Cool/Heat: C/K V8 Radiator Weight

[3x2stude]

Does anyone know what a stock C/K V8 copper / brass radiator weighs? No "guessing" now, I can do that just fine. I want to calculate the weight savings by going to an aluminum radiator. I am starting a new project design. Modified SBC aluminum electric pump with a thin-wall stainless top manifold. The stock iron water manifold, pump, pulley and blade are just over 20 lbs. My set-up should go just under 9 lbs. Now there is a trade off here to consider. You will need to go to an electric fan which will add weight but coupled with an aluminum "modern" radiator I should be able to not lose any gains from the pump and hopefully pick up a few more pounds of weight loss.

My daughter suggests a diet to have a faster E.T. so maybe I'll do that too.

JK

[clarkwd]

Does anyone know what a stock C/K V8 copper / brass radiator weighs? No "guessing" now, I can do that just fine. I want to calculate the weight savings by going to an aluminum radiator. I am starting a new project design. Modified SBC aluminum electric pump with a thin-wall stainless top manifold. The stock iron water manifold, pump, pulley and blade are just over 20 lbs. My set-up should go just under 9 lbs. Now there is a trade off here to consider. You will need to go to an electric fan which will add weight but coupled with an aluminum "modern" radiator I should be able to not lose any gains from the pump and hopefully pick up a few more pounds of weight loss.

My daughter suggests a diet to have a faster E.T. so maybe I'll do that too.

JK

I don't have a 55 CK radiator where I can weigh it, but according to my Hollanders a 56, 57 Sedan, 2 and 4 dr and wagon and a 56, 57 coupe and hardtop are all similar. I have a 56 wagon radiator and it weighs 23 pounds.
Bill

[3x2stude]

Thanks for poop rusty-r. Is it a V8 radiator?

JK

[345 DeSoto]

The aluminum radiator I installed in my Sky Hawk weighs 15 lbs..

[Buzzard]

We just installed an aluminum radiator from KKS Motorsports into a 1964 Buick Sportwagon into which we had installed a 401 Nailhead(which wasn't a bolt in). It is nice stuff and the price is really reasonable. My initial criticism is just me, as they should have someone proofread for errors before commiting to a website. You'll see what I mean but they may be a great source for us Studebaker folks who appear to have been abandoned by most manufacturers. The radiator was specifically for a Riviera but we modified it to make it fit. Enter in the application(eg Chevy) you assume might be close and that gives you the dimensions and hose locations of each radiator. A bit fiddly yes, but we are running out of options.
I hope this helps as these are nice radiators even with the grammatical errors.
Bill

[Buzzard]

After subsequent surfing I found this site:

https://www.cgj.com/store/category/studebaker-radiators/

which seems to list Studebakers at ridiculous(at least to CASO's) prices. However if you spend some time cross referencing the sizings you could likely find a match in the KKS site I mentioned above.

Good Luck,
Bill

[345 DeSoto]

BUZZARD - I have NO affiliation with KKS, however, their aluminum 350 Chev/CJ Jeep radiator is just about a bolt-in for the Hawks! I've been telling everybody that wants a new radiator about them. Mine cools BETTER than Factory Stock...

[clarkwd]

Thanks for poop rusty-r. Is it a V8 radiator?

JK

Yup. V Eight.

[Buzzard]

This is what I am hoping for. Finding the right conversions for our applications is a little time consuming but documentation like 345 DeSoto has done is exactly what we all need.
Kudos to all who are assisting.
On another aside, I used a Ford Falcon(early) heater core to replace the heater core(NLA) in my '59 Lark, V8, the work performed by an old radiator man.
Bill

[Jeff_H]

If you can wait until after Easter weekend (3+ wks) I can weigh one on Mom's bathroom scale. I have a couple '53-'54 C/K radiators at the farm and will be probably (unless something else comes up) down to visit for Easter. One of them came out of a '53 Commander at a J/Y and was in my own '53K for a while until it became unrepairable. The one in my car now and the "spare" one I got at the swap at the 2005 IM so not sure what those were in originally. I doubt there is a huge difference in weight from Commander vs Champion ones. If the Champ ones have a thinner core, that is probably not much weight. Tanks, etc are the same I think.

Send me a PM as Easter approaches to remind me....

[Flashback]

After subsequent surfing I found this site:

https://www.cgj.com/store/category/studebaker-radiators/

which seems to list Studebakers at ridiculous(at least to CASO's) prices. However if you spend some time cross referencing the sizings you could likely find a match in the KKS site I mentioned above.

Good Luck,
Bill

I have one of these in my 53, with a R1. It fits and cools , and is good quality. Looks are NOT show quality . I think maybe I can weigh them next week, since I have mine back out..

[(S)]

If you loose the weight of the old radiator, you can loose some weight on the saddle too since it wont need to hold the extra pounds. You have your hole saw handy already don't you....

Seriously though, there is something to be said for 'lightening' a car. Something as simple as 4 bumper bolts that have and extra 1/2 inch of meat hanging out in space for no reason can be a big deal if you run around the car and replace as needed. Keep at it.