Griffin aluminum Radiators

[Tony Radford]

Anyone have issues with Griffin radiators coming apart? Mine is over twelve years old, but it looks like it's coming apart where it was originally epoxied together. Pretty much unfixable.

[Jerry Clayton]

How did you have it mounted??? How many miles on car???

Most radiator failures that I have seen are from it being too ridgedly mounted and the chassis flexing has caused the failure

[Tony Radford]

Typical Unique set up. The radiator sits in a channel tray and bolts to the frame.

[Jerry Clayton]

Change the mounting so it sets in a tray and then is held with a single top cushioned mount so it is triangular mounted---that way you eliminate the bolted in twisting

[Tom Howland]

Tony,
I have a Ron Davis radiator (epoxied) that developed leaks at all 4 corners. I cleaned them very, very well and put epoxy on them and pulled a vacuum on the radiator. So far it's holding up. I like Jerry's idea of the triangular mount. Mine is mounted at 4 points.

[Tommy]

I have Griffin radiators in both my Cobra and my Corvette. My experience with Griffin has not been good. Two years ago, the Griffin radiator in my Corvette (which is driven less than a 1,000 miles per year) started leaking around the epoxy after about eight years. I ordered a replacement from Griffin and they tried to charge me more than we agreed on the phone. They eventually got it right when I threatened to challenge the payment with my charge card company. ... When I ordered a radiator for my Cobra about six years ago, I specified that I did NOT want the Griffin logo stenciled on the front for all to see. They agreed and then sent a stenciled radiator anyhow. After I complained, they eventually sent an unstenciled radiator, but the incorrect one sat in my garage for about two months before UPS got an order from Griffin to pick it up. ... All in all, they just didn't impress me as a well run company.

[undy]

I sort of had an opposite experience with them...

I went with Griffin due to them being the only aftermarket radiator maufacturer that does dual 1 1/2" tubes (3 1/2" core thickness). Everyone else that I could find capped them at 1 1/4". I needed all the cooling capacity that I could get. That being said, I needed a custom outlet , part of the way up on the side tank to clear my steering rack. They did the custom work which was very prompt and exacting and only charged me $50 for the custom fabrication. Due to my urgent need they pulled one of the shelf and modified it to suit. I couldn't have been happier with my dealings.


FWIW, the radiator I replaced was also a Griffin that had been in the car for 10 years and had never leaked. I was also told by Griffin that the epozy is not the sealing componant, just an added "stiffner" to a furnace brazed joint, the same type of joint that everyone else uses.

[Roscoe]

Mine leaked in less than one year. Had an AFCO built that has lasted 9 years so far.
Roscoe

[DonC]

The radiator in my ERA started leaking after about 5 years and 30000 miles. Had it checked locally and was told the epoxy had failed and could not be repaired, required a replacement. Sent the unit back to Griffen and got the same diagnosis. Ordered a replacement from them and got it in a few weeks. So far no problems with the replacement after 2 years and about 14000 miles. They were straight forward with the transaction.
ERA mounts their radiators with two pins with rubber bumpers on the bottom and a center pin with bumper on the top.
DonC

[DAVID GAGNARD]

Griffin radiator in my 65 fastback since the late 90's, no problems soo far.......the only thing I wish it had was a factory type drain petcock.........

David