Best New Radiator for '71 GP?
 

I'm looking for recommendations for a replacement radiator for the car I just picked up. It's a 455 car with AT. Not concerned about looking original. Just want it to fit correctly and cool like it should. Everybody and their dog advertises one but at around $400-500 cost I don't want to gamble and pick a sorry one.

I have and like these - no issues.

https://www.coldcaseradiators.com/?g...hoCifkQAvD_BwE

Agreed, I put a coldcase in my Firebird and it really seems to be working great.

Ebay is your friend , Champion is excellent as well as others $200.00

I've used the amazon, e bay style in my 95 diesel truck, as well as a cold case in my 2005 GTO. There's no doubt that the cold case is higher quality over the cheaper alternative, but it all depends upon how thick your wallet is, and how long you intend to keep the car, etc.

My truck is occasional use, and I only paid $500 for it. My 05 GTO I bought new, and I'll hang on to it as long as I can, so apples to oranges in usage and sentimental factors.

Theo OEM GTO radiator lasted 18 years, 150,000 miles before a plastic tank cracked. The cold case has aluminum tanks, so I eliminated the weak OEM design point of failure by buying the more expensive radiator. Hopefully the new radiator outlasts me.....LOL.

Weigh all your factors, and make a logical decision for your application.

X2 on the champions... have their 3 row in a 500+hp firebird that keeps the motor at or below the T stat 180 temp in all conditions, summer city stop & go, prolonged highway, or drag strip doing multiple runs, some back to back and sitting in staging lanes for 15mins.

They have a lifetime warranty and the prices cant be beat... very good quality too, dropped right in to the factory shroud with no mods required.

That's quite an endorsement! I will for sure look closely at Champion.

Champion has been in the game for 20 years & are here to stay with their excellent product & reputation.

Just stating my experience with them and a few friends that have used them. Theres obviously better radiators but they cost more, some a LOT more... for the price the champions are hard to beat.

Quick story on warranty, the first one I ordered had a small ding/dent on one of the tanks that was visible, minor & didnt effect the function but I emailed them & without any other questions or fighting they sent a replacement with a return label for the 1st one... most companies will make you ship the bad part back first for them to inspect & approve a warranty/replacement, champion sent the replacement with no questions so the car wasnt down for 2-3 weeks waiting for a replacement. That is how warranties should work and most dont do that.