Aluminum Radiators - Anyone have experience with them?

[NinpoFox]

Hello All,

I need to replace the radiator in my 1927 Model T Coupe. OEM style replacements are $700 to $1000. There are a lot of aluminum radiators advertised on Ebay that are manufactured by companies like Champion Cooling. These sale for around $140 to $170. Has anyone bought one of these? What is your opinion of it's fit and function? Can you still use the car's hood?

I'm also wondering if anyone has tried to give it an OEM appearance by painting it black and/or using the original Model T radiator shell. On the more extreme side, has anyone turned their own filler neck out of aluminum and welded it to the top, along with moving the fitting tubes to a more stock location? Any pictures would be great.

Thanks,

Bob Fox

 

[Model T Monte]

Don`t know anything about them at all but the price sure got my attention! If you find out anything on them please post. I have several cars left to rebuild on a blue ribbon budget, T`s an A`s mostly with a 41 Hudson thrown in the mix. Jet manufacturers have been painting aluminum for years with good results in extreme conditions. Monte

 

[Doc Holliday]

Assuming this is for a stock T, I'd be worried about running plain water in an aluminum radiator....copper / brass works much better for that situation...

.

 

[tmodelman]

Won't work on the stock Model T thermo siphon system cooling. These alum radiators are rod stuff, need water pump and pressure system cooling to work. The Model T radiator must have large round tubes or large flat tubes and cooling fins, plus a big upper tank to allow for the natural cooling of the thermo system.,,,,,get the correct T radiator for your Ford.