Griffin or Be Cool?
 

I'm running hot during warmer days and the temp gauge just keeps going up with the AC on. I'm running the stock radiator. Summers coming and I wanna cruise! Time for an upgrade!

Griffin lists one specifically for the LT1 F body good up to 600 HP.

Be Cool says they have radiators up to 1,200 HP but the only ones they have listed for our cars are up to 400 HP and are listed as "1993-2002"

Which one should I get guys?

I am running the BeCool with no problems.

BeCool rates theres for continuos use ar high RPM BTW. I have had mine out on 100+ Degree days running hard and Idlong with no problems ;)

We have Yet anouther one in a 700RWHP Blower car with no problems as well :D

Running a becool in mine with no complaints as well. I had to move the radiator support back and drill new holes for it to fit since I kept the ac, other than that it was a direct boltin.

i know this isn't an option but i have a Howe radiator/sbc fan in my 79 ta with an lt1. when im driving temperatures are right around 125-150 (150 on those 85+ sunny moments). when im in stop and go traffic temps are right around 200 (this is with a stock thermostat) but will kick down to 150 in about a minute of 25+ driving

running into the same problems here.. as soon as the A/C goes on the temp goes up. with it off the temp is at 180/190. I have the 160* thermo, fans go on at 160, no air pockets and radiaor flushed and EWP. A/C has freeon full also. Does the griffin require mods cause I really don't want to cut anything

Are both these radiators for use with factory air conditioning?

Also, while on the subject, has anyone upgraded the factory fans?

Not sure about the Griffen, but with the BeCool... They revamped their design and no the only mods required are to the rubber saddles that it sits in. Due to the larger tanks, the saddles need to be simply cut down with a razoe knife. Mine fit with the A/C and everything no problems, and its maybe 6months old.

Highest temps Ive ever seen was 210* after a good thorough beating and then having to sit in traffic. Never went higher, and went back to normal 170-180* temps within a minute of driving.

^^^ good :drive: ... don't really need to change anything

Stay away from Griffen! They are glued together and after a while or high temps 250+ they start to fail.

BeCool, and most other aftermarket use Visteon cores are furnace brazed then weld there end tanks on.

OK guys, we've got a bunch of positives for Be Cool, one negative for Griffen. Now, I've had a Griffen in the Monty for about 20 years with the epoxied tanks and haven't had a single problem. Aside from having glued tanks (that sounds bad), is there anything wrong with using Griffen? Has anybody had any real problems with them? Has anybody here used Griffen in their cars?

Honestly, I'm leaning towards Griffen because it has the dual 1.25 cores (1 inch max on the Be Cool) and they rate it at 600HP vs. 400 for the Be Cool. I know, TwoFast4Lv runs a Be Cool w/ 700RWHP, surely the Griffen could cool at least as good if not better with wider cores.

Azvforce, you mentioned upgrading the factory fans. To what? I haven't seen or heard of this upgrade. Share what you know with us LT1 die hards.

Thanks for the info and experiences, guys, keep it coming.

Paul you make a good point. Yes the tubes are a little bigger on the griffin. Does it cool as well as say a Visteon or a Behr core. Will have to NO Way. Have tested just about every core out there and find the Behr and Visteon to have the best performance heat rejection for the core size. meaning the same surface area. Lot has to do with fin shape and per cm.

My personal rad is a Behr core.

I talked to BeCool and gave them the mod info to get the Radiators to fit with A/C fine.

I run MY A/C in 100+ degree heat with an Electric Water Pump and a Cemented Block. Even after an all out N2O run it never gets above 200 Degree's.

Works good for me ;)

i was not able to find a 'direct fit' radiator on becool's website.. the 'module assembly'

somebody throw me a bone?

http://www.becool.com/#Search

I used a Griffin universal and saved $200 bucks, saddles worked fine, AC worked fine (until I removed it).

they are there ;) THey only rate them at 400HP with factory fans. there mod kit is the same radiator with there fan kit ;)

Standadard Trans 60246 and Auto($$$) 62246

ahh, so same radiator... they say their fans are better then stock?. well ok then

wait a second, if its the same radiator then my stock fans won't mount to it?

May just be the same basic design and then the specific app have brackets and tabs for the car.

Have you guys tried cleaning out your stock radiators? A little calcium or lime could kill the cooling capabilities.

I put an after market griffen in mine, I needed more room to work so I cut the rad support out and welded a 1x1 tube in there in it place, theres a lot of turbo guys doing this with out any problems with cooling

http://www.streetlethal.net/griffen/658.JPG
http://www.streetlethal.net/griffen/45.JPG