1939 Pickup Radiator

v8fordman

v8fordman

Well-known member
Just got the engine running in my ‘39 pickup. I took the radiator to a local shop only to find the original core is beyond repair. Has anyone replaced an original radiator with an aluminum one? If so, where did you get it?
 
I have a Brassworks in my '39. It has an 8ba so Lee at Brassworks customized one for my application. Very happy with it but it took a while and wasn't cheap. Other options are US Radiator, or Johnson's who took over Walker. Not sure if they make Brass or aluminum or both. One other option for aluminum is the Radiator Lady in SoCal. Never used her but I've heard good reviews.

The Radiator Lady - Welcome
US Radiator - US Radiator
High-Quality Copper/Brass Radiators for Your Vehicle
The Brassworks; handcrafted radiators made in the USA
 
I've tried alloy but wasn't happy with the end result and it just looked wrong ended up having a reputable shop make a custom unit that works really well and unless you know exactly what's what most people cant tell its been changed .Yes it was challenging and frustrating at times but worth the effort .Now it runs well even in 40 deg C My advice take the time, ask the questions again and again and find a craftsman whose good at what they do its worth it .A thousand dollars spent once on something that works is a lot better than five hundred spent on something that dosent
 
Hello, I faced the same situation with my '37 1/2 ton when I changed the V-8 sixty to a 239 engine. I was able to find good tanks and side straps, I formed new brass upper and lower header panels, found a shop to punch the panels and fabricate a new core. Radiator cools VERY well! I did the same thing for my '32 passenger car, here are a couple images of the header panels. It ain't easy and it ain't cheap, but I never worry about the cooling.
Tom
 

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v8fordman said:
Just got the engine running in my ‘39 pickup. I took the radiator to a local shop only to find the original core is beyond repair. Has anyone replaced an original radiator with an aluminum one? If so, where did you get it?
Click to expand...

Didn't they offer a replacement? If not, I'd take it to a quality shop. Around here, new cores will run $500. That's a 1939 / 1940 split core type.
 
In the past, I have been lucky enough to find a NOS replacement radiator as Kube mentioned. I have been criticized by folks on here for suggesting such replacements still exist. If you know folks who are flathead smart, you find good parts.
 
The bottom line is which is more important to you : cost or originality? This subject has been thrashed so much that an entire herd of horses are dead. On the H.A.M.B. especially, it has become obvious that a well built aluminum radiator (welded joints and formed tanks) painted black is fully adequate for general use. Stay away from plastic tanks and crimped joints. You can get a good aluminum radiator for one quarter the cost of a copper brass/replacement.

I know nothing about you or your vehicle, and would not presume to have any idea of what would best fit your needs. I guess it's a choice of saving a bunch of money or impressing an ever shrinking group of focused people to whom this is important.

For a source, I would start by checking eBay. Interestingly, eBay has morphed from a place to make individual buys of hard to find parts to a mass marketer of many things. I am sure you will be surprised at the number of radiators available there in the $250-$300 range with free shipping.

I am mildly amused to see that out of 9 responses, I am the only one to actually answer the O/P's questions and not offer my own personal opinion.:rolleyes:
 
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