1955 Best Radiators? | Ford Thunderbird club group 1955-2005 T-Bird models

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1955 Best Radiators?

Jim B.

Jim B.

Bronze Member
Reaction score
13
Thunderbird Year
1955
Parts Discussions in General Forums
On my was to start the front suspension rebuild at my buddy’s garage with a light, the radiator decided it had had enough after 71 years on the road. I want to install a new aluminum radiator with electric fans but will probably forgo the fans for now. In researching I have found 2, 3, 4 core fans and sales pitches for which is better. I’m just curious what y’all have found that works the best. I’d like to bring the temp down just a little bit.
Thanks in advance for your help!
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Based on my personal experience and reading quite a bit of stuff.... Get a two row aluminum radiator that uses 1" tubes. There is a tradeoff between how many rows and how much airflow restriction the radiator has. To cool it has to have both "surface area of tubes" and it has to have airflow. The best balance seems to be the 2 rows of 1" tubes. When you add more rows you reduce airflow... you pay more and perhaps get the same or less cooling. Here is a source many of us have used and it has fit perfectly and worked well. I replaced a nearly new HD 4 row copper/brass radiator with the aluminum radiator in the attached picture and it dropped the running temperature another 3 to 5 degrees. CASCO tested both brass and aluminum and overall their results said to get the aluminum as best for both cooling and cost.ebay radiator tbird 1957 aluminum cooling.jpgCASCO newsletter EXTRACT alumnium brass copper radiator comparison tbird 1957 tube fin cooling...jpg
 
PS. If you don't like the aluminum look, paint it black. Light coat on the fins, don't want to put a heavy coat as it might reduce heat transfer but I suspect there may be a good study to be done in that regard as black bodies radiate heat better...
 
Since my radiator had the original tag on the top tank, I had the brass tanks removed and had the shop replace the core.

Radiator 1.jpg

The radiator tag shows the engineering number AH-8005-B; the manufacturer (MC) McCord Radiator Company; L54 is the date code; L is the 12th month of 1954. Since the production date of my Thunderbird was December 20, 1954, this was the original radiator.

doug7740
1955 Thunderbird Blue
 
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