1950 Radiator Options

[50FlatheadVert]

Instead of repairing my stock radiator, are the benefits of a 4-core (looking at a US Radiator from Shoebox Central) worth the extra money? I'm not so much concerned with the price as I am with the cost benefit. My focus is reliability which also has me thinking 12 volt swap.

 

[TJ]

Instead of repairing my stock radiator, are the benefits of a 4-core (looking at a US Radiator from Shoebox Central) worth the extra money? I'm not so much concerned with the price as I am with the cost benefit. My focus is reliability which also has me thinking 12 volt swap.

Go with the new radiator. Repairing an old radiator is just that. You still have an old radiator unless you recore it. In today's world a recore job it almost the same cost or more than a new radiator.

 

[Ross F-1]

Aluminum radiators are generally not repairable, brass ones are. I wouldn't think in your climate you'd need 4 cores.

 

[50FlatheadVert]

good points...the US Radiators are copper and brass so that's good

it's very humid here...heat soak in any car is terrible during the hot months not that I'll be taking it out in peak sun...I need to get it on the road and be comfortable that cooling won't be an issue

 

[Gene1949]

I had considered a 4 core/recore also but was talked out of it by the shop that used to build my stock car radiators (one of which is sitting in our 69 BBC Camaro).

Their/his thinking has "evolved" into 3 core 5/8" tubes and more fins per inch. It's all about management of airflow and amount of time the coolant stays in tubes. A good overflow/expansion tank helps

I also used a Taurus 2 speed fan and shroud off a late '90s SVO, practically a bolt in. Switches in bottom tank of radiator feeding a 70s Volvo set of relays and circuit breakers.

Finally a Chev distributer and electronics using manifold vacuum for the vac advance. Using Bubba's curve (thankx Bubba).

Pulling the hills here outside of Las Vegas in 105 degree days it will run 200-205 and right back down on the thermostats (180) on the flat.

 

[50FlatheadVert]

Geat info…i’ll need to talk to my shop guy…180-205 is very impressive thanks!

 

[msstring]

I had mine rebuilt by Glenn-Ray Radiator in Wausau, WI. Very happy with the results.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

 

[Shoebox]

Instead of repairing my stock radiator, are the benefits of a 4-core (looking at a US Radiator from Shoebox Central) worth the extra money? I'm not so much concerned with the price as I am with the cost benefit. My focus is reliability which also has me thinking 12 volt swap.

I'm doing a 6 cyl to V8 conversion to my '51 Tudor and bought a 4 row Desert Cooler US Radiator from Shoebox Central, looks quality although not quite as thick as I would imagine, time will tell.