NAPA radiators

[edwardh1]

a friend works as an assistant with mechanics at an auto repair shop. he says they see more NAPA radiators come back than they would like to see. what brand does napa use mainly?
are there good/better /best radiators?

 

[Farmer]

I was just going to buy one today from Napa. I'll ask and see who makes them.

 

[Trav]

Most NAPA radiators are from Spectra, most today are Chinese and iffy quality. Check the box you might have luck and find NOS made in Canada, if so grab it.

 

[901Memphis]

Compared to my oem radiator all the aftermarket are much thinner even the Spectra which is usually good.

 

[NHGUY]

NAPA for many decades sold Modine radiators,that ended a long time ago when Modine got out of the auto parts biz.Spectra Premium for fuel pumps and radiators/heater cores/gas tanks is what most people are selling now and its China made.Shame "American Designers" went under a number of years back,their stuff (gas tanks/Mustang rust panels) were decent stuff.

 

[NHGUY]

NAPA for many decades sold Campbell Chain (tire chains/rolled chain/links) that ended in 1995 when they switched to Security Chain (China made).NAPA used to sell Victor/Reinz,they sell Fel Pro now and SKF seals/bearings.NAPAs "New Britian" tools were made by Easco/KD ,now their tools are foreign made.Many shake ups in NAPA over the past 20 years.Not the same outfit they were back in the 90s.

 

[SLCraig]

I got a rad from Napa a bunch of years ago for my Saturn, a Spectra. It lasted 11 months and I got a replacement under warranty. I put it in the car and sold it before that rad had a chance to let go. When my current SL2 needed a rad about 5 years ago, I ended up going to the wreckers and against everyone's judgment I installed a clean used OEM rad, its still in the car today.

No more Spectra for me.

 

[stephen9666]

Originally Posted By: NHGUY
NAPAs "New Britian" tools were made by Easco/KD ,now their tools are foreign made.Many shake ups in NAPA over the past 20 years.Not the same outfit they were back in the 90s.


The New Britian tools were made by New Britian. They were a major tool company, although a lot of what they made was sold under brands other than New Britian.

The later Napa branded tools are the ones you're thinking of that were made by Danaher, the parent of Easco and KD. Maybe Easco made them before Danaher bought Easco. I don't know exactly when Napa switched from the NB tools.

 

[RevelationLion]

Got eight months on a Koyorad from Rockauto. We'll see how long it lasts.

 

[Chris142]

Spectra (aka:spi) sells to most auto parts chain stores. Their quality used to be pretty bad but lately they don't seem any worse than any other brand. I'm finding it nearly impossible to get a radiator that was even made in north america.

 

[cronk]

I work at a body shop and we install a lot of rads and condensers.
The Spectra stuff seems to be on the lower end of the quality spectrum.
As far as I know, none of the aftermarket rads are north American made. Many of the OEM are made overseas or in Mexico.

We started buying most of our rads and condensers from a company called "1800 Radiator". They are a franchise business with locally owned stores all over America.
They carry several different brands, all are lifetime warranty.
We have had very few issues with any of their products. I'm talking like maybe 2 or 3 parts over 4 years and hundreds of rads/condensers.
Looks like their consumer website is radiator.com

 

[Trav]

Originally Posted By: stephen9666
Originally Posted By: NHGUY
NAPAs "New Britian" tools were made by Easco/KD ,now their tools are foreign made.Many shake ups in NAPA over the past 20 years.Not the same outfit they were back in the 90s.


The New Britian tools were made by New Britian. They were a major tool company, although a lot of what they made was sold under brands other than New Britian.

New Britain were good tools. I remember NAPA selling SK years ago, top quality parts and prof quality tools, i wish NAPA would go back to that model.

 

[HerrStig]

I've got about 4 years and 50K on a Koyo in a Camry. The OEM header tank, plastic, cracked on the OEM.

 

[Farmer]

Got my Napa radiator today. Indeed it's a spectra premium. Made in Canada.

 

[nthach]

Originally Posted By: cronk
I work at a body shop and we install a lot of rads and condensers.
The Spectra stuff seems to be on the lower end of the quality spectrum.
As far as I know, none of the aftermarket rads are north American made. Many of the OEM are made overseas or in Mexico.

We started buying most of our rads and condensers from a company called "1800 Radiator". They are a franchise business with locally owned stores all over America.
They carry several different brands, all are lifetime warranty.
We have had very few issues with any of their products. I'm talking like maybe 2 or 3 parts over 4 years and hundreds of rads/condensers.
Looks like their consumer website is radiator.com

1-800-Radiator is hit or miss, I remember installing a Moroccan-made Valeo in a Mercedes only for it to fail and I put in a Behr from Worldpac instead. The next time I called them was for a van my parents used to have and it was a Spectra. Worked as well as the OEM Johnson Controls and it was made in Canada.

Japanese OEM(Denso or Calsonic) I've seen were made in the US or Japan. Denso aftermarket is made in Cryomax in Taiwan.

 

[CT8]

You always have to ask NAPA for the higher quality parts. Many aren't

 

[Chris142]

1800 Radiator closed the doors here

 

[01rangerxl]

Napa sources from Spectra.

I use them fairly regularly at work, and don't have many problems. Shipping damage is always the biggest issue for me with replacement radiators from any manufacturer or seller.

I have Napa Spectras in both of my trucks. A Canadian one in the 2002, and a Chinese one in the 1994. The Canadian one has somewhere around 45-50K miles on it and is doing fine. Aside from stampings, it was hard to tell apart from OE. The Chinese made one in the 1994 fit fine, but the plastic for the tanks looks cheaper (glossy; Canadian is matte, like OE), and the rubber bushings where it mounts already have tiny cracks in them. So far no leaks, but I definitely think it's a lower quality product than the couple year older Canadian one in the other truck.

Some parts chains carry Ready Rad instead of Spectra, but in my experience, Ready Rad fitment and quality aren't as good as Spectra. If you get a good price on a higher tier brand, by all means use that, but overall I'm okay with Spectra radiators.

 

[Trav]

Originally Posted By: Farmer
Got my Napa radiator today. Indeed it's a spectra premium. Made in Canada.

That's a good one. Spectra Canada was one of the last companies to make a copper core brass tank radiator for some cars, good luck finding one today though. They were very high quality.

 

[zzyzzx]

Originally Posted By: Trav
Originally Posted By: Farmer
Got my Napa radiator today. Indeed it's a spectra premium. Made in Canada.

That's a good one. Spectra Canada was one of the last companies to make a copper core brass tank radiator for some cars, good luck finding one today though. They were very high quality.


Just bought one in December from Pep Boys. Was made in Canada and everything. It was for a 1995 Escort.