LAYGO

iTrader: (10)

My radiator decided to let off a lil steam this weekend in 30deg weather. I found the crack immediately after dropping it off at the mechanic: the passenger side hose attachment has a crack near it.

Is that a high stress area from the engine flopping around in the bay?

Regardless, I'm looking for options. I've heard Alradco, but is that still recommended for stock, non-FI?

bmylez

iTrader: (3)

ALRADCO is the only lifetime option. I have one coming to me soon.

silver1r

iTrader: (1)

^What he said

ls1247

iTrader: (2)

If you've got $400 laying around, go Alradco. But if you don't, I wouldn't lose any sleep knowing I had a stock radiator for 1/3 of the price.

shadyLS6

Read nothing but good things of the alradco.

If you go with a used replacement look for dexcool residue at the common fail point.

jmargo

iTrader: (10)

You can get a lifetime warrantee from any of the parts houses. Why go overkill on a stock car ?

bmylez

iTrader: (3)

Because you will be using the lifetime warranty every 6 or less months. I don't know about you, but I don't want to be swapping radiators that often and potentially getting stranded.

4doortypels

iTrader: (39)

Alradco here... oem is fine. No buyers remorse but it did cost 500 shipped. Autozone with lifetime replacement

MN_V

iTrader: (5)

If you don't go Alradco go with OEM. The 3rd party cheapies are even worse. My OEM is going strong with 115k so far. knock on wood...

raven154

iTrader: (14)

3 oem under warranty and one China special that lasted maybe a year. Have the Alradco in it now but the car has been down for some time so no reports on it. I'm sure I won't have any issues with it though. The Alradco is a really beefy well made product.

Onefast V

iTrader: (3)

Who cares if the OEM part has a lifetime warranty if it requires replacement with any frequency. Spend the money for a quality one and done solution so you'll never worry a bout the radiator again.

Bio248

has anyone just rebuilt the stock one with metal end tanks? seem like the way to go if you have time to leave your car down for a day or two.

DarkCharisma

I like my Alradco, the only problem is that it makes things reaaaaally tight... you'll find yourself moving the radiator to get to things more frequently than before.

AAIIIC

iTrader: (19)

I have an Alradco, but if my car was still stock-ish and I didn't track the car, I would be perfectly happy with a stock replacement. Maybe my experience is unusual, but my stock radiator was perfectly fine until I put in the Alradco. And I've used a cheap aftermarket radiator on my Subaru for years with no issues (track days, auto-x, and daily driving).

As DarkCharisma said, the Alradco makes maintenance on anything at the front of the engine a pain. The water neck coming off the water pump now protrudes through the plane of the fan shroud, that's how tight things are.

ryridesmotox

Too bad alradco doesn't make a thinner one. LS motors don't have a problem staying cool in my experience. Any of you guys run an alradco with an 8rib pulley setup?

LAYGO

iTrader: (10)

Hmm, thanks for the feedback guys. I'll price them & see what's what. The mechanic is slammed at the moment anyways should it take awhile to ship.

raven154

iTrader: (14)

I'm running 8 rib with the alradco and its a tight fit. My Volant airbox won't work anymore so I'll have to build a plate to move the MAF up and see if I can make something work. It's really tight around the air tube. There is a V in the classifieds with the same setup. I asked for some pics around the PS pulley and MAF area. Hopefully he can get some.

ryridesmotox

Right on. I was thinking about doing my own setup anyways. I just wanted to see if the pulleys clear the radiator. I got some intercooler piping from my last car lying around, I'll figure something out.

raven154

iTrader: (14)

I'll take some pics of the clearance I have with the 8 rib. Might be tomorrow because I'm working nights.

bmylez

iTrader: (3)

So 100% impossible with 10-rib, yeah?