Radiator Barb Option Help

[RockyC2D]

http://www.petrastechshop.com/swmcqposerab1.html

Under the price there is options for barb types? What is the best barb type, the default is set to "Black Nylon"

[thideras]

Anything but the black nylon. I don't know of any differences as they are all metal.

[Spawn-Inc]

get the swiftech high flow ones

[Mpegger]

I find it confusing that Petra's and Sidewinder list what appear to me to be different barbs sizes for the same exact rad.

Petra's - 1/4" NPSM
Sidewinder - 3/8" NPT

I'm actually planning on getting this same rad, and going by Sidewinders spec, the only option I have is the black nylon barbs.

[Otter]

I don't think you're the only one who is confused. Swiftech changed the 220 from 3/8" NPT to 1/4" NPSM earlier this year.
http://www.swiftnets.com/products/MCR220-QP.asp
Effective April 2007, all MCR220-QP Radiators receive 1/4" NPSM hubs instead of 3/8" NPT hubs. In addition, a performance improvement is also implemented as described in the curves below. Please click HERE to access the performance curves of the MCR220-QP shipped prior to april 2007.

But they still say NPT for the 320. http://www.swiftnets.com/products/MCR320-QP.asp

If you order your barbs and rad together, you'll probably get the right ones.

[Mpegger]

Hmmm... so then that would mean that Petra is carrying the newer version. $59.50 for the newer version with metal barbs, and approx. $54 for the "older" model with plastic barbs. I wonder if $5.50 difference is worth the supposed performance increase?

I gotta admit, I prefer metal barbs over plastic, so I may go with Petra's for the rad even though it cost more.

[Spawn-Inc]

i would/ will be getting that rad with metal barbs.

[Big Mike]

My setup is all plastic barbs, I liked the metal on my last setup better, but functionally speaking they work just as well, I think the metal ones have a little larger openings for better flow, but if I was going to save 15-20 bucks going plastic I probably would, its not that big of a difference.

[Otter]

Hmmm... so then that would mean that Petra is carrying the newer version.
Or the specs on Sidewinder's site are out of date. Or Swiftech's site is correct and Petra mistakenly changed the specs for the 320 when the barbs on the 220 changed. If it matters to you, ask both vendors for clarification before ordering. A couple emails or phone calls could save you a major headache. :bang head: :bang head: :bang head:

[Mpegger]

Too late. Already ordered.

But unlike Sidewinders, Petra's gives the options for the barbs with the rad. So hopefully the barbs they provide will actually fit as thier supposed to.

[Otter]

Yes, I don't think you have to worry too much if the barbs are an option on the rad page. If they were shipping the wrong ones they'd find out quickly and correct the problem. But if you were going to order the barbs from a different vendor, it would make sense to verify that the rad website was current and correct.