Duralast B850 radiator

[twomorestrokes]

Is anyone bought this radiator for their trucks lately? I did a search and read over some comments about these but all the threads are at least 6 years old. I ordered one and it arrived this afternoon and it is an all aluminum TIG welded unit from China although the picture on the AutoZone site shows an aluminum core with plastic tanks which is what I was expecting. Quality control looks iffy as the side tanks are a little cockeyed and the entire core is bowed. There is also light damage to the bottom of the core with a few thin scrunched. I'm not saying that it's going to leak but I'm afraid to put it in and I'm wondering what other people have thought about the more recent radiators from AutoZone and what type they got. I'm thinking about looking into how to send this back but other than this it looks like I'm limited to Amazon radiators. But they look very similar in our half the price.

 

[Skinny]

I was redoing my 6.2 and needed to address the original radiator. So I read the same about the plastic and aluminum radiator having quality issues along with the dimensions making it loose fitting.

I found a few listings that showed a brass unit for $650ish from a few vendors, all traced back to one supplier. I called that supplier and sure enough that is long gone and it supercedes to a plastic and aluminum model. So I'm near 100% sure you can no longer buy a new brass radiator anymore.

I took my old one to a radiator shop that recorded my heater core a decade ago. They repwrkes my original radiator and she is beautiful.

Get ready...$1250

I hear inflation is transitory and not real

We all have to eat and I think that was about twice as much as it should be but whatever. I have a brass radiator good for another 40 years of service.

 

[M813rc]

I'm running this radiator in two of my trucks, one has been in there for two years and one for over six years. No problems and they cool perfectly in the 105*+ Texas summer.
It required making two small brackets out of bent steel strips at the top, since it is a tad narrower than the old tank.
Cheers

 

[twomorestrokes]

I'm running this radiator in two of my trucks, one has been in there for two years and one for over six years. No problems and they cool perfectly in the 105*+ Texas summer.
It required making two small brackets out of bent steel strips at the top, since it is a tad narrower than the old tank.
Cheers



View attachment 963487

Wow that's a great price. The duralast radiator was $649 but I saved $130 for using PayPal credit. Still seems expensive. AZ also issued $60 credit for the shipping mix-up.

 

[twomorestrokes]

Here's what I got. It's actually a 2 row but each row is twice as wide as a standard row. I'm assuming it was already a return since box was opened and retaped. First couple pics shows light damage at bottom of core and slightly bowed core itself. Perhaps I was too irritated with customer service when I opened it as it doesn't look as bad to me this morning. I was hoping for more pride in craftsmanship for the price. They did offer refund or replacement.

I'm thinking of giving it a try. Mistake?

 

[sbgarage]

Try it out

 

[M813rc]

Wow that's a great price.

That one was bought two years ago, I haven't priced one lately, don't know if it has changed.

Cheers

 

[twomorestrokes]

Okay I give. Googled it but didn't find anything. What the heck are these for? I'm assuming that these are adapters in case your oil cooler lines are flared instead of O ring type?

 

[deank]

I found it on ebay

 

[cucvrus]

I would NOT accept a damaged radiator. Return it and demand a a replacement. That core will leak after you install it. It si up to them to get you a perfect new radiator

 

[twomorestrokes]

I would NOT accept a damaged radiator. Return it and demand a a replacement. That core will leak after you install it. It si up to them to get you a perfect new radiator

I was really on the fence about it and I don't disagree. I saved my correspondence with their customer service and stuck the thing in yesterday. If it leaks in the future it's got a lifetime warranty but so far so good. Everything's dry.

Aside from the irritation on the shipping situation, it really was a drop in and go installation. Nice fit with no modifications needed.