LoneStarV

Some recent radiator discussion sent me off doing some research on them. My 88 comes with a single core aluminum with plastic tanks. It cools the car just fine. I'll be dropping a 383 stroker in at some point so i'll be going to an all aluminum radiator. From what i read there isn't much advantage in a 3 core over a 2 core and in some cases a single. It's all about air flow and tube size. The more cores you have the more air you have to move through it thus the more fan you need.

I was looking at Dewitt and the subject of these Champion radiators sold on Ebay came up. They are Chinese made vs American made by Dewitt. That sent my radar up immediately as i'm not a fan of Chinese products.

I did some searches on Champion and i found people satisfied with them and found complaints of them leaking at the tanks after awhile. i couldn't find any complaints about Dewitt.

I called Dewitt and talked to them. They have a cheaper option than the $525 2 core radiator. They have a new one out that is a single core. It has 1 1/2" vs the 1' tubes on their 2 core radiator. He said it would easily cool my engine for what i have in mind. It's priced at $355.

I asked about the price disparity between their product and Champion. He wasn't interested in saying anything negative about another vendor. He did say they use 1' to 1 1/2" tubes vs 5/8" tubes many other companies use.

Here's a link detailing the manufacturing process Dewitt goes through to make their radiators.

http://www.dewitts.com/pages/brazed-...radiator-cores

When the time comes i'll be going with Dewitt and happy to spend the extra money for an American made product.

cv67

The PO of my Z put a Dewitts rad/fan package on and Im impressed. Thought I had it running cool before this thing will never go over 180 on the hottest day sitting in traffic. Those things are giant heat sinks
The package isnt cheap but it sure is damn good (nothing cheap is good anyway lol). Worth every penny..nice product.

Havent used Champion products. Some are happy..id like to see feedback a good 5 yrs after purchase. All probably better than the stock puny one thouhg.

LoneStarV

It's also good to keep in mind Dewitt is a supporting vendor on this site.

shakedown067

Enough said, DeWitts for me! Price isn't everything!

desertmike1

I'm leaning this way for several reasons,

- proving track record.
- preformed caps, not welded up sheet metal.
- built here.
- lifetime warrenty.
- read a few negative posts in other forums. i.e. holes misaligned, trans cooler threads incorrect, leaks, cheap drain plug, twisted assembly, etc. all of this along with "Limited" Warrenty..

I'm looking at the DRI 1129090M for $325 it's slightly less money without the trans cooler..

I only want to do this one time..

LoneStarV

Give Dewitt a call ask to speak to a tech. Easy company to deal with.

JoeUser

Received my single-core DeWitt radiator on Monday, and it is indeed a well-made product. It took a while since I first ordered back in January, but that was because it's a new model. The cores are very wide, so it should be very efficient with that much surface to wick away heat.

I'll be installing it this coming weekend, and judging from the directions it should practically be an easy drop-in replacement (just have to trim 1/4" of rubber from the upper shroud mounts).

I'm going with new hoses and t-stat while I'm at it.

leesvet

Thats the dewitt sales pitch...

I bought a double row radiator made in Chigago Ill about 3 yrs ago. It was identicle to a DeWitt in almost every way. I had the 2 sitting side by side. It works perfectly. My temps are NOW managable, with either ANY forward movement of the car OR the fan coming on..temps fall. Everytime. The ONLY time my temps increase is sitting in traffic for an extended red lite or stop n go. Then the instant that I start moving again and get some fresh air moving...temps fall rapidly. Takes about 1 minute to fall from 225 to 185-190. Where it like it to stay.

The biggest difference...
I have an extra $300 in my pocket that the DW buyer doesn't.
Nothing against a DW. Not at all. BUT, if you are money conscience as I am, (fixed income, disabled and tired of BS wasteful spending in every aspect of life) then search out a good locally made off-brand. You will save some money AND get the desired results. If you are made of money...then by all means, buy a DW and shout from the mountain top! DW won;t send you a commission check but you might gain some self confidence like the guy that wears his rolex to the grocery store...
......of course with the radiator you will have to put a DW sticker on your car so everyone will know...unlike the rolex.

LoneStarV

Geez Lee who pissed in your Wheaties this morning? I prefer American made parts even if i have to pay more as long as the quality is there. If i find a local shop that makes an equal quality radiator for less than Dewitt then i would buy it. Again.....American made. I could care less about a sticker or who knows what radiator i have in my vette......btw Rolex trash isn't American made either.....just sayin'

ch@0s

I took my radiator out and run it on air like a VW

Thanks for the heads up on the new model radiator.

LoneStarV

I took my radiator out and run it on air like a VW

ROFL! Would be nice if a V8 ran like that. Dewitt aint cheap but then again the price of cool (horrible pun) aint cheap.

tenaus

Geez Lee who pissed in your Wheaties this morning? I prefer American made parts even if i have to pay more as long as the quality is there. If i find a local shop that makes an equal quality radiator for less than Dewitt then i would buy it. Again.....American made. I could care less about a sticker or who knows what radiator i have in my vette......btw Rolex trash isn't American made either.....just sayin'




This drives me crazy whenever i hear or read it, It's I COULDN"T CARE LESS NOT i could care less.

LoneStarV

Hmmmmmm if you're going to correct me on my grammar at least get the punctuation on your contraction correct....Lololol

This drives me crazy whenever i hear or read it, It's I COULDN"T CARE LESS NOT i could care less.

COULDN'T not COULDN"T

Silver96ce

Wow this devolved quickly from a potentially interesting thread to useless.

Grammar checkers - oh my!
Judging people on what they spend their money on - hilarious!

I say buy what you like with your money. Because it is your money. If I wanted a Rolex, I would buy one and wear it everywhere including the supermarket. Taking the logic of not wearing it everywhere to its absurd conclusion, I would only take it out of a locked and hidden drawer late at night when everyone is asleep to look at it by a dim flashlight. Don't want to be a "show-off". With that logic, owners of Ferraris, Lambos, Rolls-Royces and, yes, even the upcoming C7 should not drive their cars but instead keep them under a cover in the garage so as not to be a "show-off".

LoneStarV

Good point. I'm going with the new single core all aluminum Dewitt came out with. It costs more than a stock radiator but i have an expensive 383 going in and a couple hundred bucks extra to protect it is worth it to me.

mako41

How many times are we going to go thru this?? Made in Chicago??

You bought an Imported radiator from a company that does business in Chicago.

It is not made in the USA!

And it is not identical to a DeWitts product!

The same nonsense all over again; Enjoy

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...mendation.html

The real truth about your imported radiator from Chicago, by way of China;

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...-radiator.html

Corvette40

My DeWitts sprung a leak after three years that drove me crazy. It is in the upper left hand corner by the upper radiator hose fitting. Thought is was one of the tubes so epoxied the hell out of it, still leaked. Finally cut off the top of the tank and there is a stress crack just under a weld. I'm gonna have a friend of mine who owns a header shop tig weld the crack and the tank for me. The thing is just too good of a radiator to toss and I'm glad it can be repaired.

Silver96ce

Contact DeWitts as you have a lifetime warranty that should cover your radiator.

desertmike1

How did DRI respond to this problem?

PLRX

Dewitts, and now it can be ordered thru Summit Racing.