$150 4 row radiator @ PepBoys
December 29th, 2016, 09:25 AM
#1
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$150 4 row radiator @ PepBoys
Just FYI, I remember 4 row copper rads had gotten over $300 not too long ago, so I jumped on this opportunity. This has the tranny cooler, and heater return.
The Spectra CU165 is down to $150 with a 25% off code - "25PEP" - for the next few days. The Spectra catalog says it's a two row aluminum, but the thing in the box was a massive 4 row copper with Spectra CU165 stickers. Go figure.
It completely fills the core support width. The outlet is double sized and I'm having a bit of a time getting it to seal properly.
The Spectra CU165 is down to $150 with a 25% off code - "25PEP" - for the next few days. The Spectra catalog says it's a two row aluminum, but the thing in the box was a massive 4 row copper with Spectra CU165 stickers. Go figure.
It completely fills the core support width. The outlet is double sized and I'm having a bit of a time getting it to seal properly.
December 29th, 2016, 09:36 AM
#2
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Thats a great deal.
https://www.pepboys.com/product/details/9488388/00722
https://www.pepboys.com/product/details/9488388/00722
December 29th, 2016, 09:42 AM
#3
CH3NO2 LEARN IT BURN IT
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AND MORE Importantly Spectra is NOT Offshore Junkneasium. Its Canadian! Unusual for the big boxes for sure, May we finally be witnessing a quantum shift? Lets hope so. Good score oddball.
December 29th, 2016, 12:25 PM
#6
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I will never spend one more dime at pep boys. When they folded up in Wichita how do you get your life time parts replaced.Nearest pep boys is in Topeka.We had two shops and both folded. I used to buy every thing there.
December 29th, 2016, 01:02 PM
#8
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FWIW, this particular unit had a "Made In China" sticker on it. The company is Canadian, at least.
I'm still having trouble getting the lower hose to seal - it's a strange outlet on that thing.
I'm still having trouble getting the lower hose to seal - it's a strange outlet on that thing.
December 29th, 2016, 02:34 PM
#9
72 Olds CS
Join Date: Jun 2011
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1 review I saw stated the outlet was. 1 3/4" IIRC the lower hose connect was 2" on 70 n earlier and 1 1/2" on 71 n up. I used a sleeve from gates hose to adapt my 2" hose to the 1 1/2" connect on my current not a cu165 radiator....IDK if they have one that adapts from a 1/4" tho ?
Last edited by RetroRanger; December 29th, 2016 at 05:13 PM.
December 29th, 2016, 02:55 PM
#11
Old School Olds
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Location: Marble Falls TX
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I bought this for the '66. She runs a little warm down here in the summer.
I will get pics and see what I receive for my $. For a buck and a half, I figure
it's worth a shot.
I guess time will tell if I had my sight set in. 
I will get pics and see what I receive for my $. For a buck and a half, I figure
it's worth a shot.
I guess time will tell if I had my sight set in.
December 29th, 2016, 04:09 PM
#12
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That Spectra CU-165 looks a lot like the Vista-Pro 433165 that I and a number of others bought on clearance from RockAuto in June for $60.
The page is popping up for me showing Part #CU-165, regularly $194.99, with Promotion PEP30 applied, for a 30% discount (-$58.50), for a final price of $136.49.
If you've been thinking about a 4-row, this would be a good time.
- Eric
The page is popping up for me showing Part #CU-165, regularly $194.99, with Promotion PEP30 applied, for a 30% discount (-$58.50), for a final price of $136.49.
If you've been thinking about a 4-row, this would be a good time.
- Eric
December 29th, 2016, 04:48 PM
#14
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December 29th, 2016, 05:00 PM
#17
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So you are saying the spec sheet for the CU165 on PEPBoy is wrong or that it is not the radiator you are talking about.
https://www.pepboys.com/product/deta...0763_affiliate
https://www.pepboys.com/product/deta...0763_affiliate
December 29th, 2016, 06:36 PM
#22
I just received this radiator, it looks like a joke. Definitely a joke, its a plastic 2-pass, the description is correct. Image isnt what ull get
December 29th, 2016, 06:38 PM
#23
The part # is for the brass one. I got a crap one. I can take a pic of the box/ radiator if anyone wants to see.
BTW i started a post on radiators a week ago, i bought the rock auto one this summer. That isnt this one....dont buy
BTW i started a post on radiators a week ago, i bought the rock auto one this summer. That isnt this one....dont buy
December 29th, 2016, 07:32 PM
#26
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That's what I'm saying is weird.
The Spectra catalog calls the CU165 a two row aluminum - somewhat narrow at 1.75". If you search around the internet some sites will show pictures of a two row aluminum, some will show a copper/brass.
