40 Ford radiator

[Mike E.]

I am restoring a forty ford that originally came with a V8 60 but the guy I bought it from replaced it with an 85 horsepower engine. My question is the radiator doesn’t look exactly like the ones I in the catalogs although it is split it doesn’t have the crank hole in it, and I wondering if mine is sized for the 60 and will it give me trouble with my mild flathead? He never finished the car so I couldn’t ask him how it worked. Thanks .

[Jeff/Illinois]

Good question,,, I want to know this too, Thanks

[Kube]

Originally Posted by Mike E.

I am restoring a forty ford that originally came with a V8 60 but the guy I bought it from replaced it with an 85 horsepower engine. My question is the radiator doesn’t look exactly like the ones I in the catalogs although it is split it doesn’t have the crank hole in it, and I wondering if mine is sized for the 60 and will it give me trouble with my mild flathead? He never finished the car so I couldn’t ask him how it worked. Thanks .

Mike, A photo would be wonderful so I can be certain.

To fit the 60HP radiator to the 85HP engine would be a lot of trouble. I'm not certain how that would work.
If you have a spilt core radiator the tin protective piece may be absent if there "is no crank hole in it".
Might be someone replaced the cores but didn't replace that tin.
The top tank should have 91A formed into it. Also, the filler cap should be off to the side, NOT on top / center.
The photos I have attached are what you should have with the 85HP engine.

[Mike E.]

Kube
I will try to send this agin,there are two metal 1/8 inch strips welded to the frame horns where he moved the radiator forward.I will take a few pictures but I’m not sure I can figure out how to load them?

[HDowse]

Kube,
My 85hp 1940 DeLuxe has a split radiator with crank hole but the filler is on top. What car used that radiator?

[Kube]

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Originally Posted by HDowse

Kube,
My 85hp 1940 DeLuxe has a split radiator with crank hole but the filler is on top. What car used that radiator?

Does the upper tank have any ID like I'd mentioned earlier?
Later service replacement radiators were made with a top / center fill. Even later, replacements were made with a solid core.
Without a photo, I'd not dare risk a guess as to what you have.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by Mike E.

Kube
I will try to send this agin,there are two metal 1/8 inch strips welded to the frame horns where he moved the radiator forward.I will take a few pictures but I’m not sure I can figure out how to load them?

I think you need ten posts in order to attach a photo.
Once you have ten posts, go to the bottom of the box you are posting in... there is a place where it shows "additional options". Click on "manage attachments", Quite straight forward from there.

Does your radiator have the bottom outlets curved upward? Are they cast?
A 60HP radiator will have 022 stamped in the upper tank, typically on the left side of the upper tank.

[Terry,OH]

Here is a photo of the 60 HP radiator for 40. Note the filler cap, like the 85 HP is on the side of the top tank.

[Mike E.]

My radiator does not have those turn ups and it is a split core with the cap on the slanted left side of the tank.He did give me another radiator that is very large and it has those cast iron extensions on it,but when I tried to fit it to the frame there is only about three inches between the water pump outlet and the radiator inlet plus the angle is quite severe? Any thoughts.

[Jeff/Illinois]

Mike here's a thought......

Better unload that old pesky '40 Ford Coupe on ME I'll gladly take it off your hands

Just let me store it in your garage I'm full up over here!

[Mike E.]

Jeff,it wouldn’t stack up against your beautifully restored A roadster!

[Newc]

My '40 sdn had a replacement rad with a pressure cap on top. Installed a correct rad and eng ran hotter by 10 degrees Newc

[Mike E.]

After what Kube said I am starting to think I have a replacement radiator also,as soon as I reach 10 posts I will put some pictures up of mine
Thanks

[Kube]

Originally Posted by Newc

My '40 sdn had a replacement rad with a pressure cap on top. Installed a correct rad and eng ran hotter by 10 degrees Newc

Well, a NOS radiator can often be partly clogged. I have used many in my restorations and have them boiled out professionally. A used radiator can be great or not.
Ten degrees warmer had nothing to do with the design but rather, the conditon.

[ford38v8]

Originally Posted by Kube

Well, a NOS radiator can often be partly clogged. I have used many in my restorations and have them boiled out professionally. A used radiator can be great or not.
Ten degrees warmer had nothing to do with the design but rather, the conditon.

Mike, The girls all tell me I'm pretty cool, but then again at my age, my condition ain't so damn hot anyway.

[Mike E.]

Kube,
I think I have figured out why my radiator was moved 3 1/4 inches forward. I have located what I believe are the stock mounting holes on the frame.but when I place the radiator over them it puts the lower return tubes under the cross member. I guess my question is if I order a replacement radiator will I have to continue to use those extension plates?
Thank you,Mike

[JHFORD51]

remember that a V8-60 is a much physically smaller engine than the 85HP engine so Ford riveted on steel plates to the front crossmember where the 85HP engine mounts go; those plates have to go away when installing the 85HP motor or otherwsie the engine just isn't in the correct location and you will bump into all sorts of issues. Same with the front pulley setup on the engine. Suggest to look around for photos on the web for 40s and/or 39 deluxe with the hood raised. V8 club sells a very nice book that would be very benefical to you; in fact if you scroll up a couple posts, Kube is Mr 40 Ford! I also hope the previous owner swapped the rear axle or at least regeared it; V8-60s typically came with 4.44:1 gearing to help the too small engine get the car rolling.