howdy! Im looking for a radiator for my model t, just wanting some suggestions, looked all over speedway and havent seen anything im really wanting to spend my money on yet, also im gonna be running a 429 so how big of an effect is that gonna have? thanks -jacob
Yep, no ratrods, just "traditional hot rods" except for the posts on trailers, vintage bicycles, airplanes,scooters,motorcycles,garages,vans,off topic cars and trucks, foreign cars,firetrucks and other b/s subjects. Change your name to "ratrod oldster" and you'll probably get an answer.
Seeing your user name reminds me of the song "A Boy named Sue." You couldn't have picked a worse one if you tried. Personally, I am on a rat rod forum even though I don't build rats. I just happen to like the guys there who have become internet friends, and we try to help younger guys who are just getting started in this hobby. We try to steer them toward building safe, dependable cars. You have to undestand that the HAMB is devoted to one segment of the hot rod hobby and the RR words are akin to calling the Pope names at a Catholic convention. There is a lot for you to learn here, but as long as you have that Albatross of a name hanging around your neck you are going to constantly run into the resistance you have been meeting so far. Just a word to the wise. Don
Lol well idk how to change it, and I'm building a rat rod.... It's my chunk of iron, my chunk of change and Its gonna be safe, I don't understand the resistance, because I'm not planning on a paint job? That's crazy, I know most of the guys on here are men with experience I'm just trying to learn when I need to, to build my rod. But thanks, and after a little more research i think a 65 mustang radiator can do the trick
You just have to lose the mentality of calling it a rat rod on here, those two words will get you an argument every time you say them. Subs***ute HOT ROD and you will be better off. If you think this forum is strict on it's beliefs, go on a Ford Mustang forum and mention you are thinking about putting a sbc engine in it ! Those guys will show up at your door and it won't be pretty. Don
Lol, yea..... Well I don't think I can change my name, and honestly I would love to build stuf other than rats, I have big dreams but as a young kid with not a huge bank.... I'm building what I can and making it mine but honestly brother I appreciate the help and the direction.... Any thoughts on using a 65 mustang radiator? With my 429? Just not sure it will be big enough
I don't think the Mustang radiator will cool a 429. I could be wrong, but Ford engines seem to run a little on the warm side anyway, compared to some other designs, so I think you need as much radiator as possible to cool that baby. But I have never used one, so maybe someone else will chime in and tell you the Mustang they are using cools a comparable engine well. Glad you took the Fatherly advice as I intended it. Don
Haha glad your giving advice, that's what I'm here for is to learn, keep an eye on my build, it may surprise you
Not even close on the radiator. I know a 3 core mustang radiator will barely keep up with a stock SBC, even with a rigid fan and a full fibergl*** shroud. I also know real hot rods can be built on a budget.
I'm glad to see that Don is more willing to educate than denigrate. Yeah, sounds like some sort of hippie love ****, but think about it, why be a **** when you can educate and possibly make someone change their perception. BTW, some folks need to get over the no fancy paint/patina thing -- it'll go away like pastel colored street rods with purple squiggly graphics. As for me, I dig the patina thing because there is no way I could afford the paint job I want. Right now the patina thing is in and it cost me nothing to look cool, albeit, for the moment. Next year or the year after that it will be a different story. Just my FNG opinion, let the arrows fly...
Do you have a suggestion on a radiator then? Its going on my t, and it's gonna be open so I can't have some wide ugly dude on there, just things I'm running into I guess, the mustang rad is about the right size, just curious if you have suggestions. Thanks
One of the sad facts of building a hot rod is that sometimes the parts that will work right don't come cheap. When I built my 27 roadster years ago I could handle the $ 25 and $50 purchases, but when it came time to buy something like a custom radiator or headers that were going to cost in the neighborhood of $ 700, I had to save up for a while. I hope someone has a reasonably priced suggestion for you, there may be one out there. Don
On a T there's not much for options. I've seen some thick (expensive) radiators that worked pretty good. My roomates T had some magical radiator that kept a 6-71 blown 350 Chevy cool. Always wanted to dissect it and count the cores or see if it was a double p***. Another way is rear mounting a large crossflow radiator with electric fans and louvering the **** out of whatevers over it.
