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Ron Davis vs. CBR Radiators

desertPOS

Red Skull Member
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Jul 2, 2020
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I need to get a radiator ordered up - have it narrowed down to Ron Davis or CBR. Ron Davis seems like they have far superior customer service so far, and I've seen them recommended quite a bit on Pirate and other places. I don't feel like I've heard much about CBR or seen them mentioned, although I know tons of people run their radiators and they look great in any pictures I've seen.

The only reason I didn't place an order with RD today is because CBR is able to move the outlet up 3" higher than RD is without doing a custom build that will take 8 weeks. Its not critical, but that'd work a lot better clearance-wise over the panhard bar right behind it.

Radiator I need to order is going to come in around $1200 to 1400, CBR at the low end, Ron Davis at the high end. Both have a pretty quick turnaround. CBR's price they gave me was $150 cheaper today then when I talked to someone there a couple weeks ago, but other than that I haven't noticed anything necessarily negative about them. If quality is the exact same between the two, I'll go with CBR and get the higher outlet and week and a half turnaround time. Although the customer service at Ron Davis seems much more impressive in terms of ability to answer questions etc.

Anyone able to comment on the quality difference between the two? Any reasons to avoid either one?
 
Both good. You can’t go wrong. Go with your gut.
 
Both those companies make good stuff.

Did you check out C&R? They're another quality manufacture.
 
Try Triton Coolers, Igor is a good guy. I have held both CBR and Triton and they are both solid products.

CBR was late on a large order as well as a single special order and they got the ports wrong. Triton was on time and has great communication. The price was very close when they both bid a specific cooler.
 
Try Triton Coolers, Igor is a good guy. I have held both CBR and Triton and they are both solid products.

CBR was late on a large order as well as a single special order and they got the ports wrong. Triton was on time and has great communication. The price was very close when they both bid a specific cooler.

Do they have a website you could link? I googled Triton Coolers and Triton Radiator and getting nothin...

Really wanted to order from Ron Davis, but what I want would be an 8 week turnaround and their price is a bit higher. CBR is a couple hundred cheaper and supposedly a week and a half turnaround. If they'd answer their damn phone or return calls, I'd have ordered from them first thing on Monday:homer:
 
https://www.instagram.com/triton_race_coolers/

It's interesting to hear that Triton and CBR are similar in price, I always just assumed the Triton stuff would be $$$, maybe it is and so is CBR.

I just sent Triton an email. Here's the radiator I'm trying to get built, fyi. I believe CBR came out to about $1,200 for the following (copied from email to CBR last night since I can't get ahold of anyone via phone so far this week):

Street legal rock crawler with a big block Chevy 454 - which will see slow speeds at times in the rocks. I'd be interested if you have any feedback on cooling ability of what I've spec'd out, but think this is what I've decided on:


• 34" wide x 19" tall, dual 14" SPAL fans/shroud, wiring pigtail
• Inlet and outlet both on the passenger side (radiator mounted in front of engine)
• 1 1/2" OD inlet (top) and 1 3/4" OD outlet (bottom) - based on measurements of respective fittings on the engine (not accounting for 'lip' or flange on end of fitting) - just want to make sure I'm measuring that right
• Outlet centerpoint 6" above bottom of radiator (I believe that's the max I can move it upward)
• Coolant filler for radiator cap/overflow reservoir - not surge tank
• No CBR logo painted on
• petcock/drain valve on back side of radiator under outlet
• Include 16-18 lb. radiator cap
• Include (4) rubber saddle mount pieces for mount I'll build
 
Bar Plate radiators will not have as good of performance as tube/fin. They are easier to fab tanks onto which is why you will see some custom guys using them.
 
https://www.kartek.com/parts/cbr-rad...radiators.html

https://www.kartek.com/parts/cbr-rad...radiators.html

https://www.kartek.com/parts/cbr-35x...fill-neck.html - might want to call em and see if they stock them, if you are in a rush it might be quicker to get the lower one moved.

That's actually a little higher price than what I was quoted direct from CBR (barely), but one of the main things I want is the lower outlet moved upward as much as possible. No luck getting ahold of them again today, but sounds like they're just busy this week. They were pretty good on the phone last week, so I'm sure I'll get the order through eventually... May call Kartek and ask about custom orders - I do have some things to order from them as well...
 
Bar Plate radiators will not have as good of performance as tube/fin. They are easier to fab tanks onto which is why you will see some custom guys using them.

Not familiar with bar & plate - I'll have to do some googling. CBR or Ron Davis are tube and fin, Triton is bar and plate?
 
These guys talk a good game, but I haven't used them.

https://www.dewitts.com/pages/aluminum-radiators

DeWitts™ Radiator is the only aftermarket radiator company that owns and operates an aluminum Nocolok brazing furnace. This allows us to build our own brazed aluminum radiator cores in house, so we control the quality of those cores. We know exactly what materials are being used and the brazing profiles. We do not purchase cores from others and assume they are quality parts.

https://www.afcoperformancegroup.com/dewitts-radiator-brazing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1luDvHTzqn4

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c3-general/3587246-dewitts-or-be-cool-radiator-4.html
 
Not familiar with bar & plate - I'll have to do some googling. CBR or Ron Davis are tube and fin, Triton is bar and plate?

CBR can do both bar or tube, depending on what you want. They can also vary the fin spacing to flow more or less air or allow for clean-ability.

Have you looked at some of the stock Corvette replacement radiators. They are smaller but have the bottom port up higher and are cross flow with ports on the same side. You might be able to find an in stock unit somewhere.
 
Ok, it took a week and a half of calling them over and over, but ended up getting CBR to send me a final estimate, and got it paid for mid last week. It was a little annoying, but things are weird right now so - benefit of the doubt. Supposedly should be shipped to me within two weeks of last week. Hopefully all shows up on time and as ordered:mr-t:

Thanks to all who posted for the input:beer:
 
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