Searching For A Model T Radiator

Hi,

I need a bit of help. I have been working for a while on a vintage styled dry lakes, 1923 model T Ford roadster. The car is realy starting to come together and look like something. I am searching for a Radiator that is readily available that will fit inside the 23-25 grill shell. Aftermarket units for the T are just too pricy for me. The shell will likely end up being sectioned down an inch or so to match the steel body's channel over the frame. I have heared some guys claim they got stock replacement radiators that fit well but they were never able to remember what vehicle they were intended to fit. I know I can just look at the walker book at my local auto parts store. However I am hoping to bennifit from the vast knowledge that dwells here. Oh by the way. The engine is a 216 Chevy straight six.


Thanks in advance for any help!

Mike

 

Look into early mustang radiators.

 

Original radiators go cheap.
I gave $100 for a 26 that is leaking at the seam

 

Damn, I was hoping you were going to say you were using a 21 stud, because I was wondering the same thing!
My 216 is being saved for a future A project!
JK

 

I've got a 26 or maybe earlier radiator... let me know if you need it. I need it out of the way!

 

One from a 26 or earlier may work if it aint too Roten. Can you e-mail me pics and dimensions?

I will definately look at the mustang radiators. May simplify the search.

Maybe it is just me but 100.00 for a leaky old radiator dont sound cheep.

Mike

 

I used a 67 mustang in mine, fits good inside the shell.

 

'67 mustang radiator form pep boys is 140. get the one for the V8.

Ron

 

You need a custom radiator -
Call The Brassworks in Paso Robles, CA
800.342.6759

 

Well I checked out the '67 Mustang radiator and it is too wide for the model T radiator shell. I need one no wider than 19 1/2" I have seen some nice ones on line for tractors but they are all runing 300-400. I have been doing very well on this car and i dont want the radiator to blow the budget. Custom radiator sounds expensive and scarry!


Mike

 

Keep looking for a Ford tractor radiator. Should be able to find a new one for under $150. They fit better than the 65/66 Mustang radiator.

 

espay has them all the time- either original or the modern aluminum ones (heard good things about the new ones on there).

 

Mustang or Falcon radiator from autozone or your local parts place $130. It will fit perfect

 

Well my search continues. I have borrowed the radiator book from my local independent parts seller here in East Palestine, Ohio: Rockenburger Auto Parts. Great little place. John is the owner and he works the counter everyday they are open.

Anyway.... I looked at the '65 mustang radiator and it does appear it will fit. However the core is a bit narrower than the opening in my old 1923 Ford shell. I could always make up something to fill in the gap. However I would like to fill the shell with as much radiator as will fit. I will keep it in mind just in case a better fitting one can not be found for a resonable price.

I appreciate you guys trying to help me with sugestions of custom and high end production radiators. Although these all look nice they will definately break my budget. I have been building this T for about 3 years now. My goal when I started was to build something my Grandfather or one of his friends might have built just after the war. I also intend to build it for under $2000.00. I am doing well. Fabing and machining everything myself is definately a help. I am working real hard at keeping it all old skool. I realy want a car that folks will ask me where I found it.

So far nearly all of my parts have come from old cars and trucks. The only exceptions are the headlights (34 ford comercial repops with marker lights inside), 1 wire GM altinator, 12 volt electrical, 5 speed S-10 truck transmission, 2 stage master cylinder from ford ranger pickup, and a repop model A tailamp with STOP lense. My deviations from the formula are largely for safety and most are hidden up under the car well out of sight.

Keep the Ideas coming! If anyone remembers what model Ford tractor to get a radiator from please let me know. I spoted a real beauty on line the other day for an Oliver tractor but alas it was 400 from that supplier. My brother is going to drop me off an aftermarket AG catalog that he belives will yield a perfect radiator at an afordible price. Tractor radiators are starting to look like some of the best options as many have tall centered filler necks that poke out, kinda like the T.

Thanks again for all your help and I hope to hear more great ideas.

Mike

 

you sure your grille shell is correct. the mustang radiator should fit fine..

 

Ford tractor (left) vs. Mustang (right). Maybe pictures make the point better.

 

Yes! That looks like a good fit! What model Ford tractor does that fit: 8N, 9N, Jubalie, 5000....

Mike

 

I got off my butt and did a search. Turns out that will fit an 8N 9N or 2N tractor 1931-1951. So it even fits in with my theme of all old parts. Found a guy with a buy it now of 138.90 and he sells the cool art deco cap for 4.99 more. Should look prety bitchin on my T.

Just need to move the botom outlet. Not a big deal. I can solder.

Thanks to everyone!

