[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by The Brassworks

This was addressed on the other forum. Its always best to call us directly as we do not monitor the forums with the frequency we would like.



06-04-2018, 05:27 PM


An issue was raised regarding a dimension on a 1930-31 lower outlet and/or hose connection. I appreciate your patience while I collected all relevant information. The purchaser (Mitch) notified us and then returned the radiator to the distributor he bought it from. He has been refunded and has posted on his forum. We stopped all Model A production for a few days to investigate.

In the absence of a dimension on the Ford radiator prints we take the dimension from the OE radiators we have collected. This is the case of the lower hose connections. The dimension of the lower hose outlet on several 1930-31 Fords we have measures 1.6875-1.7”. We have relied on this dimension for years and have not made any changes to the specification. We believe the radiators to be original Ford based the consistency of all other dimensions, the die stamped parts and core construction.

With help from The Henry Ford Museum we have identified six prints related to the lower hoses used in Model As. The part was revised several times between 1927 and 1949 and we have procured and reviewed the final print dates for the lower outlet of each Model A production year. The May 1930 Ford prints show 1-5/8”D, 1-3/4”D and 1-13/16”D. One would immediately presume that the 1-5/8” is the ID of the formed part and the 1-3/4” is the OD of the formed part and the 1-13/16” is the OD of the rolled bead. This would suggest a .0625” wall thickness and yet the Ford print also has a material callout of soft brass #17 .042 - .046. This is curious. The 1-5/8” might also indicate the leading edge of the radius which would restrict, albeit marginally, the flow rate.

Additionally we reviewed the prints of hoses and the return pipes. The ID from the Ford prints of the hoses is 1-3/4”. We also collected and dimensioned the two of the three available hoses sold to Model A aftermarket. The third has not arrived. In fitment tests, the hoses tested fit over the present tube and bead and all would secure with a hose clamp and naturally did fit more “snug” with the 1-3/4”.

We would encourage anyone installing a radiator to measure the ID of the hose they intend to use before they replace their hoses.

Based on our interpretation of the information from Ford in the outlet, hose, return pipe, the size of hoses sold in the aftermarket we are going to call the lower outlet 1-3/4” OD and the bead 1-13/16” OD and we will grow our outlet to this specification in the 1930-31 radiators. The 1928-29 OE radiators measured 1-3/4”, the prints indicate 1-3/4”and we have always used this size so there will be no change.

Thank you to Jim Orr at The Henry Ford Museum for expediting the print request, Vince Falter at FordGarage.com for his helpful information and time dimensioning his collection of OE return pipes, the hose suppliers for sending samples and Jeff Kichline at Brattons for sharing various Ford prints from their collection. And, lastly, thanks to Mitch for calling it to our attention.

This is what all manufacturers should do. Kudos to Brassworks for spending the time and money to research a problem and pledge to fix it!