The Spectra CU-165 box I opened at Pep Boys had a 4 row copper/brass radiator in it, with a sticker that says CU-165.
Maybe they switched designs but kept the same part number? Dumb, but possible, if they were meant for the same applications.
Anyway, YMMV. $150 for a four row copper is pretty good (I think scrap value is >$50!). I actually wanted the aluminum version. $150 for a two row stock-fit aluminum, even if they are 3/4" tubes, is pretty good too.
I've used the CU-161 - stock fit 1 row 1" aluminum - in year prior. That one works really well for moderate output builds, but probably marginal for 455's or anything really exciting.
The Spectra catalog calls the CU165 a two row aluminum - somewhat narrow at 1.75". If you search around the internet some sites will show pictures of a two row aluminum, some will show a copper/brass.
The Spectra CU-165 box I opened at Pep Boys had a 4 row copper/brass radiator in it, with a sticker that says CU-165.
Maybe they switched designs but kept the same part number? Dumb, but possible, if they were meant for the same applications.
Anyway, YMMV. $150 for a four row copper is pretty good (I think scrap value is >$50!). I actually wanted the aluminum version. $150 for a two row stock-fit aluminum, even if they are 3/4" tubes, is pretty good too.
I've used the CU-161 - stock fit 1 row 1" aluminum - in year prior. That one works really well for moderate output builds, but probably marginal for 455's or anything really exciting.
December 30th, 2016, 03:22 PM
#27
I went to PepBoys today to purchase one. They only had one in stock and it was a aluminum 2-row with plastic tanks just as the Spectra spec sheet states. Maybe oddball got lucky with the wrong radiator in the CU165 box.
January 4th, 2017, 01:13 PM
#32
Old School Olds
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Shows to be a Spectra, the description also shows to be one like Jeff went to pick up,
but the pic shows a 4 core copper unit, and was made in China too.
The one cool thing I thought was on the lower radiator snout, you can use either a small
or large diameter lower hose. Check it out, nifty.
but the pic shows a 4 core copper unit, and was made in China too.
The one cool thing I thought was on the lower radiator snout, you can use either a small
or large diameter lower hose. Check it out, nifty.
Last edited by tru-blue 442; January 4th, 2017 at 01:21 PM.
January 5th, 2017, 11:11 AM
#34
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Running the UPC code on the label (671607707236) gets you to Spectra CU165 radiators for sale on eBay and through other suppliers -- All show pictures of the brass / copper radiator that you have.
The plastic radiator in the CU165 box was clearly a mistake.
- Eric
The plastic radiator in the CU165 box was clearly a mistake.
- Eric
January 5th, 2017, 12:14 PM
#35
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it's definitely a 4 row and not a 3, right?
This goes back to, this is a decent replacement if you already have a 4 row, but if you have a stock 2 or 3 row, you're going to have to replace the perches and top plate, right?
January 5th, 2017, 01:24 PM
#36
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jpc, yes 4 core. Here are some side by side comparisons with my original
Harrison IF CI EC unit from the 69 442 w/400 & a/c. Last shot with it's 4 core
top plate on the new one. Fits well. :cool
With a 3 core top plate and bottom perches, we just bent them out back in the day.
Harrison IF CI EC unit from the 69 442 w/400 & a/c. Last shot with it's 4 core
top plate on the new one. Fits well. :cool
With a 3 core top plate and bottom perches, we just bent them out back in the day.
January 6th, 2017, 06:48 AM
#37
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............. except Spectra's own catalog specifically states that CU165 is a two row aluminum.
I'm still thinking they re-used the part number for a different design, with the same intended applications. So what's in the box will be a grab-bag until all the copper ones are gone.
I'm still thinking they re-used the part number for a different design, with the same intended applications. So what's in the box will be a grab-bag until all the copper ones are gone.
January 6th, 2017, 07:27 AM
#38
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............. except Spectra's own catalog specifically states that CU165 is a two row aluminum.
I'm still thinking they re-used the part number for a different design, with the same intended applications. So what's in the box will be a grab-bag until all the copper ones are gone.
I'm still thinking they re-used the part number for a different design, with the same intended applications. So what's in the box will be a grab-bag until all the copper ones are gone.
If that's the case, I wonder if the 2 row is designed differently to provide the same level of cooling that the 4 row copper will provide.
Because that, for $140 would be awesome. But it looks like 30% off and free shipping isn't available anymore. PEP30 doesn't work. Neither does POSTGREEN.
Last edited by jpc647; January 6th, 2017 at 07:40 AM.
January 6th, 2017, 07:45 AM
#39
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If you use the larger part of the double hose nipple, cut off the small end first at the step. Particularly the one at the top, where there is pressure against it, the hose will blow off if on the large part, due to the coolant pressing around the outside of the small part.
