The Ford Barn

kingskid · 09-21-2023, 07:44 AM

Just wondering. Has anyone used the Alumn. Radiators like Champion, or AlloyWorks? I need to have my Rad. repaired if it can be. My 47' B/Coupe still has the Flatty V8 in it. Bung for the draincock has come loose. It was repaired before from previous owner. Never overheats and has good flow, but could use a good flushing. Advice? Thanks.

flat 39 · 09-21-2023, 08:00 AM

I have a Champion radiator in my 39 coupe. It never gets above 180 degrees even in the Florida heat. I painted my black so it doesn't look so out of place.

whatdoyouwant · 09-21-2023, 08:43 AM

I have a champion in my 48 Mercury and my 55 victoria. They both work great.

69a · 09-21-2023, 12:32 PM

An easy job to repair the drain bung, but radiator will have to come out. Get it flushed at the same time. Removing the hood is the PITA. I remove the springs, leave the hinges bolted to the cowel and remove the 1/4 bolts at the hood.

drolston · 09-21-2023, 01:15 PM

The consensus on Champion aluminum radiators is that they work well for stock flatheads. My 284" flattie with Champion radiator in my '41 would overheat on a hot day both at idle in traffic or at 65 mph on the Interstate. A refurbished stock truck radiator solved the problem. It is brass/copper and has much more frontal area.

Ggmac · 09-21-2023, 03:34 PM

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Ive got 2 , one in a stock 41 and another in A pickup with a built 255 , .040 over . No problem at all in s Florida.

GB SISSON · 09-22-2023, 11:50 PM

I have 3 and I like them. Of the three, my favorite is the one I painted black.

fordor41 · 09-24-2023, 10:14 PM

I have a cheap alum. rad in our '60 292. Seems to be a bit smaller than stock but works great. never overheats even if anti gets a bit low.

Seth Swoboda · 09-25-2023, 11:11 AM

Personally, whenever I see an otherwise stock V8 engine bay with an aluminum radiator, It sours the car. It makes me wonder why that was done? I prefer a quality recore or NOS.

woodiewagon46 · 09-25-2023, 11:30 AM

I have to agree with Seth, an aluminum radiator in a V-8 Ford looks hideous.

JayChicago · 09-25-2023, 11:55 AM

Me three. Aluminum radiator in an otherwise stock car is hideous. I would have to avert my eyes.
"Look away, Edith! But it was too late, she already been incensed."

fordor41 · 09-25-2023, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woodiewagon46

I have to agree with Seth, an aluminum radiator in a V-8 Ford looks hideous.

If the radiator is stock shaped, paint it black. plus sometimes it is near impossible to get an exact radiator without selling your first born child. also not sure anyone wants my first born!!

41Fordor · 09-27-2023, 08:13 AM

I was still having overheating problems even with a recored radiator and Skip's high flow pumps and thermostats.

I got an aluminum radiator from Brice Thomas and it works great.

EDIT: But yeah, it looks horrible

Krylon32 · 09-27-2023, 09:16 AM

I have tried 2 aluminum radiators from Griffin. One for a Flathead powered 32 and one for a SBC powered 30 model A. Both cars had after market A cross members. Neither radiator cleared the A cross member. The one for the 32 fit like a saddle on a sow and the Model A one looked like shit in the A shell. Granted these were when Griffin first started doing vintage radiators. I ended up giving both of them away.

deuce_roadster · 09-27-2023, 10:37 AM

I put a Griffin in my avatar roadster while building (it came with a shroud). When I ordered it, and I chose the largest tubes and most fins, the guy asked me if I was cooling a blown big block. Told him no, a healty flathead and I wanted NO cooling issues. First running of the engine, I couldn't get the temp above 110 degrees with no thermostats. Put in 170s and it has been happy ever since. That was 23 years ago. My experience was everything fit the 32 shell and mounts, front x member perfectly. I recently sold this car to buy my Ardun coupe but the current owner is quite happy with it. The only aluminum you could see was the shroud, but it's a hot rod anyway.
My 2 cents.

09-21-2023, 07:44 AM	#1
kingskid Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Denver, NC Posts: 44	Alumn. Radiators? Just wondering. Has anyone used the Alumn. Radiators like Champion, or AlloyWorks? I need to have my Rad. repaired if it can be. My 47' B/Coupe still has the Flatty V8 in it. Bung for the draincock has come loose. It was repaired before from previous owner. Never overheats and has good flow, but could use a good flushing. Advice? Thanks.

09-21-2023, 08:00 AM	#2
flat 39 Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Clermont FL Posts: 99	Re: Alumn. Radiators? I have a Champion radiator in my 39 coupe. It never gets above 180 degrees even in the Florida heat. I painted my black so it doesn't look so out of place.

