Radiator shell

[Jim M]

I am doing some body work and putting on some new chrome and SS. Just put on my new Radiator shell to see how it looks and notice the top portion of the shell is tight against the radiator fins but the bottom is out about 1/2 inch. I had just put the splash shied in place and the bottom of the shell is tight against it. So I took off the new shell and put the old one back on and it has the same fit. Guess it looked so bad that I never noticed that is was out on the bottom as well. I can't see how it can be any other way but thought I would ask it that is so or is there something I am missing. I attached some pics but not sure they will be of any help. Also I looked in my manuals and could not find any exact measurement for the top tank support rods. Tried moving the top of the radiator in and out a little but it didn't see to make any difference. Thanks for any suggestions. Jim

[1930artdeco]

Modern radiator/shroud-poor specs?

Mike

[Tom Wesenberg]

I don't know how many different makers there are for the 28-9 shell, but your's has very little peak at the top. Originals have a nice crisp peak. I have a repro from the early 90's that has a pretty good peak, but even it isn't as nice as my original. A guy in our club had a repro 28-9 shell for sale about 20 years ago that had a very crisp peak like originals. Wish I'd have bought it. One of the biggest complaints I've heard about the repro shells is the fit of the filler neck.

My 28 has original radiator and shell, and the shell fits snug all around the opening.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

When a neck doesn't fit the shell opening well, the neck can be un-soldered & shifted a bit.
Bill Move

[700rpm]

Not to be too negative, but you will never get that shell to fit right or look right. It's going to affect your hood alignment as well as just not looking right. I suggest you explore newer repros, or talk to Bert's about a good original.

[Barber31]

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It might be worth a try to loosen the lower radiator hose and lower radiator mounts and try to shift the whole thing forward at the bottom.

[ericr]

Jim I have got somewhat of a similar situation with both an original '29 shell and radiator. some original shells I have seen have the mounting holes elongated to correct fit problems in years past.

On my shell I have suspected that the replating process somehow torqued the shell out of yaw. no denying the '28-'29 radiator shell is an awkward-fitting design at best.

me personally, I don't subscribe to the theory that fiddling with radiator stay rods is a significant cure-all for various alignment issues. I believe the parts originally lined up excellently and the stay rods merely preserved that fit.

[Barry B./ Ma.]

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

When a neck doesn't fit the shell opening well, the neck can be un-soldered & shifted a bit.
Bill Move

Bill is 100% correct,that's exactly what I had to do with my 29 roadster with a repro shell. A word of warning, mine was tight to the top front of the radiator too and the force eventually broke the filler neck at the solder joint. I moved the neck forward and resoldered it so there was no strain on the shell.
No problem after that.