28-29. 30-31 radiator interchange

R

Ramman

Member
Obviously the 28-29 radiator is different from the 30-31 in the neck area, and the outer shell is shaped slightly different. If you had 2 good 30-31 units and didn't mind the incorrect cap, would they fit inside a 29 outer shell and bolt up?
Thanks A'ers.
 
Well POOP!
Anyone in Northwest Ohio have a good used 28-29 radiator to trade for a 30-31?
Or to sell outright?
 
If the core vertical dimensions are the same you might be able to unsolder the top cans and swap them. This is just a guess.
 
Radiators are very important to get “right”.

Get yourself a new correct radiator. Another potential future problem solved.

Enjoy.
 
in the past, I have found five 30-31 radiators for every one 28-29.

bite the bullet and get a good one, as suggested.
 
From experience, getting a good one is NOT easy. A few years ago, I bought a Brassworks radiator and recently had to have it repaired. The repair cost me nearly as much as the radiator did, the workmanship was so bad. Even I could see that it was rubbish. From that experience, I have resolved that if I need another radiator, I will have the same workshop recore my old one. My advice would be to find yourself a decent radiator shop and have that done. Other members of this forum might have clues on such a place.
FWIW, there are far fewer 1930 Model As here than the early ones and any 1931 cars have been imported more recently. I understand that due to the depression and Henry's shonky move to send cars here in 1930 even though they weren't ordered (leading to a glut), no cars were imported in 1931. The glut was so bad that 1930 cars were available with zero miles on the clock as late as 1933.
 
Henry didn't control Ford of Canada. It was a separate entity. They did follow a lot of the lead of the Rouge in their manufacturing practices but that was just to insure a near the same product relationship. These agreements were made when Ford of Canada became a Manufacturer of Ford products in 1904. Henry Ford only had 13% of the shares when the company was formed.

Manufacturing radiators could be done by machines but the cost of machines would likely be too expensive for the market at hand. I've never purchased a Brassworks radiator but I'm sure they manufacture them by hand using fixtures and jigs just like most others in this business. This is why the price is high. They may not be the only source since a lot of this stuff is made offshore and Brassworks' lower cost items may be offshore too. If you purchase a cheap one then hopefully it is cheap enough that you can afford to buy another one when if goes to the scrap heap or doesn't fit properly. If you purchase one that seems expensive then make sure it has a good warranty. Not all fabricators have a good day when building these things. It's a hot environment and they are using solder plus fluxes that may or may not be harmful to their health. Look at what folks charge for labor these days and then look at what it might cost to fabricate the copper, brass, and steel parts that go into these units.

If an old radiator is repairable then find a good radiator shop to do the work. There aren't as many now as their used to be so it may require shipping to get the unit to and from them. A person can see what the outside condition is but you never know what the condition is on the inside. Many 90+ year old radiators are likely too far gone and later radiators may be cheap copies that used lower quality materials so best of luck going for recore. It might be fine and then you might get a bad news call that all is for naught.
 
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I've found hopefully my only leak, about 3/4 of the way up on the passenger side front. Now to try my soldering skills. At least the brass around the hole feels very solid and not all nasty, rotted. I'm thinking stone strike. Fingers crossed. I'll post my outcome.
 
Ramman said:
I've found hopefully my only leak, about 3/4 of the way up on the passenger side front. Now to try my soldering skills. At least the brass around the hole feels very solid and not all nasty, rotted. I'm thinking stone strike. Fingers crossed. I'll post my outcome.
Click to expand...

Or take it to a radiator shop and have them repair it.
 
At least my Brassworks radiator (and probably all of them) is only an original one re cored. When the steel strap under the bottom tank was reattached, it wasn't soldered properly - not even tinned. The rust that developed between the strap and the bottom tank lead to the bottom tank splitting. Mine had a 4" split. There were other issues with my radiator too but that was unforgivably poor quality. Brassworks advertise "Made in the USA". IMO, that degrades the standing of "Made in the USA". By my experience, they are just another example of foreign junk.
 
Don't know where you are located, but about 10 years ago my original radiator sprung a leak. I knew of a local radiator repair shop that I had known the guy for years. Took my radiator to him where he dunked it in an acid bath to clean out rust and impurities and pressure tested it to find any pin holes and fixed them. It ended up costing me half of what a new one would have been and it works like a charm. Just my advice if you can find a shop somewhere.
 
rotorwrench said:
Henry didn't control Ford of Canada. It was a separate entity. They did follow a lot of the lead of the Rouge in their manufacturing practices but that was just to insure a near the same product relationship. These agreements were made when Ford of Canada became a Manufacturer of Ford products in 1904. Henry Ford only had 13% of the shares when the company was formed.

Manufacturing radiators could be done by machines but the cost of machines would likely be too expensive for the market at hand. I've never purchased a Brassworks radiator but I'm sure they manufacture them by hand using fixtures and jigs just like most others in this business. This is why the price is high. They may not be the only source since a lot of this stuff is made offshore and Brassworks' lower cost items may be offshore too. If you purchase a cheap one then hopefully it is cheap enough that you can afford to buy another one when if goes to the scrap heap or doesn't fit properly. If you purchase one that seems expensive then make sure it has a good warranty. Not all fabricators have a good day when building these things. It's a hot environment and they are using solder plus fluxes that may or may not be harmful to their health. Look at what folks charge for labor these days and then look at what it might cost to fabricate the copper, brass, and steel parts that go into these units.

If an old radiator is repairable then find a good radiator shop to do the work. There aren't as many now as their used to be so it may require shipping to get the unit to and from them. A person can see what the outside condition is but you never know what the condition is on the inside. Many 90+ year old radiators are likely too far gone and later radiators may be cheap copies that used lower quality materials so best of luck going for recore. It might be fine and then you might get a bad news call that all is for naught.
Click to expand...

We make all radiators and all radiator parts in california. Only the neck is made outside our building and we modify it to better fit the aftermarket caps made overseas.
 
Synchro909 said:
At least my Brassworks radiator (and probably all of them) is only an original one re cored. When the steel strap under the bottom tank was reattached, it wasn't soldered properly - not even tinned. The rust that developed between the strap and the bottom tank lead to the bottom tank splitting. Mine had a 4" split. There were other issues with my radiator too but that was unforgivably poor quality. Brassworks advertise "Made in the USA". IMO, that degrades the standing of "Made in the USA". By my experience, they are just another example of foreign junk.
Click to expand...

Rust caused brass to split? call us directly.
 
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