1957 radiator replacement | Ford Thunderbird club group 1955-2005 T-Bird models

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1957 radiator replacement

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1957Bird

1957Bird

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Thunderbird Year
1957
Considering upgrading to a 3 row alum. Radiator on my 57 auto trans bird as well as 7 blade fan with spacer.
anyone with experience with this combination would be appreciated. Car is New England based.
thanks
Roger

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I recently installed A/C on my 57 T-Bird. When I did, I put a larger 4-core aluminum radiator equipped with two puller fans. Also installed a High-po water pump
and a slightly larger 170 degree thermostat. While it is too cold for the A/C, and drove the car last Saturday 60 miles round trip with no heating issues. I plan to
take it to a car show this next Saturday which will be about an 80 mile round trip - will see what happens.

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John R. Dulin said:
I recently installed A/C on my 57 T-Bird. When I did, I put a larger 4-core aluminum radiator equipped with two puller fans. Also installed a High-po water pump
and a slightly larger 170 degree thermostat. While it is too cold for the A/C, and drove the car last Saturday 60 miles round trip with no heating issues. I plan to
take it to a car show this next Saturday which will be about an 80 mile round trip - will see what happens.
Click to expand...
Hi John, Im getting ready to install AC on my 57 bird and am looking at radiators now. $550 bucks plus another $120 for the wiring harness for a two fan radiator. are the fans working....and do you feel the added expense worth it? If its the diff between cool and overheating, it is. But you must have been convinced it was to spend the extra cash. Thanks for any feedback.
 
John R. Dulin said:
I recently installed A/C on my 57 T-Bird. When I did, I put a larger 4-core aluminum radiator equipped with two puller fans. Also installed a High-po water pump
and a slightly larger 170 degree thermostat. While it is too cold for the A/C, and drove the car last Saturday 60 miles round trip with no heating issues. I plan to
take it to a car show this next Saturday which will be about an 80 mile round trip - will see what happens.
Click to expand...
Hi John....what brand of two puller fan radiator did you buy? im putting AC in my 57 and am ready to order a radiator and 6 blade fanblade. Those radiators with 2 fans were like $700 after the wiring kit. same radiator without the fans $277. how much trouble did you have before and are you happy now?

Any help appreciated.
Im installing AC on my 57.
Ive added the Casco waterpump with larger impellers, largemouth thermostat and will put in an aluminum radiator and 6 blade fanblade.
1) should I use a dual fan radiator like one from Engineered Cooling Products or not? Its $700 with the wiring harness compared to $277 radiator only.
2) whats the deal with a spacer on the fanblade Im reading about? does that help car stay cooler?

Thanks for any help!
 
I run a fan from a Lincoln and a standard radiator, I have no special spacer or high volume water pump. I run consistently at 190 to 195 degrees fahernheit This is running in town or on the road for extended time. I have worked to make sure all systems are in proper working order. i do not have an aluminum radiator in my '57. The radiator is nothing special. Becasue is is not aluminum I can generally get repairs on a trip. You pays your money and you takes your

I forgot to mention I have AC and no problem in running it with a non-aluminum radiator.
 
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Although I have a 4-row, copper & brass radiator (not yet installed), Ted Eaton (eatonbalancing.com/y-blocksforever) said the additional rows restrict air flow.

It is not necessary to remove the hood to remove/replace the radiator.
 
John R. Dulin said:
These early birds always run hot. Spacers, aluminum radiators, puller fans, hi-po water pumps, etc you may need all of these to keep you birds cool.
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My experience is that they do not always run hot although many do. I also find that many owners have not made sure that all of the systems regarding the engines are in good working order.
 
Hello, once again I am looking to pick the brain of those who know much more about our 57s than I. I need to replace my radiator. I have read the info available here, and on other sources, however it is all somewhat dated. Given how things have changed in manufacturing, to include availability, quality and delivery, I thought I would reopen this old post and see if the consensus is still the same.

I have the D-model, with auto transmission. I am in Las Vegas, so it does get a bit toasty. I have a Flowkooler water pump, a 6-bladed fan, a pusher electric fan on the front of the radiator that I can toggle on/off, a Steward 180 degree high flow thermostat, and a recently complete engine-out block flush. No A/C. I also have a nice aluminum overflow tank.

I was hoping for some updated input on radiators. As I would like to keep as much of an “original” look as possible, and was hoping to avoid some non-North American imports, I am looking at two, both by US Radiator. Aluminum model AL050121ANDZ, high efficiency enhanced 2-row with 1.25” tubes. Has the trans cooler and comes painted black. The other is the brass and copper model 050121ANDZ, high efficiency 4 row. Has the trans cooler and is painted black.

I don’t think I can really “go wrong” with either, just hoping for a little “this is what I have found” input from folks in in areas that routinely get around to over 100, and help me make up my befuddled mind. Thanks in advance.
 
My car had a super duty 4 row "brass" nearly new radiator on it with 7 blade HD Flex fan. Everything else was "factory". It ran hot. I then added AC and needed to cool it down. I did all of the usual upgrades, the flowkooler WP, Ames Spacer, wide mouth thermostat and it did pretty good but still got a little hotter then I would have preferred, sometimes pushing around 215 when the outside temperatures were 110. . I replaced the 4 row brass with an aluminum with the dual row of wide tubes. That lowered the temperatures about 5 degrees more. That put me really close to where I wanted to be and I could have lived with that. The last thing I did was put a smaller water pump pulley on it. If that lowered the temperature at the high end it was only by 2 or 3 degrees but it did seem to make it warmup and stabilize faster and maintain a more stable temperature overall. I didn't want to go electric as I want to keep the generator and engine fan to keep the original look. The radiator I used was from "auto city classic" on ebay. Many Tbirders have used it with great success. Price is excellent, fit is excellent and it looks just like original if you paint it black. It is also much much lighter than the brass and I would guess half the price as well as half the weight. https://www.ebay.com/itm/2915315962...pid=5338236430&customid=&toolid=10001&mkevt=1
 
Tom Alpers said:
My car had a super duty 4 row "brass" nearly new radiator on it with 7 blade HD Flex fan. Everything else was "factory". It ran hot. I then added AC and needed to cool it down. I did all of the usual upgrades, the flowkooler WP, Ames Spacer, wide mouth thermostat and it did pretty good but still got a little hotter then I would have preferred, sometimes pushing around 215 when the outside temperatures were 110. . I replaced the 4 row brass with an aluminum with the dual row of wide tubes. That lowered the temperatures about 5 degrees more. That put me really close to where I wanted to be and I could have lived with that. The last thing I did was put a smaller water pump pulley on it. If that lowered the temperature at the high end it was only by 2 or 3 degrees but it did seem to make it warmup and stabilize faster and maintain a more stable temperature overall. I didn't want to go electric as I want to keep the generator and engine fan to keep the original look. The radiator I used was from "auto city classic" on ebay. Many Tbirders have used it with great success. Price is excellent, fit is excellent and it looks just like original if you paint it black. It is also much much lighter than the brass and I would guess half the price as well as half the weight. https://www.ebay.com/itm/2915315962...pid=5338236430&customid=&toolid=10001&mkevt=1
Click to expand...
Thanks. I appreciate having a :here's my experience" review. I looked at the one you used form Ebay. It shows "out of stock," with over 300 sold. I am thinking the US Radiator aluminum may be the way to go.
 
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