96Formula6spd

So my daily driver Z06 has spring a leak in the plastic of the original radiator so it am going to need to replace it. I have been looking at some of the cheap aluminum radiators off eBay. I have used many of these before in my older street cars , race Miata and track Miata with zero issues. Sometimes they take a little modification to make them fit. Anybody in here use any of them. Keeping ac so would probably avoid the 4/5 core so the ac fits as I think the original units are a 3 core design. If you do have one which one did you buy.

Stingroo

I had a cheap Champion radiator from eBay on my LS sapped Caprice. It was flawless for 5 years.

I'd do it again.

MWWarlord

I feel like a Dewitts is the way to go here. Buy once, cry once.

RWH99Z51

Have used Cold Case radiators a few times and have never had to replace them after the fact.

vette4fl

I haven’t used this, but have read a lot of favorable posts on the forum. If you do a search look for ECP.

https://speedcooling.com/product/199...inum-radiator/

Smoken1

mstromquist

I had that ECP one in my car for a while. It worked just fine. Then I found a Dewitts one for sale that was brand new and at half the price as it was an old stock part and he didn't want it around anymore so I bought that. I also bought the fans for it as well and have loved it ever since. I still have the cheap one in a box in the garage.

punz

I have the ecp rad for 5-6 years now, no complaints. It replaced a leaking 15 yr old fluidyne rad., went the cheap route.

z06801

I have a Ron Davis in my Z06 but I bought this for my 95’ Range Rover LWB, it fit perfectly and works great, would try one for a street driven corvette for sure.

wydopnthrtl

I replaced the rad on my 95 C4 w/a cheap one and made a post about it. https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-radiator.html

I will say this.. IF my C5 Z06 was a daily driver I'd NOT go cheap. I'd get the Dewitts

96Formula6spd

Well ended up going with a stock plastic unit. Buddy had brand new radiator that he did not need as his c5 had been wrecked. So $75 got me a brand new tyc radiator. It's in and doing the job for now.

snaitaz@aol.com

i went with this unit from Ebay as I am completely replacing the cooling system due to my crashing into a concrete parking block. Build thread is here https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c5-general/4742744-1999-pseudo-build-and-repairs.html. The radiator link is here https://www.ebay.com/itm/224839476505 Cheers!!!

hyperv6

Low cost generally work fine. Fit may often be an issue. Just what is the warranty?

Second If you have a major investment in an engine or car why go cheap on something that keeps it alive.

it is like saying how is that cut rate heart surgeon?

I see people drop $20k into an engine then try to use the best up original because they will not pony up a few hundred on a good radiator.

snaitaz@aol.com

For me personally I was thinking DeWitts or Be Cool but at those prices I could buy 10 of these units even if it just lasts 1 year I am still $$$ ahead. But I get your point and after thinking about it me being 70 I felt "let's just do it and see". So if I get some longevity out of it I am good. If not then I may have to look into something else but for now it's gonna be wait and see. Cheers!!!

J.Abbott

You can always over think this and just go with the cheaper radiator. He is the problem, it is cheaper because it is made cheaper and while today it may cost less money what happens when it fails. What if you are not home when it fails, think about what it would cost you if you are on the road and the cheap part fails, honestly it goes for any parts but since we are talking radiators it is the same lesson. By the time the tow bill is done, you pay a shop labor again or your labor and now you are buying another radiator and lets hope nothing else was damaged and you got the engine shut down before it overheated. This is everything I ask myself before I make a purchase of any part. Anyways I would go with the DeWitt's and then you at least have peace of mind that you have a quality part that is not going to fail.

vette4fl

Yup!

Four systems that must be reliable and effective:
brakes, tires, steering, and cooling system.


The value of top dollar components often relates to intended use. That said, there may be less expensive, yet equally reliable and effective alternatives for a given application. For example, for my grocery getter I’m tempted to try the “less expensive ECP”. They have been around and proven to be effective and reliable. Read nothing but positive reviews.

Be wary and perform due diligence.

snaitaz@aol.com

I don't want to beat a dead horse and I definitely agree with your entire opinion. ANY part can fail at any time no matter what so even if I did buy a DW's and it fails, I am still left with...the cost of everything you mentioned if I am on the road. DW is not going to pay for the towing or damage from overheating. They may replace the radiator if it failed because of poor workmanship and it wasn't because of abuse. Again for a Benjamin and change I took the gamble. If it was 2 or more Benjamin's then YES I would have gone the DW route. I just had a power booster fail last month in my 1967 F100 that I have had since day 1 and I replaced it with an MP setup that will most likely outlive me for sure. Parts, life, the Earth and anything else you can think of lives on limited and borrowed time so you just gotta go for it. YOLO

grinder11

Yup-Dewitts on my C5 since '05. Never had any problems. Ya get what ya pay for in most cases.......

grinder11

Cut rate heart surgeon......LMAO!!!!!
But I agree. People sometimes do stuff like that. It's like buying the best shingles for a roof, then paying a transient worker with all the beer he can drink to hammer them down!!!

vette4fl

But that’s back when Eisenhower was president, and they cost $59.95.