1941 1/2 ton pickup

[Horace]

I recently purchased a 41 1/2 ton pickup that has issues. The aluminum radiator that was in the truck is to wide to fit the stock mount of 20 1/2" between slots. Where can I get a reasonbly price radiator that will fit in the stock position?

 

[alchemy]

No such thing. Brassworks and Johnson make nice radiators, but they are expensive. Aluminum radiators are cheap but not nice.

 

[drolston]

Champion makes aluminum radiators that will fit. If your engine is stock and the block not loaded with sand and rust, it will probably cool adequately. I tried one in my '41 coupe but the engine is 284 cubic inches and the Champion radiator would overheat quickly in traffic and over 60 mph on the highway on a hot day.



https://www.championradiators.com/Ford-truck-radiator-1939-1941

 

[tubman]

Aluminum radiators can be OK. Just make sure they have welded (not epoxied) joints and buy some black radiator paint.

 

[Karl Wescott]

Is the truck originally a V8 or 6 cylinder? My understanding is the 6 cylinder used a narrower radiator than the V8 and may not be reproduced except as a custom build.


Griffin is also a good name in aluminum radiators. They tend to do a good job with the external core support and brackets that are so important to get a radiator to fit.


A copper/brass radiator is very forgiving of corrosion issues in an early Ford environment where almost all of the materials the coolant contacts is cast iron, steel, or copper. Aluminum will corrode easily (and zinc is worse) unless the coolant has proper inhibitors and is changed regularly.


Brass/copper might have a high initial price, but changing out corroded aluminum radiators might be expensive.