Best Replacement Radiator

stevests

stevests

Well-known member
What's seems to be the general consensus regarding the currently available replacement radiators for a '29 P/U as far as fit & efficiency ?
 
Recently I’ve heard good things about all of them, Brassworks, Bergs, and Snyder’s HD. Seems like Bergs might be the highest quality but you wouldn’t go wrong with any of them.
 
I had trouble with the radiator in my Phaeton a while ago. It was almost good enough but not quite. The temperature would slowly rise till after a lot of miles, it would boil. I put in a new Brassworks heavy duty radiator and there was NO difference. Money down the drain.
I have an old Model A radiator here with a honeycomb core. I have no idea how good it is but I think I will put a modern core in it.
 
I recently purchased a new one from Bratton’s. The fit was excellent.


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G'day 99! If that new Brassworks did not fix the problem...How long has it been since you changed your head gasket? We're suppose to torque them cold, once a year and most of us don't. I wonder if yours is loose or has failed...often a bad gasket does not give any evidence...yet when you pull the head, the gasket is toast! At that point, flush the block and the head...radiators often get blamed for things they did not do! Ask me how I know...Ernie in Arizona
 
There are volumes of opinions. Brassworks, Bergs and Snyder’s HD seem to all be in the same ballpark, Six of one and half a dozen of the other, flip a coin.
 
Ernie Vitucci said:
G'day 99! If that new Brassworks did not fix the problem...How long has it been since you changed your head gasket? We're suppose to torque them cold, once a year and most of us don't. I wonder if yours is loose or has failed...often a bad gasket does not give any evidence...yet when you pull the head, the gasket is toast! At that point, flush the block and the head...radiators often get blamed for things they did not do! Ask me how I know...Ernie in Arizona
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Is there a reference for the requirement to do an annual cold head torque? First I've heard of it!
 
My Bratton's radiator for my 28 Tudor fit like a glove and keeps three engine below 180 even on 90+ degree days.
 
Ernie Vitucci said:
G'day 99! If that new Brassworks did not fix the problem...How long has it been since you changed your head gasket? We're suppose to torque them cold, once a year and most of us don't. I wonder if yours is loose or has failed...often a bad gasket does not give any evidence...yet when you pull the head, the gasket is toast! At that point, flush the block and the head...radiators often get blamed for things they did not do! Ask me how I know...Ernie in Arizona
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Ernie, the head gasket has been replaced twice since then - (both times )unnecessarily.
 
Just because you bought the radiator from Snyder's or Bratton's does not mean they made them or even had them made for them. Not sure but I am thinking the Snyder's are made by Brassworks.
 
Bergs is the best.

It will outperform a Snyders HD (brassworks) all day long. You will pay a little more for Bergs, but there is a reason for that.
 
I think you will find that the Radiators that Snyders's and Bratton's sell (unless they state Brassworks) are most likely provided by Independent Antique Radiator Mfg. Inc. http://www.oldradman.com/ they list them as distributors, and the descriptions match up. I walked thru their facility in Algonquin Il. high quality, hand made, awesome radiator...
 
RTPbee81 said:
I think you will find that the Radiators that Snyders's and Bratton's sell (unless they state Brassworks) are most likely provided by Independent Antique Radiator Mfg. Inc. http://www.oldradman.com/ they list them as distributors, and the descriptions match up. I walked thru their facility in Algonquin Il. high quality, hand made, awesome radiator...
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Thank you.
 
I called Brattons last year asking who their supplier was for their radiators and I'm pretty sure it was IAR for the ones that weren't explicitly listed as Brassworks. What is confusing is that the BW website lists a 6 FPI and a 10FPI radiator for the exact same price as the Brattons/Snyders ones... maybe they're also reselling the IAR radiators?
 
stevests said:
What's seems to be the general consensus regarding the currently available replacement radiators for a '29 P/U as far as fit & efficiency ?
Click to expand...

My Berg's is amazing. I have had it out on 100* days, and it barely reaches operating temperature. Their's is also the only one with cast bronze hose bibs. Mine is in a 29 RPU. I'm thinking of using a thermostat to get the temp up in cooler weather. Expensive, but cooling is the number one priority for having an enjoyable ride.
 
Russ/40 said:
My Berg's is amazing. I have had it out on 100* days, and it barely reaches operating temperature. Their's is also the only one with cast bronze hose bibs. Mine is in a 29 RPU. I'm thinking of using a thermostat to get the temp up in cooler weather. Expensive, but cooling is the number one priority for having an enjoyable ride.
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This is how I added my thermostat. It works great.


http://www.vintageprecision.com/products/thermostat_housing/index.html


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old31 said:
Bergs is the best.

It will outperform a Snyders HD (brassworks) all day long. You will pay a little more for Bergs, but there is a reason for that.
Click to expand...

So let me ask this, ...what makes one better than the other? Exactly what is the reason for the extra money?

If that was not clear enough, please allow me to ask this a different way, ...I know that Gery Bergbower is using original tanks while Lee is manufacturing his own tanks, ...but where is Gery getting his cores? I know where Lee is getting his. :D

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