cmcphail
- Reaction score
- 2
- Thunderbird Year
- 1955
Is there a performance reason (i.e. higher cooling capacity) why the 292 in my 1955 has been equipped with a radiator and thermostat housing from a 1955 Fairlane?
I have several reasons to suspect this:
1. The coolant inlet on the radiator is offset more toward the centre of the radiator, which resulted in the modification to the shroud shown.
2. The thermostat housing has a 1.5 inch OD and has a 90 degree bend instead of being straight as shown
3. The factory-sized radiator hose with a 1.75 inch ID does not fit. My car was fitted with a flex hose with a 1.5 inches ID on both ends.
4. The overflow tube for the radiator goes to the driver's side instead of the passenger side. See the two pictures of reproduction radiators for the 1955 thunderbird and fairlane.
I have several reasons to suspect this:
1. The coolant inlet on the radiator is offset more toward the centre of the radiator, which resulted in the modification to the shroud shown.
2. The thermostat housing has a 1.5 inch OD and has a 90 degree bend instead of being straight as shown
3. The factory-sized radiator hose with a 1.75 inch ID does not fit. My car was fitted with a flex hose with a 1.5 inches ID on both ends.
4. The overflow tube for the radiator goes to the driver's side instead of the passenger side. See the two pictures of reproduction radiators for the 1955 thunderbird and fairlane.
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