after searching and measuring, I've found these griffin radiators that are made specifically for LS engines (hose sizes, double pass, and steam vent) but I'm trying to decide between these two.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/gri-1-28201-xls

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/gri-1-58201-xls

They are both physically the same size however the core on the second one is 2.680" with a 1.25" tube size vs the first one being 2.250" core size and the tube size being 1.0"

The larger one is $50 more than the first one. What do the people think? would either of these be sufficient or should I look for something else? I plan on running one large pusher fan.

 

bigger is better !!!
but you have boss frog mount, and f-body water pump / crank pulley .... clearance might be too tight

 

If youre only running a single fan, Id opt for a puller type. Much more efficient.

 

After 400 hours of research and knowing bigger is better after my first radiator disaster I opted for this one http://www.summitracing.com/parts/gri-8-00009-ls and it's magnificent!

I forgot is yours NA or NB? We need a car in the sig rule... Anyway it's probably the biggest radiator you can get in an NA and with those side ears trimmed a bit and bent forward it mounts easily in the car.









It hangs down dead even with the factory bumper cover and I've got 6,000 miles on it with no issues.


There is a whole bunch of numbers in that family that all have the same core size that will work. 8-00038LS, 8-00016LS just to name a few. The changes are minor in the ears and the drain locations but other than that they are identical and any of them would work.

So to answer the question between the 2 you listed I'd pick neither...

 

I'll be using vette accessory drive so that will gain me some room.
Yes they are, I'm just worried about space. At this point in the game I almost wish I'd gotten the V8R subframe so I'd know what I was up against. I can only find a couple builds using the BF stuff. I haven't mocked the engine up yet either

 

You can bet on having to move the radiator brackets. If youre not running a/c you have plenty of room to slide them forward and lower where the condensor once lived. Its a tough call on which one of those radiators to use, I think the narrower of the two would do the job and gain you a little head room.

 

Dave what are you running for cooling in yours? I tried a radiator not much different than the smaller one you suggest and cooked it in just a few minutes at an autocross.

As far as fan space goes if you look at the photo from the top on mine there is 2 inches between the fan and the water pump pulley and that is an Fbody pulley. With a low profile fan I would think you would be OK with the Vette and BF set up even with out trimming the radiator cowl like I did.

But I'm curious on why neither one of you commented on my post. It's the thicker core of the more expensive one you are looking at with a lot more real-estate and cheaper to boot. I'm not following why it's not a no brainier. Do you feel it's too big? Don't want to modify the mount? Worried it would hang down too far? Too cheap?...

 

I just installed a FM radiator I found from a guy who bought it but never used it. After a lot of researching, the key to getting these radiators to cool properly is the shroud and spacing. The FM kit is expensive new but they do have quite a bit of R&D into them.
All my opinions should be taken with a grain of salt since my car has yet to get off jack stands. Jim, you obviously have experience with multiple setups so the OP should take that into consideration. I was merely posting my experience, albeit shortlived.

 

I planned on fabricating mounts anyways. I have an NA JIM. And to be 100% honest, I think your radiator is to big and looks out of place. Not saying it doesn't work great but i don't think it would fit my build. I'm spending a lot of time to make mine look awesome and perform just as well and I think that radiator would be a major eyesore. IMO. Also I don't plan on auto crossing the car, it will be mostly street with the occasional trip to the drag strip. I do highly value your opinion though. Thank you for the time to respond

 

Roger that. You probably won't have any trouble with either of those radiators unless you sit in traffic forever or flog it hard with little air moving over it. IMO 50 bucks for the bigger one is a no brainer where you live especially if you are going to keep the AC or do any tuning work to it.