Aluminum or Copper Radiator for Your Car - Radiators:Aluminum or Copper?

Custom-fit aluminum radiators are still pretty steeply priced, but universal-fit aluminum racing radiators are very competitive with copper-brass replacements. Griffin's racing radiators are MIG-welded, and while they don't look as nice as the company's TIG'd custom-fit radiators, they should function just as well provided you're up to a little fabrication work to install them. The real penalty is a paltry 30-day warranty, compared to the two-year guarantee on all Griffin's custom-fit radiators. Provided there are good engine-to-frame grounds to prevent electrolysis, and assuming you change your coolant every year, Griffin says either model should keep you cool for years.

So what should you take from this? If you're beating the living daylights out of your car, whether it's in the form of a 140-mph blast on the Silver State Challenge or a 7,000-rpm downshift before turn five of Elkhart Lake Raceway, you may need to exploit the high-coolant-pressure handling and vibration-fatigue resistance of a stout aluminum radiator. But whether you like the high-tech look of aluminum or the resto/sleeper stealth of copper-brass, either (when properly selected) should be able to cool your street car, provided it's coupled with a good fan and shroud.

By Matt King

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