Ali Allage (SPT)

Bigger is not always better and to prove that statement we decided to try out CBRD’s new lightweight and very slim radiator. Made from a Delphi core (used in ALMS and Champ Car), the radiator was designed to be small, light, and provide maximum efficiency. Since the radiator was going in our project car, we wanted something that could be used on a daily basis as well as hold up on the track. The overall design of the radiator made our decision to install it a very simple one to make. Featuring a relocated upper neck that is positioned away from the manifold (which is a very good idea in our opinions), new silicone hoses, and a slimline fan, this radiator looked very promising.

First Impressions
One phrase that sums up our first impression is “excellent build quality”. The welds and overall craftsmanship of the product is amazing. A radiator doesn’t need to look this good but CBRD went the extra distance to make this thing nice. Our radiator came preassembled with the slimline fan, which made it easy to prep for install.

Once we pulled our old radiator out, we decided to weigh each to see what the overall weight difference was. The stock radiator with fan weighed in at 19 lbs while CBRD’s radiator weighed in at 9lbs with fan. 10lbs of total weight difference may not be too dramatic to most, but to us it was perfect. The other benefit was the amount of room this radiator opened up compared to the stock unit.

Installation
Installation was very easy. Basically drain out the coolant from the old radiator, unhook existing radiator hoses, and undo the harness to the fan. Pull out the old radiator and pop in the new one. That’s basically it. The radiator fits perfectly.

Street Impressions
There’s not too much to say about our street impressions. The radiator did it’s job keeping temps very cool. We did notice a 6 degree difference in temp, but it may not be a direct result from the radiator. With more street miles put down, we will know better if the radiator is actually cooling more then the stock unit during street driving.

Track Impressions
This is where the radiator was really put to work. Using a special blend of Water Wetter and distilled water (we used the same on our stock unit), we saw an immediate 16 degree cooler reading from the CBRD radiator compared to the stock unit after 15 very hard laps at VIR (Virginia International Raceway). This is very impressive coming from something so thin. We ran a total of 32 laps and temps stayed consistent throughout the day and we didn’t experience any leaks or drop in fluid levels.

Conclusion
This radiator works, bottom line. It has many benefits including better cooling efficiency then the stock unit and perfect fitment. A negative is the price, primarily because it’s more expensive then most aftermarket radiators, but in our opinions it’s worth the extra dough. Racers and street drivers diving in hot climates would really benefit from this part, especially those who race on tracks in the dessert. As more miles are put on the car, we will see how the radiator will hold up to different climates and conditions. We will post followups as we get them.

Special Thanks: