Has anyone located a vendor who produces well-made, bolt-in, two-row aluminum radiators for '55 and '56 Fairlanes with Y block and auto trans?  I found one at Griffin, but they want more than $1k plus shipping.  Honest!  Can't believe they have the nerve to ask that kind of money.  If anyone has located a source, please pass it on.  Even if it's not an exact bolt-in and requires some fabrication, that would work.  Thanks, Ron

There's been post either here or the Ford Barn about an eBay one that folks seemed happy with. Might try a search (I don't seem to be able to make that work as well as the experts do). I've got a couple BeCool units, but they're as pricey as the one you mentioned. They work though, at 90+ degrees, with a/c on.

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

Champion radiators


Lawrenceville, GA

I bought a replacement aluminum radiator for my 56 Victoria with Fordomatic from Auto City Classic Inc. It has a stamped top and lower tank and was a direct bolt in replacement for the original. I needed to slot or drill nothing. The top tank, which was obviously die stamped , is a very good copy of the TBird type radiators of that era. I think the 312 equipped Fairlanes might have been equipped from the factory with the same type of larger top tank. It looks great, runs cool with the 13 pound cap , and cost $229.00 which was about half of what I paid for a brass replacement that leaked after a years time. I resisted an aluminum replacement and blew about $800.00 on a brass recore and the new brass replacement that also leaked at the top seam . Before I was referred to Auto City Classic, the only aluminum rerplacements I saw on Ebay looked like street rod radiators with the tanks made of pieces of aluminum flat bar welded together. After about 6 months of running cool and no leaks,I have not looked back.
George

X2 on Champion. Have one in my 57 and 61

Dan      Kingman Az.      86409

I also have one of the Auto City Classic Aluminum radiators and that along with a 6 blade fan did a lot to cause my 55 Fairlane to run in the middle of the temperature gauge and not keep creeping up to the hot line.  I think this is the 3rd or 4th year it's been installed and so far it's been a great purchase.

On my car the mounting height was just a bit of an issue as we noticed that the top of the radiator was a bit high and the cap would have hit the underside of the hood if we'd just slammed it shut.  A very minor bit of slotting the holes was necessary.  So if you go this route I'd advise you to check that.

Champion also

Here’s the link to a recent thread discussing aluminum radiators.
http://forums.y-blocksforever.com/FindPost129567.aspx 

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Champion here also. I have one in my 56. No issues at all. One reason I chose them ,other than cost,was you can request your rad to me made in the USA. It will cost a bit more but worth it I think

Durham Missouri

I have a US Radiator from Los Angeles, it is copper/ brass and looks as original. They have many different tube/fin combinations and I had auto trans cooler placed in it. They list in places like Drive Magazine as Cool Craft and also make aluminum ones. It was reasonable and assembled in LA.

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.