I can't believe that there isn't a thread on this topic somewhere on the HAMB.....but I can't find one. I just scored a near mint '32 commercial grille for my '31 model A and I have a question. I want to run my stock model A radiator which I don't think will be a problem, EXCEPT the grille I got had the top hole filled and peaked long ago and it looks REALLY nice. I had just planned on running the stock filler neck on my radiator but now that's not an option. I will need to relocate the filler with an elbow off the back side of the tank, but I'd like to know if there is anything I'll need to take into account when I do this? I plan on trying to run the stock cap on the elbow but could go up to a style that is dated up to the early 50's to keep the car period. Will a radiator shop have a neck that will work with an older cap or do I need to source one from a wrecking yard? Any other things I need to consider when drilling the hole and placing the neck? If anyone has any pictures of what they did I'd love to see them. I know it seems like a simple job but I always am amazed by the info/ideas that are available on the HAMB.
Have you fit the grille shell over the radiator yet? I have a feeling a stock A radiator is too wide for a 32 grille..car or commercial ( same shape ) I'm not 100 percent on this .. But pays to check! Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Shell should fit the radiator fine as far as dimensions go, I have one on my car which has a radiator made for an A shell. Can't help with the filler neck question though.
Thanks for the input. The grille looks like it will be a perfect fit, but since the hole is filled on the top I believe I will have to remove the fill neck completely from the top of the radiator and move it to an elbow somewhere on the back side of the top tank. I can't use the top hose from the head to the radiator because the filler wouldn't be high enough in the system to fill the radiator enough. Anyone have any pictures of their solution? Does anyone know if the stock model A radiator cap will fit on a standard radiator neck or is it something special? This is a non-pressure system and took stay with the look I want to use the original cap or something else available in the 1930-40's. My plan at this point is a right angle elbow out the back of the top tank on the drivers side. I don't like the fact that I won't be able to see the core like I can with the top fill, but if I mount the elbow at the right height on the tank I will be able to tell if there is enough coolant in the radiator as long as there is coolant in the neck. Thanks.
I did what you are talking about. I found an older GM radiator with the lowprofile angle neck/filler, had my friend cut off the original filler and patch the hole. Then we added the angle filler low enough to fit under the closed hood. I just left the cap on the first notch so it wasn't under pressure. Worked good for me.
The stock A cap is threaded on like a big nut, so putting one of the push and twist pressure ones isn't necessarily period correct to the 30's depending on what you use.
Only the 28/29 A's had threaded cap. 30-31 are quarter turn but with internal neck notches unlike external notching on more modern necks. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Yeah, the cap on my '31 has tangs that engage on the inside of the neck, almost like a fuel cap.....not like the newer style caps that engage the outside of the neck. After some research I found Br***works, a shop in California (I think) that specialized in old radiators. They actually make a pressurized model A radiator that has the stock cap on the top, but also has an elbow neck on the back of the tank. The top cap is a dumby to look factory, but the elbow on the rear has a newer style pressurized cap. It is designed so the elbow and cap all fit under the stock hood so you'd never know it was there on a stock model A. I called them up and after describing what I needed the gentleman said he'd send me a br*** elbow with the cap flange soldered on, a 40's style radiator cap (non pressurized), and even a piece of br*** to fill my stock hole all for around $40. He said the back of the tank is more than strong enough to handle the elbow and it should be easy to remove the old neck simply by sweating out the original solder. I'll post some pictures when I'm done, but at this point I think it will turn out pretty slick. Now we'll see how good I am at brazing. Thanks for the info everyone.
I didn't know that about the later A radiators, I learned something today. And sounds like you found just what you needed. Nice to find good people who can set you up with what you need.
Most radiator shops can advise on this or what I have seen they have many filler necks around the shop... I have used an A radiator in a 32 commercial hsg before and did this same thing... I don't have photos to help now...
Ok, so here's another question. What do I do with the overflow tube? Do I tap into the new elbow neck? I'm going to remove the original neck on top the radiator and that's where the original overflow tube is located.
The overflow tube works in conjunction with the pressure spring and plunger in the cap. When set pressure is exceeded, that pressure pushes the plunger in the cap off of its seat in the radiator neck, allowing coolant/steam past. That is routed out the overflow tube, to a safer discharge location.
Makes sense, but what about a non-pressure system like this? There isn't a plunger/spring on the cap so the overflow just sticks out into the top tank. I ***ume that means if the system starts to boil the "overflow" allows steam to release so the pressure doesn't blow the system. I ***ume its necessary but I'm just wondering where I should locate it.
It, should still be in the same place, just below the outer shell of the radiator cap, below the lip it engages, or threads, as the case may be.
OK, so it needs to be just below the cap and not at the top of the tank? I just want to clarify that because the cap is now going to be lower than the top of the tank.
For a non-pressurized radiator, it should be as close to the highest point in the system that is feasible.
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