Anyone have experience with Champion radiators?

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   I'm looking at replacement radiators. I have three criteria:
They have a shroud
The builder has a good reputation
They don't cost more than my CJ2A - I paid $300

I found an ebay seller offering Champion brand 3-core aluminum units, no shroud, $225 shipping included

http://www.ebay.com/itm/
They don't seem to be affiliated with Champion, but it's a price I might be able to swing.

If I don't buy a radiator from someone on the forum, it needs to be new. If someone here has a good unit they pulled as part of a restoration, I would be interested depending on what my wife thinks f the price in relation to our budget. 

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LesBerg Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 09 Apr. 2014 Location: Athol, ID Status: Offline Points: 1554	Post Options Post Reply Quote LesBerg Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Anyone have experience with Champion radiators? Posted: 02 June 2014 at 11:42pm
	I'm looking at replacement radiators. I have three criteria: They have a shroud The builder has a good reputation They don't cost more than my CJ2A - I paid $300 I found an ebay seller offering Champion brand 3-core aluminum units, no shroud, $225 shipping included http://www.ebay.com/itm/ They don't seem to be affiliated with Champion, but it's a price I might be able to swing. If I don't buy a radiator from someone on the forum, it needs to be new. If someone here has a good unit they pulled as part of a restoration, I would be interested depending on what my wife thinks f the price in relation to our budget.
	1948 CJ2A 157713 24" Stretch "Old Ironsides" 1st Armored Div 6th Infantry Reg 3rd Infantry Bn Headquarters Company #161 rubigo in quo speramus - "In Rust we Trust"

Carlsjeep Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 15 Jan. 2011 Location: Taylorsville Ky Status: Offline Points: 2642	Post Options Post Reply Quote Carlsjeep Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 03 June 2014 at 4:59am
	Last summer my friend and I bought Champion radiators. His was a bottom mount and fit right in with no changes. He didn't use a shroud so I can't help you there. I bought a side mount and I had to do a lot of modifications to make it work. I posted the job on CJ3A and I think here too. I called Champion and talked several times to their representative. The radiators are made in China and he thought the side mount was a drop in fit. He was surprised it wasn't but he took a copy of my story and said he would work with the Chinese company to get the problem fixed. I put my shroud on the Champion rad and so far it has worked just fine.
	Life is only as good as you make it.

LesBerg Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 09 Apr. 2014 Location: Athol, ID Status: Offline Points: 1554	Post Options Post Reply Quote LesBerg Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 03 June 2014 at 6:57am
	good to know. Thanks for sharing. I've been dealt a reprieve on my radiator, I think. I've been battling multiple issues for the last week, and some of the symptoms of one problem mask others, and enhance others still The test drive that went south a couple of days ago was a strange one. I think the overheating was caused by a combination of a bad thermostat and heater issue. The heater issue is that I removed the bubba heater welded to the top of the tool box, and ran the hose from the back of the block to the Y fitting in the upper radiator hose a few weeks back. But just before the drive that it overheated on, I had closed the valve at the back of the head. With a bad thermostat and this valve closed, boiling the radiator over is inevitable, I think, and that's what happened. I replaced the thermostat with a known good unit and opened the valve back up, and no more spewing out the radiator. My temp gage is inoperable, so I have to guess based on hose temp and how the engine is behaving. For now, the heat seems to be in control, but the radiator weeps in a few more spots than it did before. I'll still have to replace it, but I can baby it for a little bit yet. A new radiator joined 'LH Axle shaft" and 'Front drive shaft'' one the "major parts to replace' marker board. It turn out that my alternator was dead too, and somehow the ammeter was wired backward, effectively lying about the state of charge. That turned out decently, as I found a donor 61amp unit to replace the dead 30amp. I just had to swap the pulley over - a double stack pulley smacks the back of the fan at high RPMs. Basically, the bad thermostat and a non-charging battery conspired to make it look like the engined was overheating and shutting down, when in fact the battery was just too low on power to run the motor. The carb occasionally still floods over. I installed a pressure gage right at the carb, and pressure is good, so it looks like I need to check out the needle valve and float. Anyway, I got everything running well enough this evening that I managed a 6 mile test run and actually got it all the way up to 40mph, measured with a GPS, as it seems my speedometer is shot too. I'm getting there.
	1948 CJ2A 157713 24" Stretch "Old Ironsides" 1st Armored Div 6th Infantry Reg 3rd Infantry Bn Headquarters Company #161 rubigo in quo speramus - "In Rust we Trust"

wfopete Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 27 Nov. 2020 Location: Dover, Arkansas Status: Offline Points: 305	Post Options Post Reply Quote wfopete Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 Feb. 2022 at 9:42am
	Back from the dead post.I put the Champion radiator in my 2A last year and it fit well and cools great. Seems like a solid unit. Also put in a 180 T-stat. Edited by wfopete - 23 Feb. 2022 at 8:13pm
	Suffer Fools, Gladly! U.S. Army Iraq Veteran (ret.)

Flatfender Ben Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 13 July 2014 Location: Nyssa OR Status: Offline Points: 2657	Post Options Post Reply Quote Flatfender Ben Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 Feb. 2022 at 7:47pm
	(Cool)!! Thanks for sharing
	1946 cj2a desert dog 1946 cj2a bulldog 1948 cj2a blue jeep 1953 cj3b yard dog 1955 willys wagon 1955 willys pickup 1956 willys pickup boomer 1960 fc 170 1968 jeepster commando 1990 Grand wagoneer

Mark W. Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Sponsor Member Joined: 09 Nov. 2014 Location: Silverton, OR Status: Offline Points: 7975	Post Options Post Reply Quote Mark W. Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 24 Feb. 2022 at 9:28am
	CHUG has a Champion 2A model aluminum radiator with a 7psi cap and an overflow canister. I am very happy with it. In high speed runs of 60mph+ in 100° weather my temp held 180-185° with a 180° thermostat. Using a SW deluxe mechanical gauge. I have a Dual Electric fan and shroud setup that at speeds above about 20mph never comes on. Edited by Mark W. - 24 Feb. 2022 at 9:29am
	Chug A Lug 1948 2A Body Customized 1949 3A W/S 1957 CJ5 Frame Modified Late 50's 134L 9.25"clutch T90A D18 (1.25") D44/30 flanged E-Locker D25 5.38 Since 1962