I think I found something that will work, it's a 4 row aluminum, something that would fit like a 69 fairlane, guess I just gotta do more research, I appreciate it tho man! Thanks for the posts
An aluminum radiator might do it, kinda iffy though with that much iron. I have a buddy running one in an A with a 383 that works good. You could also just ditch the obese chunk o ford you got and get a small block that would be happy with the Mustang radiator. You might even come out ahead on the swap. Also, the T shell probably won't fit but a '28-'29 should and look swell. Just think before spending any cash.
you could probably check out some t bucket forums as there are plenty of big block buckets out there. there are some guidelines on this site though and checking out your profile and pics of your car this is probably not the right site to post questions about that particular car .Stay a member because you can learn plenty off this site just try to keep the questions on topic and sort of within the guidelines.we all had to start somewhere.You could even try plumbing to the back and running a big radiator and thermos in that box behind the cab.good luck with it
We build or try to encourage that whomever build traditional hot rods. maybe what you ar calling a rat rod may actually be a traditional rod. Sometimes it is juts a matter of semantics. We do discourage the use of the term rat rod because that is not what we are about. Another modern term for rat rod is shock rod maybe that will help you understand. Your name is fine, **** 'em all sleep 'til noon. Now on to your radiator your choice of radiator is dependent on your choice of grill shell. That is the doodad that holds the radiator on the front of your car. What do you plan to use for a grill shell? Don I don't know about the most commonly used '65 Mustang radiator as far as cooling a 429. When I put the boss in my '68 torino I used a 4 core mustang out of a '69 mustang. It cooled the boss just fine. Like I said earlier choice of radiator is entirely dependent on choice of grill shell. It just may be that to cool the beasty a custom radiator will need to be built, not likely that an off the shelf radiator will do the job. I do know that harrison does make a big block br*** radiator for big block and an A grill shell.
Why the change from the six to the 429? is it an engine that you found for a good price or something? I ask because it's pretty common to build your first car with whatever parts you can find. It takes a while to learn how to design the car you want, then collect the right parts to build it. You might want to think about using a smaller V8, so you don't have problems like not being able to fit a radiator in the truck that's big enough to cool the engine, but still look right.
If you go on EBay and search "ford model t radiator" there is a company from Florida that has aluminum radiators for $153 plus shipping. They are a 3 core radiator. Just when your bidding watch which one you have because he has them For both ford and Chevy motors...I bought one for my tbucket, haven't ran it yet, but the quality looks good.
Might contact member Cain on here, he deals in Champion Radiator products, and looks like they are good quality at a good price. I have no idea what dimensions you are looking for, so maybe he will have something that fits for the price. ALSO, check the Hamb Alliance vendor list. Might find one that deals in radiators, and give you a good reason to spend the money to join!
Try these guys, aluminum rads built to what you need and not too bad for price. Built in the USA and all tig welder, no epoxy. http://www.gasalleystreetrods.com/radiators.html
I'd run the 6 Good luck and while it's an interesting looking car... Make sure you get it checked by a real mechanic before taking it on the street....
If you have a grill shell in mind, and know the dimensions of your rails, you should be able to contact Griffin(or insert any Rad manufacturer) you can go over the size you need, what you are cooling, and they should be able to build something, or cross reference a pre made cooler that will work for you. The other side of the coin, is going to be shrouding. If you are running a generally hot running motor, then you will need better heat transfer. The fan that you run won't be able to really do it's job, unless the shrouding you use, keeps the fan pulling through the core, and not just the free air around the core. Elec. fans are ugly and don't "fit" most of the open wheelers, so I'd go mechanical, space everything out, and make a cool shroud. These things take time, and it sounds like you have more time than money, with the whole "r" word getting thrown around. Good luck dude.
I'm not going to guarantee it, but I run a Champion (3) row in front of my OT stroked small block 'stang and it cools just fine. Champion makes a (4) row stang radiator that should easily cool a big block. Only reason I mention Champion is you can get them quite cheap, and they a fairly well made for a china radiator. As a side note, we ran a 429, built, w/DOVE heads, in an ugly '80 fox body 'stang. It was a real tight fit and we ran the original Fox radiator (which is small) and it cooled sufficiantly..... Your results may vary...... BTW sounds like a neat ride. Tom
If you're looking for a place that sells radiators in all shapes and sizes...including some that will fit nicely into early hot rod grille shells, check out Northern. They sell automotive applications, but beyond that, they also have a ton of radiators for forklifts, tractors, farm equipment and the like that are available in various down-flow and cross-flow configurations. Their website (and printed catalogs) show pictures of each along with dimensions and hose diameters and such. www.northernfactory.com
You'll find that Squirrel is on track. If you're building a T, you can look around for virtually any small four banger, and the performance will surprise. The 429 is a bit like inviting the entire Green Bay Packers defense, to sit in front of your firewall. The car becomes a point and shoot 'altered', not fun to drive, feed or restrain. Find a motor you can afford to run, then exploit the power it can make. That would be rodding it.
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