Usually you can get away with less rows on a aluminum radiator VS a copper/brass radiator since aluminum dissipates heat better than copper so you don't need as much surface area.

Look at most 90's and up Chevy v8's, they are single row aluminum with plastic tanks. That's what I've got and it works great.

Actually, copper/brass construction dissipates heat better, they use aluminum to cut the weight.

Dave

I'm not sure this is correct. As a welding student I know first hand that TIG welding on aluminum requires substantially more amperage due to the heat dissipating characteristic of aluminum. -- Matt

I bought a replacement radiator from one of the online places (don't remember which one) and although it was brass and not aluminum and therefor should have been better at cooling it was not. Upon inspection I found that the fins were not made of just brass/copper like an OEM, they were instead made of plastic embedded with two thin brass strips (~1/16th inch). These two strips comprised ~20% of the total width of the fin. This made for a radiator that performed it's worst while crawling or stopped in traffic. At freeway speeds it was OK. I replaced that radiator with the all aluminum radiator from ebay I posted the link to before. I have had it for over two years and it has performed so well that I purchased another for my 2wd turbo project. Only a few thousand miles on the turbo truck, but not a hint of trouble so I expect it to perform well.

1stgenboy

1stgentoy, can you post a detail pic of your fins description if possible?

With so many design now a days, i really wonder what's the "best" combo out there?

tossed that radiator in the dumpster a couple of years ago.

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/thermal-conductivity-metals-d_858.html

It appears to depend on what the alloy is, as well as the temperature. Pure copper is almost twice as conductive as pure Aluminum, but pretty sure radiators are not using pure metals.

Dave

I replaces a 2-row with a 3-row earlier this year.
The post is some where on this site, any way there is a link that states aluminum and brass are almost identical in heat transfer the main difference is in repair ability.

Brass can be fixer on the trail and good luck with aluminum.

My trouble is with the mods I made to my truck any thing over
4000 rpm in 5th gear in the summer caused the truck to over heat. I still have the 2 row, are you interested shoot me a P.M.
The 3 row

All right, it's time for pictures!

3 row all metal CSF 20.75"x17.75" (2" taller than stock?), bought locally in Toronto.

It's huge!