In the quest for a new radiator ( mine leaks in the cold) I did a little research to find a great stock replacement would be the CSF 2969 all aluminum radiator for our trucks but can't seem to find it for less than $325. With the stock lasting 18 years and I can get stock for around $100 I can't justify the extra money for that with little towing I do.
Anyone else have a recommendation on a good quality/better cooling radiator? Maybe one with another core or another all aluminum?

I also don't have the stock tow package so I'm missing the aux transmission cooler and only have the stock transmission cooler that's in the radiator. Not sure if radiators do come with the auxiliary factory one or I should just do an external one at another time?

 

I just went with the stock replacement. I got 190,000 miles out of the original.... and I couldn't wait for an ordered part to show up. Sure, it's a nice upgrade, but, is it worth it? I was unable to justify it.

Stock radiator will still have the internal cooler. If you think you need more than that, just add an external later. (and maybe an external filter as well?)

 

I completely agree with you, I can't justify the extra money after the stock one lasting so long. I guess I just wanted the reassurance I was making the right decision.
I'm thinking of doing an auxiliary transmission cooler down the line anyway and might do exactly that. Thanks!

 

I'm seeing a radiator with a 14 3/8th inch transmission oil cooler, is that the auxiliary that came with the tow package or internal? Seems to be the same price as a standard radiator.

Or is the stock auxiliary transmission cooler a completely different product that doesn't come with a radiator at all?

 

Link to the radiator in question?

I don't know if dodge had a "heavy duty" radiator available on these trucks, or maybe there was something in the tow package that included a larger 'in-radiator' cooler.... Of course, I don't know what size the stock cooler in the radiator is either.

The stock aux cooler is a totally separate part. It sits in front of the a/c condenser, assuming you have a/c. It's plumbed in-line with the cooler in the radiator.

 

The "in-radiator" cooler is about 4" x 4" x 10". I took mine out of my old radiator, I was curious. It has the flare fittings built in to it, cooling fins and it looks like a mini radiator. I've been thinking about plumbing it inline with my existing cooler for a supplemental cooler. The only question is how to mount it, obviously, there are no mounts built into it.

 

I took mine apart to and it was a piece of round brass tubing about 1 1/2 wide. This was an aftermarket one though. Was yours oem?

 

Here is the radiator, http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo....314563&jsn=502

Gotcha gotcha makes sense.

 

Yeah, mine was OEM.

 

Ok, that's an 'upscale' radiator, that is ostensibly an 'improvement' over stock. You can see in the picks that the upper trans cooler fitting is several inches higher than the stock location. Plus a few other 'improvements'. If you can get that one for the same price, might just as well go for it.