I've been reading ad researching some online with photos and articles along with books on early pre-wwii hot rodding..."Flat out" by Al Drake, etc. I've seen many guys running lakes modifieds, etc. so I wanted to ask,...I had this idea. Since I'm looking to run a smaller cut down radiator on my hot rod 4 banger with a T-roadster body on A ch***is,...would a Farmall tractor radiator work by any stretch of the imagination,....or another similar radiator?? I was thinking about what a guy would have used in the time period, and thought about the abundance of farming that we had as a nation in those days,... Looking for input on those who would know one way or another,...thanks guys!
Tractors have to run under load at extremely low speeds or not moving at all while belted to machinery--this requires a real good cooling system. If you get the radiator, investigate the shroud and fan too.
This was my thinking exactly,..they'd HAVE to be a good cooling radiator to work at such low speeds or as you said, not moving at all!! Made sense to me! Any idea how much water the 28-29 radiator and 30-31's hold? This way I can have a base to judge an "A" radiator versus a tractor radiator. let me know if you have any idea on that amount,..thanks!!
'28-9 three gallons for whole system...'30-1 would be a bit more, HD AA radiators and aftermarket repros would vary. Design of core, tubes probably more important than gallonage--surface area is what radiators are about.
Try looking at old British car radiators. They're all over ebay. Maybe a Triumph TR4 or TR6. you just need one with good tanks top and bottom, then get a rad shop to put a modine 3 or 4 row core in it. You can make it as high or low as you want and you have eliminated the crummy core that came in british radiators from new. They usually have nice mounting flanges on the side rack and they are pretty narrow. Plus they look old. from the 50's -but the design is pure 40's. A TR3 radiator tank will work but it has a long neck extension that you will want to remove. too much work. Don't forget about laying a taller rad back a little to make it lower. depends what you cover it with... and if you can use a small expansion tank with a cap on it somewhere. Fast Fours r Fun!
Well i took a look into an allis chalmers and a Ford 8N radiator,...out of all of the tractor rads one has to work,..going to an old tractor repair place tomorrow to get sizes, row counts and prices,...think I'll probably be leaving with one if all goes well!
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