Radiator blanket
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ford38v8
Well-known member
It is my view that there is considerably more to enjoy in a hobby of historical significance if one can manage to refrain from placing a monetary value on the content.
farmertom
Senior Member
Hmm,i was wondering how much that old piece of appliance cardboard i hang in front of the radiator in the sping and fall below 40 degrees would be worth?
Tom.
Drbrown
Well-known member
Excepting extreme cold environments (i.e. Alaska) if one has a good set of working thermostats in the engine and proper mix of anti-freeze coolant, one wouldn't need a radiator blanket. True cutting-down incoming cold air flow during warm-up would help the engine heat up faster but thermostats do the same thing in a different way. Until modern glycol-type antifreezes came along a colored alcohol mix was commonly used as an antifreeze but it had a low boiling point, a tendency to evaporate and it didn't prevent internal corrosion.
tubman
Well-known member
Some people will buy just about any accessory for their car if it is factory correct. I have an accessory rear window wiper and two sets of backup lights for my 51 coupe. Both would require drilling through the original sheet metal to install so they are staying in the boxes. I did pay a premium for the wiper (because I thought it was cool), but minimum for the backup lights because I consider them bulbous and, well ugly.
As they say, there's a seat out there for everyone.
As they say, there's a seat out there for everyone.
So, how did these work? Were they just hung over the oustide of the radiator, but inside the grill? I have two similar items to the concept but different application. On my WWI ambulance project, I install a radiator shutter that opens and closes with a rod brom the cab with the concept, getting the engine up to heat ASAP and then opening the shutters. My WWII staff car Packard has canvas templates that use special fasteners to fit inside the grill slats and twist to lock in place covering the entire grill, so this would be a more permanent fix to a cooling/heating situation. Similar to these blankets? Once installed, they would stay on all day? You wouldn't pull over and remove them and replace them upon stopping?
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ford38v8
Well-known member
I seem to remember Alaska coming to the California Grapevine a few times while driving my then new Austin Healy Sprite. Not only cardboard was required, but I had to also turn off the heater in order to keep the engine running. Those were the days.
51504bat
Well-known member
My guess is that it's the opposite of running the heater in the summer while driving across the desert. The heater core acts as additional radiator capacity to help with cooling. Been there done that many times back in the day. In the winter the heater core will provide additional cooling. Not what you want when it's really cold.
ford38v8
Well-known member
These are the canvas grill blankets off my 47 Packard. They are clipped into place from the outside with these springy twisty things. I just asked my military canvas supplier if they had these fasteners and they replied they had never seen them before. Anyone seen these type of grill blankets, or a lead to the clips? Want to make a set for my 42 Mercury.
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pistonbroke
Well-known member
I had a set of factory bug screens and a set of cold weather covers for the 38 lincoln. The clips are the hard part to find. Inever used them but did get a lot of coments when the trunk was open at shows. Tim
That's what I'm thinking for my 42 Mercury staff car. Not really practical for GA, but clip them on at display events and it's a nice look as the chrome grill is painted OD green anyway. If I find a source for the clips and anyone is interested in making a set for their car, I'll post it here.
Alaska Jim
Well-known member
Here in Alaska they were known as "winter fronts" and most were fastened on with snaps. when I worked at a gm dealership in the mid to late '70's they were a common option, and every p/u sold to the oil companies that went to the north slope oil fields were equipped with one, they were needed in the extreme cold.