inches on each side of the stocker i'd like to use. Did you modify the mounts at all?

I cut 1 1/2 inches off of the radiator support on each side to open up the airflow. I also had to drill new mounting holes. This is not a mod if you want to maintain an "Original" car.

 

[woodsnake]

Not to highjack, but the Champion works well? I too am going to need a new radiator, to cool a modified 351W...

 

[tx65coupe]

I have an aluminum Fluidyne direct fit for 5.0 conversions that has the water connections on opposite sides. I got it from Mustangs Unlimited, but Summit has it too. It fits and works great.

 

[SadbutTrue]

I cut 1 1/2 inches off of the radiator support on each side to open up the airflow. I also had to drill new mounting holes. This is not a mod if you want to maintain an "Original" car.

Don't really care one iota about originality. Just want it to function.

 

[Rusty67]

You can pick up some extra space if you turn the battery sideways like on the 67 and later. I think someone sells a kit for that.

Big row vs small row I believe is a 1/2" core vs a 1" core.

 

[jlangholzj]

The Summit's are made by Northern. I have a universal Summit(Northern) and it works great cooling my combo.

same here. I was driving in 100*F heat last year with just two core-mounted radiators (hadn't gotten around to a proper shroud yet) never got above 190* in town. Also I was able to get mine with the inlet/outlet on the "stock" sides

more specifically:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-CSUM3800/

Shows two 1" cores. For an automotive application thats about perfect.

 

[SadbutTrue]

a GM forum asked me to check if a Mark VIII fan would work. A lot of people there were recommending running both an electric and a flex fan until I showed them how much space there is in a 66 mustang engine bay :o

 

[jlangholzj]

a GM forum asked me to check if a Mark VIII fan would work. A lot of people there were recommending running both an electric and a flex fan until I showed them how much space there is in a 66 mustang engine bay :o

only somone from a GM forum would suggest something as stupid as running an electric and a flex. ....why....just why..

 

[iskwezm]

this how much i opened mine and also gave more clearance to the water pump.

 

[Tim65GT]

Here is a link to my install:
http://www.stangnet.com/mustang-forums/threads/northern-radiator-taurus-fan-install.698848/

 

[SadbutTrue]

how wide is that radiator? no fan? looks nice though :yup:

 

[SadbutTrue]

summit 2-row aluminum cross flow race radiator, universal at 22.5" wide and 19.5" tall is $140. Little thinner too. How hard would it be to fab the mounts up? Is there a matching shroud?

 

[65FBE2]

This is one area I have some expertise. My younger brother is the design engineer for Northern. First off I will tell you that my 347 @ 460+ HP was the design mule for the Northern alum rad. It's a two row down flow stock replacement unit. It will cool just fine as long as you have good air flow through the rad. Air flow is more important that the size of the radiator. The later model cross flows are better but the plug and play of the original is a big plus.
The large tubes of a two row alum actual have more surface area exposed to cooling than a 4 row brass. They are much stronger so you can add a higher pressure cap they have no dead areas where the tubes are soldered to the tank bottoms. Just get the summit brand (Northern) but be sure and have a good electric fan or get the universal shroud kit and a good fan. Not one of thoughts small blade flex fans either. It has to be a fan that will pull air through the rad at slow speed. If you do this, it will cool a 500 plus HP motor all day long. If it were me I would get a 17" electric fan and shroud. That will end your problems.

 

[SoCalCruising]

By "big" I meant area of the radiator (width x height), not tube diameter. That said, I believe mine uses a 1" tube. A decent 2-row 20" rad in alum will cool a lot of engine. Maybe 500hp worth of motor.

 

[jlangholzj]

This is one area I have some expertise. My younger brother is the design engineer for Northern. First off I will tell you that my 347 @ 460+ HP was the design mule for the Northern alum rad. It's a two row down flow stock replacement unit. It will cool just fine as long as you have good air flow through the rad. Air flow is more important that the size of the radiator. The later model cross flows are better but the plug and play of the original is a big plus.
The large tubes of a two row alum actual have more surface area exposed to cooling than a 4 row brass. They are much stronger so you can add a higher pressure cap they have no dead areas where the tubes are soldered to the tank bottoms. Just get the summit brand (Northern) but be sure and have a good electric fan or get the universal shroud kit and a good fan. Not one of thoughts small blade flex fans either. It has to be a fan that will pull air through the rad at slow speed. If you do this, it will cool a 500 plus HP motor all day long. If it were me I would get a 17" electric fan and shroud. That will end your problems.

pulling air through slowly actually isn't the best approach. You get a change in air velocity due to the pressure drop across the core. Having a shrouded fan with a high(ish) cfm is the most important. The bigger problem with the 4 row brass radiators is that with that many cores, your potential delta T is quite a bit lower once you get further through the rad. Then it basically turns into a big heat sink. Also there's no doubt that the "larger tubes" of the two row aluminum's will help with cooling (a little bit) but the increased airside hydraulic diameter due to those tubes has minimal effect. Its all about pressure drop, core type and proper fluid flows. You can always push more water through the system if a larger fan/radiator isn't available. Lastly a cross flow vs downflow radiator has almost no effect. In fact the downflows are more desirable because you get a natural heat pump effect due to the cooling fluid.

I realize that this was purely a design conversation and that in the end, just buy a northern that will fit in your engine bay, and put a proper fan on it and you'll do just fine.