Just to clarify right away - I am NOT running this with a flathead motor... I have a '59 International medium duty truck with a blown radiator (leaks like a seive and is largely clogge) Yeah, I know... Not a hot rod, but I figure you guys would know this stuff that best. I have been searching for years for a replacement radiator, and can't find squat. Local places want over a grand to recore it, and that's way more than I want to spend on this thing since I haven't ever driven it more than moving it from one side of the yard to the other. I found a 42-52 Ford truck flathead radiator is close enough in size that I think I can easily make brackets to drop it in...but I don't need a pair of inlet/outlets on it. Can I just make up an appropriate sized plug on the lathe, and just do a super sized version of the old bolt in a hose trick to cap off the 2nd inlet/outlet that I don't need? If the truck drivetrain is good and I can fit the rad, I planned on having a rad shop replace both inlet/outlet to match the size/location of the factory radiator, I just don't want to invest that much up until I make sure the rest of the truck is OK.
Why make a plug on the lathe? Local big box stores have enough plumbing parts to put together what you need. Two pieces same size OD PVC pipe with caps glued to them, short pieces of hose and 4 hose clamps and you're in business.
The radiator will function fine, that was standard practice back in the day to swap most OHV engines into formerly Flathead powered cars. Most people then cut a piece of flat brass and cut the extra inlet and outlet off, and soldered the flat brass on over the top. But a plug system would work fine as long as it's water tight and heat/pressure proof.
There was actually a rubber plug made just for that purpose. Not sure where you would find one today though. Maybe try ebay.
Because it will take me less time and cost to turn a couple plugs than it would to drive to the store to buy things, and I can always use the material on something else later. Plus adding a retention bead is easy this way. I live pretty far out in a rural area, and the nearest hardware store is a 40 mile round trip. I figured this would be just fine, but there's been plenty of other times that something seemed to be a fine idea in my head, yet end up being a complete cluster in play, lol. Thanks all!
OR, short piece of hose, two clamps, and a Gerber baby food bottle! Not only does it cap off the outlet, but you get to see what the coolant looks like !
Thin brass/copper preferred & Solder in Inlet / outlet , or a piece of tin, Easy to remove with hand / pocket torch later
you don't have to cobble together anything, two of these in the proper OD to fit the ID and you're done. Rubber Expansion Plug 1-1/8 In. - Size Range 1-1/8 In. - 1-1/4 In. NOE 6004004 | Buy Online - NAPA Auto Parts (napaonline.com)
I used cast iron pipe plugs of the appropriate size to thread into the hose and then put a clamp on it, works great.
Had a built 301 in a 46 ford coupe in 1970. Soldered copper plates on the stock radiator and never had any problems.
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