Technical Radiator

All, I have a 39 ford pu with 59ab and original radiator. Radiator developed leak, took to rad shop and he said it’s beyond repair. Suggested aluminum radiator. Having a hard time locating one with the correct dimensions and mounting. Anyone done this before? Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance, Wayne

 

Any other radiator shops near you?

 

Brice Thomas Radiators. He did the one in my 41 PU. Made in USA, welded not epoxied. I chose the stamped upper tank.

 

https://johnsonsradiatorworks.com/

 

My buddy here used a Brice Thomas radiator setup for flathead in 1932 Ford, no issues. Aluminum construction.

 

Where are you located? i highly doubt that your radiator is beyond repair, it may be beyond soldering up a little leak because the core it to rotted. As long as your tanks and side brackets are still usable, you can get the entire radiator re-cored. A re-core won't be cheap, but you won't have to deal with the problems of an aluminum radiator. I've used them (aluminum radiators) as well but will always prefer a copper brass radiator, its i really tough to fix a pin hole leak in an aluminum radiator in the core from a rock or something. but pretty easy to do in copper brass, plus i have always felt that a copper brass set up properly cools better than some aluminum ones period. Look for other radiator shops around your area, hopefully there is still an old school shop that can re core it for you.

 

Johnson’s and Brice Thomas build new
Johnson’s are copper/brass
Brice Thomas does copper/brass and aluminum. Can stamp aluminum OE looking tanks and does re-cores

 

There's a recent discussion over on the Pontiac board that's compiling old school radiator shops around the US. Take a look and see if there's one in your area. https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=870651

 

If your tans and straps are okay a GOOD radiator shop can Recore it. No problem. Half again as expensive as a good aluminum number (if there is such a thing) and a whole lot cheaper than a new copper radiator. If possible, I would find another shop and get a second opinion. Some shops will give you that 'unrepairable" nonsense because they either don't know how to unplug these things or they just don't want to fool with it. I can tell you why the old flathead radiators plug up. Those engines are a rust factory. They build up so much rust in the engine that chunks of rust start flaking off and wash up into the radiator and get stuck in the tops of the tubes. To get them out can sometimes work with a good strong back flush. If it is still clogged, it can be so bad they can't push them out with a rod. Then what most don't know is in a case like that, you have to remove the bottom tank and run the rod up from the bottom. A good soak in the tank makes it easier, too. I had one beat up old flathead that had to be back flushed every 1500 miles. A service station in St. George, UT would see me coming west from L.A. and would have the flushing gun ready when I got there. That was a long, long time ago, though.

 

Some shops will take the tanks and a universal core and make one specific to your dimensions. Had this done to an early chevy, was just fine and fit great.

 

Thank you all very much. Always helpful!

 

brice thomas radiator is owned by the same parent company as US radiators. both of those shops and Johnsons radiators are in the same town / metro area.

anyone who thinks that they can just run to a radiator shop and have one recored these days is pretty well guessing and has not actually had one done in the past 30 years. we have one shop left that repairs radiators and they are swamped with truck and heavy equipment radiators

brice thomas are made to order after you order them. US doesn't show a brass radiator for a 39.

 

Here’s one of the stamped aluminum radiators I’ve used from Brice Thomas

 

My local shop (been around for a while) wouldn't re-core my '37 Ford sedan unit because of the angled fins on the front. The replacement I "settled on" is squared off. Didn't care as long as it fit and didn't leak. Well, it sort of fit (was almost 1 1/2" short, and bracketry was way off), and started seeping less than a year after it was installed. Wasn't one of the "big three" names, but the company had been around a while. I guess my point is do your research before pulling the trigger on a new one.

 

Where are you located at?. You should put a general area in you're profile.

 

Where are you located? If you're near the southern tip of Lake Michigan, I know of a 3 generatiions old shop that can re-core your radiator . They did my '40 coupe original and I put it in my '41 p/u .