Radiator, re-core stock or aluminum?

[Copilot]

I will have to compare re core cost, with buying a new rad. Also there are so many Aluminum rads on the market not sure what to buy. Don't want to break the bank. Its a stock 340 with 22 inch rad.
Thanks in advance.

 

[pschlosser]

if its a pretty stock car, and you have an OEM radiator with correct part number, you may want to look at restoring the one you have. You can go more cores, for better cooling.

 

[Chryco Psycho]

The real issue if you look at any newer car Alum rads are always isolated from the body in rubber mounts as they will not last very long mounted directly to the body & flexing , so brass is better unless you change the mounting for a Alum .

 

[Xcudame]

There are several companies that make aluminum radiators that look like factory. Aluminum is better at transferring heat than brass, but needs to be isolated by rubber (think thin rubber washers) to not crack for flexing.

 

[Old B5]

It all depends on your preference for whether or not you want it to stay stock with numbers and such. If not then modern aluminum is much better. It will cost much more to get an OEM re-cored. Not many places even do it anymore. Kind of a lost art. I got an aluminum on eBay that is stamped to look like a stock unit. The car runs cooler than it ever has