09-21-2023, 08:43 AM	#3
whatdoyouwant Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Posts: 147	Re: Alumn. Radiators? I have a champion in my 48 Mercury and my 55 victoria. They both work great.

09-21-2023, 12:32 PM	#4
69a Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2020 Posts: 145	Re: Alumn. Radiators? An easy job to repair the drain bung, but radiator will have to come out. Get it flushed at the same time. Removing the hood is the PITA. I remove the springs, leave the hinges bolted to the cowel and remove the 1/4 bolts at the hood.

09-21-2023, 01:15 PM	#5
drolston Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Williamsburg, VA Posts: 1,627	Re: Alumn. Radiators? The consensus on Champion aluminum radiators is that they work well for stock flatheads. My 284" flattie with Champion radiator in my '41 would overheat on a hot day both at idle in traffic or at 65 mph on the Interstate. A refurbished stock truck radiator solved the problem. It is brass/copper and has much more frontal area.

09-21-2023, 03:34 PM	#6
Ggmac Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Lake worth Florida Posts: 1,104	Re: Alumn. Radiators? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Ive got 2 , one in a stock 41 and another in A pickup with a built 255 , .040 over . No problem at all in s Florida.

09-22-2023, 11:50 PM	#7
GB SISSON Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Orcas Island Washington Posts: 4,952	Re: Alumn. Radiators? I have 3 and I like them. Of the three, my favorite is the one I painted black. __________________ Owner/Operator of 'Jailbar Ranch' on the side of Mt. Pickett. Current stable consists of 1946 1/2 ton pickup turned woodie wagon with FH V8, 1947 Tonner Pickup (red) mostly stock with exception of a cummins 6at turbo diesel, 1946 Tonner Pickup (green) with 226 cu in 6 cyl flathead, 1979 Toyota landcruiser wagon, completely encased in 1947 Ford Jailbar sheet metal. Ok, cornbinder rear fenders..... 'Rusty ol' floorboards, hot on their feet' (Alan Jackson)

09-24-2023, 10:14 PM	#8
fordor41 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: elmira,ny Posts: 1,518	Re: Alumn. Radiators? I have a cheap alum. rad in our '60 292. Seems to be a bit smaller than stock but works great. never overheats even if anti gets a bit low.

09-25-2023, 11:11 AM	#9
Seth Swoboda Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 3,795	Re: Alumn. Radiators? Personally, whenever I see an otherwise stock V8 engine bay with an aluminum radiator, It sours the car. It makes me wonder why that was done? I prefer a quality recore or NOS.

09-25-2023, 11:30 AM	#10
woodiewagon46 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Long Island,NY Posts: 1,555	Re: Alumn. Radiators? I have to agree with Seth, an aluminum radiator in a V-8 Ford looks hideous.

09-25-2023, 11:55 AM	#11
JayChicago Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Chicago Posts: 732	Re: Alumn. Radiators? Me three. Aluminum radiator in an otherwise stock car is hideous. I would have to avert my eyes. "Look away, Edith! But it was too late, she already been incensed." Last edited by JayChicago; 09-25-2023 at 12:08 PM.

09-27-2023, 08:13 AM	#13
41Fordor Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Cheyenne WY Posts: 187	Re: Alumn. Radiators? I was still having overheating problems even with a recored radiator and Skip's high flow pumps and thermostats. I got an aluminum radiator from Brice Thomas and it works great. EDIT: But yeah, it looks horrible

09-27-2023, 09:16 AM	#14
Krylon32 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 4,489	Re: Alumn. Radiators? I have tried 2 aluminum radiators from Griffin. One for a Flathead powered 32 and one for a SBC powered 30 model A. Both cars had after market A cross members. Neither radiator cleared the A cross member. The one for the 32 fit like a saddle on a sow and the Model A one looked like shit in the A shell. Granted these were when Griffin first started doing vintage radiators. I ended up giving both of them away.

09-27-2023, 10:37 AM	#15
deuce_roadster Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Shelton, WA Posts: 3,800	Re: Alumn. Radiators? I put a Griffin in my avatar roadster while building (it came with a shroud). When I ordered it, and I chose the largest tubes and most fins, the guy asked me if I was cooling a blown big block. Told him no, a healty flathead and I wanted NO cooling issues. First running of the engine, I couldn't get the temp above 110 degrees with no thermostats. Put in 170s and it has been happy ever since. That was 23 years ago. My experience was everything fit the 32 shell and mounts, front x member perfectly. I recently sold this car to buy my Ardun coupe but the current owner is quite happy with it. The only aluminum you could see was the shroud, but it's a hot rod anyway. My 2 cents.