Tabs on Aftermarket Radiator?

1

1EarlyA

Senior Member
I have an aluminum radiator like the one pictured for my '28 Tudor. What are the circled tabs supposed to be for?
They interfere with the grill shell and I was going to trim them off but thought I should ask here first.


Thanks in advance.
 

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I'm thinking maybe they use that for another variation vehicle and those tabs would be trimmed off in your instance with the model A shell.
 
Flathead said:
Does that radiator accept an original style cap?
Click to expand...

Typically no, but how I got around it for one of mine
I cut off the small neck from the top of the aluminium tank and then had to machine a new larger one with an O-ring to seal out of aluminum and weld it in the proper location on the new radiator top tank.
Next I ordered a replacement brass radiator neck. Then more machine work, made at hreaded steel insert for the brass neck. The brass neck and steel adapter were soldered together.
Now you can thread the two together, O-ring sealed and install the stock A cap
 

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Phil Brown said:
Typically no, but how I got around it for one of mine
I cut off the small neck from the top of the aluminium tank and then had to machine a new larger one with an O-ring to seal out of aluminum and weld it in the proper location on the new radiator top tank.
Next I ordered a replacement brass radiator neck. Then more machine work, made at hreaded steel insert for the brass neck. The brass neck and steel adapter were soldered together.
Now you can thread the two together, O-ring sealed and install the stock A cap
Click to expand...

Isn't the '28-29 radiator supposed to have a threaded cap? Yours looks like it takes a '30-31 cap??
 
Yes mine is a 31 but all of the aluminium radiators that I saw when looking for one had small threaded spigots and the one on mine was a metric thread.
Also not in the correct location for the radiator shell :(
Hope the 1EarlyA's fit's better but they can be made to work :)
 
Phil Brown said:
Yes mine is a 31 but all of the aluminium radiators that I saw when looking for one had small threaded spigots and the one on mine was a metric thread.
Also not in the correct location for the radiator shell :(
Hope the 1EarlyA's fit's better but they can be made to work :)
Click to expand...

Thanks Phil for sharing your solution. I wonder what they expect you to use for a cap on the aluminum radiators?
 
Unfortunately, very few aftermarket items fit as they should. Over time, you will learn to accept the fact that most repro parts you buy will more than likely have to be reworked in some way.
 
What is sad is that these radiators look to be somewhat well made. Just a little more effort to set the jigs for fit and they would have a great product.
Chinese made garbage that takes an American to make it correct :rolleyes:(insert American flag here :D )
 
If the aluminum neck was smaller I would have been tempted just to JB Weld the new brass neck on and call it a day.
 
Phil Brown said:
What is sad is that these radiators look to be somewhat well made. Just a little more effort to set the jigs for fit and they would have a great product.
Chinese made garbage that takes an American to make it correct :rolleyes:(insert American flag here :D )
Click to expand...
I've only seen them in the past few years. As people complain (send them back to FleaBay sellers) they will get better. Just modifying them to work doesn't cost the maker/seller money so they have no incentive to get the problems fixed.
 
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