rear mount radiator

For my 1934 Ford Pickup build, 59 AB, I'm thinking about locating the radiator in the bed. My questions are what radiator works well and how it should be positioned? Also, what kind of hose and tubing to use. Any pics would be great. Thanks, Craig

 

try the search button,this was covered here a couple weeks ago.

 

The hard thing in a rear mount is to get enough air flow. Go big on the radiator and the fans.

 

Would a squirrel cage blower work better than a fan in a remote mount application?

I have taken the 4 row route and find the resistance to air flow increases as the radiator gets thicker. Car cools great going down road but heats up almst instantly at a stop sign. Water pump is electric so it doesn't know the difference . When the vehicle is sitting still the fan air simply recirculates from one side of radiator to the other.

A squirrel cage enables easy fabrication of duct work and facilitates construction similiar to that used in a furnace.

Has anybody ever tried a squirrel cage blower air flow in a remote mounted radiator?

 

SOUNDS LIKE A BUNCH OF NON~SENSE THAT WILL END IN A BIG HEADACHE !!

You need to keep that flathead cool, why make more work of it ??

 

I'm with De Soto on this one. Time to apply the KISS principle, save yourself a lot of grief, and possibly the project too. Any flathead motor by design is going to transfer additional heat into the cooling system that would be absorbed into the oil or radiated into the atmosphere on other style motors. While anything is possible when you throw enough time, thought and/or money at it, if this thing is really going to be driven and not just a trailer queen, properly designing a radiator, shroud, and fan at the front of the motor to provide adequate cooling for any flat motor is challenge enough. And why would you want to abandon the most defining feature of any 34 Ford?

 

I have to agree with the others, if there is no real reason for it going in the back avoid the headache of it all.
Cleverlever, time to pull the lever. Fan shroud!!

 

Radiators and hoods were designed to cover up ugly motors.

If you had put the time in effort into making this http://cleverlever99.blogspot.com/ would you cover it up with a radiator or a hood?

Using E85 helps with the cooling.

If I wanted to be a sheep I would have just bought a 57 Chev

Takes time to think problems through but in the end its worth it because you have something that sets you apart from all the other cars.

That works for me

 

now that is a cool lookinng setup. I love the dizzy setup.

 

i'd think about useing copper tubing for the run to the rear, the extra heat dissapation will help some. the rad don't care were it's mounted as long as it has air flow.

 

You don't need a hood for it to work and having that cool motor hangin out there by its ownesom looks odd. Track nose and a well sorted 4 row with the larges swept are thermo fan you can fit on the front pushing air through. Should work and the ugly fan would be hidden.
If you were to go the rear mounted idea im not sure about the copper tube. I would look into stainless, not polished. Wond dissipate heat well but in the long run it will help with keeping the system clean.
One point, how low can you mount the radiator in relation to the motor? This could also open up a can of worms.
Doc.

 

Will be a cold day in hell when a radiator graces the front of this car.

Look closely at that engine from the front.

I believe that is the only SBC in the world that is 100% symetrical. Draw a line straight up and down through the centerline and tell me thats not an awesome site. 4 plug wires left and 4 right utilizing an ol skool flathad dizzy and cover that with a radiator?

The cooling system works fine as is, just needs better air flow when the vehicle isn't moving

 

SO, Lemme ask ya.......... Is that the engine going in yer car ????

I thought you said a flat head was going in it ????

If that Chevy is whats going in it, I re~cant what i said....

Put the rad in the bed, cus its as goofy as the tractor pipes & motorcyle carbs hanging off the sides .....

ALTHOUGH, I do like the front dist drive set up.....

 

i think it's a neat looking engine. I'm not a fan of the huge induction pipes but you don't care what I think and that's good. The rest is very clean and the distributor is fantastic. I personally understand that you want the engine clean up front all by itself but don't have any suggestions for ya. I've seen it done on cars that were actually getting driven so I don't doubt that you can.

 

Those aren't induction pipes they are exhaust.

RE " cars that are actually getting driven" Bump the volume a bit and click on this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wGf90fK-kQ&mode=user&search=

 

I use to mud race, and rock crawl. A lot of us ran our rad's in the back.

I ran 1 3/4 copper ( copper was cheap 10yrs ago) but a lot of guys ran alumized muffler pipe.

I used a universal Alum race rad with the fan made for it from Summit and it cooled a nasty 429 big block ford. The rad was mounted in the bed of a Early Bronco and it had no "air flow" from the truck moving.

Think of all the Gas/diesel air compressors and forklifts. Get the right rad and fan and it's do-able.

 

Radiator location? Anything go's. You just have to be creative. Yes it will be a challenge ! Does the desire merit the effort.? Radiators can compliment the engine if they are dressed up properly. To be continued.......

 

Toadfrog, I agree 100% with you.
Vintage Radiator, I also agree 100% with you. I have seen some junky rads in cars and it takes away from the whole look but then again I have seen some amazing rads that absolutely finishes off a quality build.

Good luck in your descision.


BloodyKnuckles

 

What he said - looks like a well engineered trailer queen and not practical for street running. Then again, I could be wrong about the trailer queen.