I have installed Vintage Air in my '63 coupe and find overheating in stop and go city traffic.I am thinking about replacing the brass rad with a Griffin #6-263AF-BXX aluminum one.Has anyone used one of these rads successfully on a similar application? Any help is appreciated.
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Re: Cooling for '63 with air (327 - 340HP)
? 63 w/ a brass radiator? Stock radiator is aluminum, but then of course you know that, right?
My stock 63 340 hp used to heat up in stop and go traffic, and still does some, but using a B28 VAC as well as TEL additive has curtailed much of that. All typical stock 63 radiators will, over time, become less efficient as they build up deposits at the bottom regardless of how often they are flushed. It's just the nature of the beast as they just have a limited life. Perhaps the extra load on your engine with the A/C has just brought this to light sooner.
Stu Fox -
Re: Cooling for '63 with air (327 - 340HP)
The OE aluminum radiator has greater cooling capacity than any aftermarket radiator. Bite the bullet and spend the 700 bucks to buy the (excellent) reproduction from DeWitts.
You should also consider installing the seven bladed fan that was used with the '64-'65 365 HP engine with factory AC.
Also verify that the distributor has a "236-16" or "B28" VAC. The original "201-15 VAC" is not well matched to the engine's idle vacuum and causes hot running and idle instability issues.
This assumes that your engine still has an OE mechanical lifter camshaft. If not...
Assuming an OE mechanical lifter camshaft, the hot idle should be set at about 1000, or whatever is required to keep the hot idle with the AC compressor engaged above 800.
DukeComment
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Re: Cooling for '63 with air (327 - 340HP)
Is a DeWitts rad considered better quality than a Griffin?
Thanks DougComment
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Re: Cooling for '63 with air (327 - 340HP)
That's not the right question. It's a matter of whether the replacement radiator has sufficient cooling capacity.
Many have bought aftermarket brass radiators that fit Corvettes, thinking they could save some money, and many of them ended up throwing away the brass replacement and buying the DeWitts 316 replacement in order to obtain sufficient cooling capacity.
The design and construction of the OE 316 radiator, which is exactly reproduced by DeWitts to the highest quality standards provides greater heat transfer than a brass radiator of the same size, and since you have added air conditioning, anything less than the DeWitts 316 reproduction will probably not provide sufficient cooling capacity, so you'll spend much of your driving time looking at the temperature gage, which is no fun.
DukeComment
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Re: Cooling for '63 with air (327 - 340HP)
Here is a link to Tom's web site.
He does make a direct fit Aluminum rad, but as Duke said the most optimum cooling solution is the Restoration Radiator. You can save some money on it if you buy the one without detailing. (paint, lables etc)
tcLast edited by Tracy C.; December 2, 2010, 06:05 PM.Comment
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Re: Cooling for '63 with air (327 - 340HP)
Doug------
With a brass replacement radiator (configured to replace the GM #3155316) you'd likely have cooling problems even without the addition of A/C.
The Griffin is a good radiator. However, if it were me, I'd use the DeWitts reproduction of the GM #3155316. This will be a drop-in replacement, will cool extremely well, AND WILL WORK WITH AVAILABLE MOLDED radiator HOSES. With other radiators, you might have to use "flexible" radiator hoses. YUCK!In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: Cooling for '63 with air (327 - 340HP)
agree with duke, tracy and joe. go with dewitts radiator.mikeComment
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