Mike

 

That old flat six is a bunch smaller than a 350. I think it real likely that was your problem. The tractor radiator I am geting is a 3 row and the ones for 289 65 mustang are only a 2 row. Tractor radiators are built very heavy because the motors work but the tractors move slowly if at all so they often have additional cooling capacity to accomidate this. I have met a few others who have put tractor radiators in there rides with good results.

Mike

 

Check out the mid 70's Datsun truck radiators. I have a Ferguson tractor with a radiator that looks just like ford. I bought a new one about a year ago for around $150. shipped. If you are interested I can pull the receipt and find out who I bought it from. I found it by doing an internet search. Guys price was higher than the others I found, but with free shipping it was cheaper in the long run. Shipping was high from the other places I check.

 

Sorry about that, must have got my specs confused. Regardless the tractor radiator should do a nice job. From experience a standard cap should fit the neck (restored an 8N with Dad when I was a kid). I am not sure why they use a 4 lb cap and not a 15 lb cap. I will ask my kid brother, he went to school for AG mechanics and may have some insight.

Likely going to need an electric fan for my aplication with the position of the motor in the frame, the mechanical will interfere with the upper hose. Have any of you guys ever taken a used one from a car? Looking at the one from my wifes Chevy Cavalier. It looks like it may work. Her car is a standard trans car without AC. Would there be any difference on one with an automatic and AC?

Mike

 

Hit a Ford tractor store and see what they can do price-wise.

I had an 8N and parts were really cheap for it.
One thing that helped, if the store didn't pay much for it they didn't charge much either.

Meaning that they didn't relabel all the parts every time there was a price boost.

 

OK! I am going to say this once and only once! A Ford Tractor radiator will not fit in a model T grill shell. No way, no how! The tank is too fat in front and will not allow the shell to fit. This mistake is costing me about 50.00 to learn. Am I pissed? Only a little! '65 mustang is no doubt a better choice. just looks a little awkward at the top inside, However it does fit. If you are considering using these, hurry up they are being discontinued by many parts retailers. I got mine at NAPA. Special deal because I knew someone, $125.00.

Mike

 

No offence, but you had SEVERAL guys telling you from personal experience on the Mustang and others "that heard" or "they look like" on the tractor, and went with the guessers instead of the ones that actually have them on running cars. I pulled off my posts because I was just beating my head against a wall trying to help you. As for that radiator being discontinued, who told you that? I just got off the phone with my rad guy and he hasn't heard that. What brands are quitting?

 

I am sorry, I should have listened. I am not sure what brands they were. Several stores told me they were discontinued. Perhaps only in there stores. One radiator shop told me his suplier had quit making it but he could recore me one If I was to find and origonal with good tanks.

I really wanted to get this out because I hoped others would learn from my mistake. I think I was so focused on trying to get the filler neck to come up in the right place that I lost track of everything else.

I prommise I will not make the same mistake twice. Please forgive me. Next time I will listen.

Mike

 

The early Mustang/Falcon/Comet radiator is probably the most popular "older" car radiator listed in any parts store's catalogs. Hard to imagine they would be discontinued by any manufacturer, easy to see them being dropped from parts store inventories and being factory order only.

 

Both Autozone and Checkers here had them on the shelf today.

 

I checked pep boys and the guy said it is on back order for 3 weeks. He may be just blowing smoke but he felt I would not be geting it from him anytime soon. He imagined it was being discontinued and they just had not removed it from the list yet. I am often amazed at how quickly some parts are being marked as obsolete by certain retailers. A friend of mine who just took a job at a new national chain auto parts store said he has tried to get parts for his 80 something camaro and has had several common parts come back as obsolete, In fact he tried for the radiator as well and his system kicked it back as obsolete. In the end NAPA came thru so all is good. We have a good independent and a NAPA here in town. Between the 2 I can get most anything. My indebendent wanted $200.00 for that radiator. The NAPA in town wanted $184.00 . Another NAPA sold me mine for $125.00. It pays to shop around.

Mike

 

I'm not convinced that you bought the CORRECT Ford tractor radiator. While I personally have never used one...I HAVE PERSONALLY SEEN THEM USED AND THEY FIT AND LOOK RIGHT. But, you have to be aware that there are different SIZE Ford T radiator shells, depending on year. If you put a stock '23 T radiator in a stock '26 shell, IT AIN'T GONNA FIT! There are also differences between the different manufacturers of aftermarket tractor radiators, such as TANK SIZE. Same applies to the MUSTANG radiator, and add number of rows to that equation, as well. Measure twice, cut once.

 

I spent lots of time and money modifying a stock, then custom radiator to work on my old TV8.

You have two options:

Custom brass 500.00+

Chineese aluminum 250.00

Used the china one on my latest build(seems to be working fine). Go on epay & look under "hotrod aluminum radiator". there is a guy out of florida selling 3 core aluminum radiators that should fit your application. Rand is the make. I spent 225.00 shipped to calif.