Radiator

[burchfieldb]

I wanted to see if anyone had experience with the Cold Case Radiators? I know people have used the Radiator Express one successfully in a Coupe. The only reason I am considering the Cold Case one, over the Radiator Express, is potentially for better cooling. It is more expensive but comes with a lifetime warranty vs 1 year. I am not a fan of the lower hose routing with the stock FFR radiator, these would allow for routing up through the front aluminum wall and under the power steering rack. I have a 351 Cleveland that is bored and stroked to a 393, so looking for all the cooling I can get. I have the Breeze fan shroud and plan on upgrading to the Flex A Lite fan that others have used. I also have the FFR import radiator model that seem to be known to leak after a while.

https://www.coldcaseradiators.com/product/64-66-thunderbird-aluminum-performance-radiator-auto

https://www.radiatorexpress.com/product/radiator/FORD/1965/THUNDERBIRD/base/64l-v8390cid/221913/1333505#tabs

Thanks in advance,
Brent

[Papa]

Brent,

I don't have anything to add, but I'll be curious with what you end up going with. I'm on my second radiator from FFR on my MK4, although I believe the failure was aggravated by how it was mounted (per FFR build manual), which I hope I mitigated to some extent with the replacement and adding the Breeze top mount kit which was not fun to implement on a painted car.

Dave

[burchfieldb]

Brent,

I don't have anything to add, but I'll be curious with what you end up going with. I'm on my second radiator from FFR on my MK4, although I believe the failure was aggravated by how it was mounted (per FFR build manual), which I hope I mitigated to some extent with the replacement and adding the Breeze top mount kit which was not fun to implement on a painted car.

Dave

Yeah, this is what I am trying to avoid down the road once the hood is mounted and painted.

[JimStone]

I see one difference right off the bat: The Cold Case is hella expensive!

But you do usually get what you pay for.

I too am not impressed with the lower outlet on the FFR kit radiator. But I got it set up so I'll stick with it until something breaks

[Bart Carter]

Lifetime Warranty against defects in materials and workmanship, not corrosion or electrolysis.

[burchfieldb]

Good point, this is why I asked, I missed that one not being super well versed in radiators.

[Dave Tabor]

Brent - my PM to you did not go through for some reason.

I've been on the same SKU: 221913
Brand: Radiator Express

for four years. and a lot of miles.

I considered the Cold Case one but impact damage is likely what's going to take out the radiator.

I keep a spare 221913 handy.

I run a honeycomb protector on the front.

Dave
Gen III #17

[Jphoenix]

Got my honeycomb protector on Amazon - it looks much worse then the attached photo after a season of racing - but the radiator is still good.

224824

[burchfieldb]

Brent - my PM to you did not go through for some reason.

I've been on the same SKU: 221913
Brand: Radiator Express

for four years. and a lot of miles.

I considered the Cold Case one but impact damage is likely what's going to take out the radiator.

I keep a spare 221913 handy.

I run a honeycomb protector on the front.

Dave
Gen III #17

Dave,
What size engine are you running?

[Power Surge]

What is the issue with the supplied radiator?

[Dave Tabor]

Ford 302 soon to be a 347.

There is also this four-row version:

SKU: 228851

Dave
Gen III #17

[burchfieldb]

What is the issue with the supplied radiator?

My main reasons for changing are greater cooling capacity for my stroked 393 and I would like to improve the lower hose routing.

[burchfieldb]

Ford 302 soon to be a 347.

There is also this four-row version:

SKU: 228851

Dave
Gen III #17

Nice, that will add a few more horses! I was intrigued by the 2 row Cold Case since it potentially allows for better airflow through the radiator since the more rows you add the more difficult it become for the cooler air to get to those back rows.