The Dodge Challenger Message Board

Hello,

I will be upgrading the 383 in my challenger to a slightly modified street 440 (450-475 hp), but the original radiator core support is for a 22" radiator. I know I need to increase the cooling capacity (car has AT, but no A/C), but I'm wondering if I can bolt the 26" radiator using the smaller support? Summitt carries a set of brackets that can be drilled for installing a larger radiator in a car that has a 22" wide opening. I will be using a fan shroud with a stock type viscous fan. I do not want to replace the radiator support with the larger 26" unit, even though they make reproductions for this. Are there any other issues to consider (clearance,t-stat selection, fan selection) ?
I'd like to keep the modifications as close to stock as possible.

Thanks,
Chris

You could just increase the number of cores and keep the stock width.
Bob

You could also mount an additional electrical fan in front of the radiator. You can always remove it if you want to go back to stock.

Antoon

NCChallenger wrote:Hello,

I will be upgrading the 383 in my challenger to a slightly modified street 440 (450-475 hp),
I'd like to keep the modifications as close to stock as possible.

Thanks,
Chris

That's almost what I have in the convertible (22" radiator, 440-6 pack instead of the original 383-4bbl). It was overheating when I bought it (the traffic jams on the M25 going to Santa Pod in 2000 are still a vivid memory).

I had the original 22" radiator rebuilt with a dual-row core.
I'm using the Mopar Performance viscous fan kit with the original fan shroud.
Works like a charm. If you consider an electric fan setup, go for the biggest fans you can fit the first time. I didn't. I am going to redo this all next winter (on the hardtop, not the convertible). In the meantime, I will have to rely on an additional pusher fan (2400 CFM SPAL).

Pusher fans are less efficient than puller fans. They may actually impede air flow if they're not good enough.
It takes an awfully powerful fan to replace the mechanical fan (SPAL, Becool, Zirgo, Fluidyne, Maradyne are about the only brands I've found that offer BIG fans. in the 2000-3500 CFM range.

Thanks all for the input.