radiators with plastic tanks?

[hogracer3d]

Anybody tried them?
Sure sounds interesting @ 20% lighter, and 6% better cooling .
But can they take a punch?

[stockcar5]

Don't see how a plastic tank will save 4-5lbs and cool better. I call BS. And if they are anything like factory radiators with plastic tanks...they are more prone to breakage.

[Racer96m]

Anybody tried them?
Sure sounds interesting @ 20% lighter, and 6% better cooling .
But can they take a punch?

I have no first hand knowledge of plastic tank rads in other than street cars, but I'm not trying one unless someone gives it to me. Not sure how plastic dissipates heat better than alum, and can they take a punch? I have had some alum rads get the tank crushed in and not leak and not knock us out of a race. I dont think you can expect that with plastic. Heck, Wallace just drove over our nose at East Bay and bent the top of the rad, we still finished. I'm sure a plastic one would have split .

Dave

[Dirtman29]

I ran the plastic tank OEM radiators in my mustang ministock for years, no they dont take a hit well at all but as far as cooling, my car never got over 200 deg. turning well over 7K with an ELECTRIC fan that was off unless a caution came out or the race ended. And they were free form a sponsor so I always had a spare with me. So if someone needed a cheap replacement in a hurry for a V8 they should work...just try not to clobber anything!
Early-mid 90s truck would be the best choice for a GM.

[outlaw4j]

I ran one for a handful of races last year. I didn't see the weight savings I was hoping for. In fact the 28" Plastic tank I put in was just barely lighter than the 31" aluminum tank I took out.

Other than that I had no problems with it. They do recommend running a lower pressure cap, which could lead to some problems maybe but I didn't encounter any.

All in I'll probably go back to the aluminum next time I need a rad.