1952-59 Ford Best Aftermarket Radiators

Welp, sure enough right in time for summer, my '53's radiator sprung a few leaks. I can't decide if I should have it repaired/rebuilt or if I should look into an aluminum aftermarket one. I had this one rebuilt about 12 years ago, and it worked pretty good, but definitely didn't cool too great in July/August here in Nor Cal heat. I got a quote for a rebuild at over $650, and new aluminum radiators are much less. What do you guys recommend? Rebuild the original or put in an aluminum radiator?

Also, has anyone installed a Champion aluminum radiator? And has anyone had any problems with them? Thanks in advance.

 

I installed a Champion Aluminum radiator in my 55 two years ago. $235 off the internet and cools well, have had zero problems with it. When I ordered it there were two different versions for the 55, the lower hose diameter was different on the two otherwise no difference I could tell. You could damn near buy three of these for the repair/rebuild and unless you are worried about being "original looking" I wouldn't even consider anything else. Just my opinion. Mark

 

Thank you! Glad to hear it. I'm not worried about looking original. My car has a ton of non-original stuff on it, so I'm not too concerned about that. I'm leaning towards the Champion.

 

Also, how many core rows does your radiator have?

 

I have a three row Champion in mine. Been great

 

Don’t know if they have changed. but I purchased a U S radiator br***/copper 7 years ago for my 56. They listed 4 models and mine 3rd up from standard replacement. I’ve since added a water cooled trans and AC. I’ve needed to speed up the water pump with a smaller pulley, a 6 blade fan, hiflow thermostat and shroud but but have not experienced any heating problems.
What ever radiator you choose flush the block and use only distilled water and no premix coolant. We use distilled water in our circle track aluminum dual p*** radiator and do not have a corrosion issue.
If your still running a flathead finding the correct combination. A coolant recovery system is a must.

 

Three rows.

 

I have a Champion too. Got it from eBay, radiators4less was the vendor. Free shipping and it even showed up with polished tanks at no extra $$. I use a sacrificial anode and ground it to the radiator support.

 

Champion in my 56 for 4 years now. No issues at all. The only thing I wish I had did before I installed it was to paint it black. I'm not too crazy about the shiny aluminum behind the grill.

 

I have radiators from autocitycl***ics.com in my Ranch Wagon, a 71 Bronco, and a big block Chevelle. Zero issues with any of them. They cool great and cheaper than most.

 

I have a U.S. Radiator in my ‘53 and am very pleased. They look original, they fit properly, they offer different cooling capacities, build to order and are br*** & copper. Yes, a bit expensive but not when considering you are protecting your engine or mine which is an ARDUN. For a small extra charge, the will polish the br*** upper tank.

 

A rattle can, some tape, and a foldable piece of cardboard will fix that. Just needs a light coat to hide the aluminum. Admittedly, probably easier for me to handle this with my grille setup over a stock setup though.

 

As long as we are talking Radiators and cooling systems is it just me or does anyone else HATE the aftermarket coolant recovery bottles, you know the generic round tube type they sell at swap meets everywhere. Problem is the tube diameter is always too small to match the overflow tube diameter from the radiator and you always need to come up with some sort of adapter to step up from one tube to another. You would think someone would have came up with a puke bottle with larger tubes by now. Just my gripe.... Mark

 

Timely discussion. Thanks for all the input since my sons Edsel radiator spring another leak the other day.

 

I made my own from a sealed screw on top from a aluminum water bottle I received from AAA. Took a little to get a fitting in the bottom but worth it. I painted it satin black and mounted it on the left side of the radiator on the top hold down bolt with an aluminum strap I made. Holds about 12oz when full. I raised the cap to 14 after removing the original heater core with the addition of AC . New US radiator can stand a higher cap. With no pressure the boiling of 50-50 is over 220 so I’m not worried and longer.

 

Like Rustville, my alum. radiator is from Auto City Cl***ic, as many on the '57 forum have. No issues whatsoever, my engine runs at 195 all day long in traffic and 100* heat. You asked how many rows, mine has two (I think, lol), but they are big. It's the overall capacity/flow rather than number of tubes. Yes, distilled water, sacrificial annode. My block and heads are aluminum, so obviously no major corrosion issues anyway.
For what it's worth, I keep just enough coolant in it to cover the tubes by a 1/2 inch or so. I've got one of those aluminum overflow catch thingies, but I've never seen coolant in it.

 

Auto City Cl***ic radiators have two rows of tubes, each are 1 1/8" wide. The fins remove heat from the tubes. The long, flat side of these tubes allow for much more fin contact. The Champion radiators with 3 rows have tubes of .61 inch and the 4 row tubes are even smaller. Read their specs. I've had two aluminum radiators with the wide tubes and they worked great. I'm not aligned with Auto City Cl***ics nor do I have a bone to pick with Champion. I'm just p***ing along things I've learned over the years. There are other aluminum radiators with the wider tubes, you just have to seek them out.

 

Another vote for Auto City Cl***ic. Mine stays 190 degrees in Oklahoma heat.

 

Pheaton, is there a source for those in-line coolant filters?

 

Are you talking about the stainless tube type with the hose connections at the bottom? I have one of these in two cars and didn't have any problems with the tube vs the hose sizes

 

Yes, all my radiators have a 5/16 diameter tube ****** on the neck for the overflow tube and every one of the recovery tanks like you describe have a smaller diameter on the tube in the bottom. I am sure they are metric but they measure out at about 0.223 inches while the radiator neck is 0.312 inches. It is enough difference that one end is always too tight or too loose.

 

This is my recovery tank, from eBay. It works well and most important, looks *****in'. I had to machine up a bracket to mount it.

 

Good advice ! The sacrificial anode is a must with aluminum radiators and intakes https://www.hotrodders.com/threads/do-i-need-to-run-a-sacrificial-anode.219974/

 

There used to be a not as fancy in line filter for radiators by the name of Gano. They are still around, Google Gano radiator filter and you should see many sources. Haven't seen one on a car for a long time.

 

Got a Gano on my 53F100. Installed when I replaced the radiator.

 

Here’s Mr Gaskets. A nice piece polished if your into that. nosford is right about the tube for the radiator feed hose but a layer or 2 of heat shrink will solve that and the supplied hose clamp. It’s top is removable for cleaning. Will easily mount on the left side of our radiators with supplied mounts. I’d add lord bushings. I just couldn’t scratch it up to paint semi gloss blank to blend in so it remains in the box. Summit $85.

 

Those are not coolant filters, they are in-line thermostat housings that use Chevy thermostats. https://www.amazon.com/Meziere-WN0071-Inline-Thermostat-Housing/dp/B003NDFEC0

 

Looks like I jumped to conclusions. Thanks for your answer.

 

Just FYI...I ordered one of the Auto City Cl***ic 55-57 radiators for my kids Edsel after I was tired of it not cooling very well in this heat and since it sprung another leak a week or so ago. I will try to remember to report back on results as compared to the original.

 

To each their own, I prefer the copper/br*** that was designed for our cars.

I have been building hot rods ever since I was a teenager and have patched original radiators and recored them, I've used several aftermarket radiators but I am a for believer in the Walker Radiators, and have used at least 10 of them with no problems.

I have one in my '54 Ford and one in my 1932 Ford, that radiator is 34 years old and never a problem.

The bad news is Walker Radiator has closed the doors but I understand Alan Johnson's Hot Rods have bought the equipment and goint to stat building them in Alabama.

I have also used US Radiator.

I am not a fan of aluminum radiators but I haven't had any good luck with them. HRP