Best radiator brand

EastMT

EastMT

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I have a Ron Davis brand radiator that I need to replace. It is leaking where the tubes meet the side tanks most likely do to the prior owner solid mounting it. Repairing it is beyond my tig welding ability. I also have the matching aluminum shroud with two spal fans. 
Do I replace it with an identical Ron Davis or is there a better radiator to buy as I will changing the mount to an isolation type mount for the new radiator?

 
I've had C&R, Ron Davis....and now i'm putting in a CBR as we speak.

I think they're all about the same.

Depending on what motor your running....I would recommend having a heat exchanger installed in the new radiator.

 
I’ve had the best luck with cbr and have heard good things about c&r… I’ve had multiple Ron Davis radiators leak! 

 
Loganhawkins418 said:
I’ve had the best luck with cbr and have heard good things about c&r… I’ve had multiple Ron Davis radiators leak! 
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I've gotten about 10 years out of my Ron Davis.

I would have put in another RD, but my car builder recommended CBR.....they only took a week to make the new one.

 
Tonyd said:
I've had C&R, Ron Davis....and now i'm putting in a CBR as we speak.

I think they're all about the same.

Depending on what motor your running....I would recommend having a heat exchanger installed in the new radiator.
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Thanks for the info. The motor is a Honda 3.5 V-6. Are you recommending the heat exchanger to cool the oil in the future?

 
Tonyd said:
I've gotten about 10 years out of my Ron Davis.

I would have put in another RD, but my car builder recommended CBR.....they only took a week to make the new one.
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Appreciate the info.

 
Heat exchanger will remove heat from the oil as well as assisting in bringing it up to temperature. Keep in mind, if you use a heat exchanger you may need a larger radiator to dissipate the additional heat generated from the oil. I have a CBR radiator and would replace it with the same.  The tubes are epoxied into the side tanks. A radiator shop may be able to fix your leak. Might save you some money and hassle.

 
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Whatever brand fits and is available is the best. 

 
Instead of getting something extra spendy thinking it is better, spend some time and or money making sure it is mounted well in a stress free way probably on rubber isolators. These frames tend to twist and move off road and radiators go along for the ride. If they are hard mounted or too rigidly mounted they tend to crack at the corner seams where the stress is highest and the solder or braze joints are the weakest.

 
think most are built good.IMO it comes down to mounting.

I used an e bay cherokee alm one for 250 bucks with fans and shroud for my j35 im on my 5th year with it no issues.I used the cbr mounting kit was pricey but i like how it sits in the cradle and held in the by the piece that clamps down in the top middle.It allows the radiator to slightly move although it takes force.Im not a fan of welded tabs on corners due to frame flex etc. i say  a good example to prove this is get semi stiff plastic piece grab all corners with your hand and flex it.It flexes easy right? now try an flex from middle takes more effort to do so.

Thing i like about my "budget radiator"i can replace it for less than what it cost to repair it and find one easy.

 
EastMT said:
I have a Ron Davis brand radiator that I need to replace. It is leaking where the tubes meet the side tanks most likely do to the prior owner solid mounting it. Repairing it is beyond my tig welding ability. I also have the matching aluminum shroud with two spal fans. 
Do I replace it with an identical Ron Davis or is there a better radiator to buy as I will changing the mount to an isolation type mount for the new radiator?
Click to expand...
My Ron Davis did the same thing, i now have a CBR in it, 

HBLOWEN said:
https://www.designedbymoran.com/?fbclid=PAAaYlIOETkyMBM7JX2I_6_92XYowzxm9jOat84NRhZhzuOIlUsTommqQl0yQ_aem_AVsq6M6PwvcXGQTEmfP0zHhfizCr58SeVdxuPOFyHtKPydwzR0vQ4F4twHm-3WF2JIU
 

This is who is building my radiator and coolers for my car. Does great work. Check out his website and instagram. 

View attachment 82659
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That is very interesting,  Brad, you find the coolest stuff 

 
J Alper said:
My Ron Davis did the same thing, i now have a CBR in it, 

That is very interesting,  Brad, you find the coolest stuff 
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The picture of the radiator I posted isn’t mine. It’s just an image off his page. He does make really nice stuff. 

 
Sandkist said:
Heat exchanger will remove heat from the oil as well as assisting in bringing it up to temperature. Keep in mind, if you use a heat exchanger you may need a larger radiator to dissipate the additional heat generated from the oil. I have a CBR radiator and would replace it with the same.  The tubes are epoxied into the side tanks. A radiator shop may be able to fix your leak. Might save you some money and hassle.
Click to expand...
Thanks. I’ll talk to CBR and see what they recommend about sizing with a heat exchanger.
I’ll pressurize the radiator to mark all the leaks and see what a radiator shop thinks. 

 
BrapBraap said:
Instead of getting something extra spendy thinking it is better, spend some time and or money making sure it is mounted well in a stress free way probably on rubber isolators. These frames tend to twist and move off road and radiators go along for the ride. If they are hard mounted or too rigidly mounted they tend to crack at the corner seams where the stress is highest and the solder or braze joints are the weakest.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the explanation. I will use the CBR radiator mounting kit for what ever radiator I use.

 
77charger said:
think most are built good.IMO it comes down to mounting.

I used an e bay cherokee alm one for 250 bucks with fans and shroud for my j35 im on my 5th year with it no issues.I used the cbr mounting kit was pricey but i like how it sits in the cradle and held in the by the piece that clamps down in the top middle.It allows the radiator to slightly move although it takes force.Im not a fan of welded tabs on corners due to frame flex etc. i say  a good example to prove this is get semi stiff plastic piece grab all corners with your hand and flex it.It flexes easy right? now try an flex from middle takes more effort to do so.

Thing i like about my "budget radiator"i can replace it for less than what it cost to repair it and find one easy.
Click to expand...
I have no doubt that flex contributed to the leaks in my radiator and will use the CBR mounting kit. The fix a leak grit I found in the coolant tells me that it didn’t work well for the prior owner either. I did see where guys were using an XJ radiator, maybe thats the same as a Cherokee. I’ll check those out. Thanks for the budget radiator lead and info.

 
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