I am putting a hemi in my '69 RR in place of the current 383. I will need to do something with the cooling system and there are several options. I would prefer not to go with an aluminum radiator because I like the original look. I could replace the 22" radiator with a 26" but that would require a little tweaking on the front support. Will a stock 26" 054 radiator cool a 600-650 hp engine?

One fellow at Carlisle said he could build a downflow aluminum radiator with multiple rows that would work. This would be OK but while it doesn't look like a cross flow aluminum radiator, it doesn't look like a brass one either.

If that would work, then would having my current 22" recored with more rows work. Has anyone tried this approach and what were the results?

I just finished putting a 600 HP 472 Hemi in my 383 Challenger this spring. It has a 22" radiator and I asked on this site if anyone had run an engine such s this with a 22" radiator. A couple of people chimed in and said they had run one with no problems. I did buy a shroud because my car did not have one. I have had no problems at all. Earlier this week I drove (beat on) it in 90 degree weather and it never even acted like it wanted to get hot. If I were you I would try it before replacing the radiator.

I run a 26" stock type radiator to cool my 528" hemi. I had a stock 26" radiator (3-row) recored and use a 7 blade fan with thermostatic clutch. On hotter days the temperature will tickle 200 degrees, but I don't yet have a fan shroud.

I had US Radiator make me one of their desert flow rediators for my 493" motor that looks stock, but cools a whole lot better. They ask some questions about horspower, trans type etc and design it from there. It has two electric fans with a custom shroud they made as well. It's all black and really quit a beautiful thing.

Your 26" should be fine as long as the rest of the stuff is in good working order. i'm on the second year of driving my 528 Hemi in the truck. I'm using a radiator out of a '59 New yorker and it works fine. 160 thermostat, water wetter, and a MP fiscous fan. Normal driving it'll run 160-185.
One last thing, use good fuel, insuficant octane will make the engine run warm. Dave

We can make your radiator cool this project, if that is what you want. Call me on monday if you want.

Bob Schirmer
Glen-ray Radiators
1.800.537.3775
1.715.842.3352