Radiator fit?

[huddy]

Fit is what I am ready to throw, actually. My 30 coupe radiator is not mounted level - it looks slightly tipped to one side. Also the shell doesn't fit quite right - previous owner drilled new holes on the lower mounting tangs, about 1/2" forward of the original, apparently because the shell won't fit tight against the lower half of the radiator.

I'm wondering if this is a repop radiator or if it's the wrong year, or perhaps it was rebuilt that way. It looks old, but I know that's not a reliable indicator. Wondering what I can do about it short of replacement.

Thanks...

[huddy]

Here's a photo where you can see how the radiator is not mounted straight:

[1931 flamingo]

Looks to me that the bumper is crooked?? Rad looks OK JMO
Paul in CT

[Russ/40]

Originally Posted by 1931 flamingo

Looks to me that the bumper is crooked?? Rad looks OK JMO
Paul in CT

Ditto! With the bumper so off kilter how can you tell? Radiator looks fine in the photo.

[Mike V. Florida]

Frame out of wack?

[huddy]

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Thank you, all. Agree bumper is probably not straight, possibly frame twisted, but still don't understand why radiator shell doesn't fit over radiator. Radiator may not be installed right or may be incorrect depth. Top of shell fits, bottom does not. Sign me..

..Confused in NY

[Mike V. Florida]

If the frame is twisted the radiator won't sit right on the cross member. I could be the cause of all your problems,

[1931 flamingo]

More pictures needed of the shell (close up), top and bottom. How does the hood fit at the radiator and at the cowl?? Does the door belt line line up??
Paul in CT

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by 1931 flamingo

Looks to me that the bumper is crooked?? Rad looks OK JMO
Paul in CT

DITTO, Paul
But who am I to say, my right leg is shorter than my "good" leg, so, to me, straight things look krookedy & krookedy things look straight
Folks are ALWAYS askin' me if their tail light stands are level??? Are thy "FUNNIN" me, or should I get TICKED OFF?? Bill W. (confused)
(Huddy, loosen the 4 bolts that hold the bumper brackets to the frame, jack up the bumper until level & tighten the bolts, that works 90% of the time.)

[Mitch//pa]

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

DITTO, Paul
But who am I to say, my right leg is shorter than my "good" leg, so, to me, straight things look krookedy & krookedy things look straight
Folks are ALWAYS askin' me if their tail light stands are level??? Are thy "FUNNIN" me, or should I get TICKED OFF?? Bill W. (confused)
(Huddy, loosen the 4 bolts that hold the bumper brackets to the frame, jack up the bumper until level & tighten the bolts, that works 90% of the time.)

the bumper brackets to frame are not adjustable. either the brackets are bent or the frame horn is ,maybe both
just went thru this on lucy with uneven brackets one was bent.. the jobbers sell good replacements

[Purdy Swoft]

My guess is that the front spring is sagged on the drivers side, this is common. The drivers side has the most weight on it usually. The rear spring could also be sagged. I installed new repro front spring in the coupe and the sedan and it leveled them up nicely. A sagging front spring can sometimes set up a shimmy in the front end.

[John Duden]

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

DITTO, Paul
But who am I to say, my right leg is shorter than my "good" leg, so, to me, straight things look krookedy & krookedy things look straight
Folks are ALWAYS askin' me if their tail light stands are level??? Are thy "FUNNIN" me, or should I get TICKED OFF?? Bill W. (confused)
(Huddy, loosen the 4 bolts that hold the bumper brackets to the frame, jack up the bumper until level & tighten the bolts, that works 90% of the time.)

YOU HAVENT BEEN PULLIN ANY LEGS LATELY HAVE YOU UNKEL BILL!? I know your a jokester!!!

[huddy]

Originally Posted by Purdy Swoft

My guess is that the front spring is sagged on the drivers side, this is common. The drivers side has the most weight on it usually. The rear spring could also be sagged. I installed new repro front spring in the coupe and the sedan and it leveled them up nicely. A sagging front spring can sometimes set up a shimmy in the front end.

Well, if that's the case it'll have to wait until next year. Probably I've got 2 weeks of driving before it gets too nasty here and I'd like to enjoy it some. (It drives fine, BTW).

Ed

[Purdy Swoft]

It won't hurt to drive it just like it is. I have heard that some have turned the spring around and solved the problem. I've heard of and tried loosening all four U bolt nuts and tightening the high side down first and more than the low side with varying success. I've cold rearched springs with success for a short time before it resagged. Its fairly common for unrestored original cars to lean slightly to the drivers side

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

The reason I said "jack it level" is because I've seen old Model A's where the bumper bracket to frame bolts have run for years, slightly loose, & wallowed out the frame holes, thus allowing some adjustment.
My Buddy, Ted, bought a '29 Coupe with an even MORE krookedy bumper & it "adjusted" nicely! I don't just say "OFF THE WALL STUFF" to hear my head rattle! I KNOW the're not meant to be "adjusted"! Some cars DO have "funny" holes so they can be adjusted. I got half of my "LARNIN", WURKING IN A WRECKING YARD! In the U.K, they call them "BREAKING YARDS" They also call a SEMI, an Articulating Lorrie. Bill W.

[mass A man]

To answer your question about the bad fit of the shell on the rad. core, I've seen this happen with old, replacement cores where the top tank is too tall or some other oddball core is just not right up to Ford's original prints. It's usually one tank or the other is not right and hitting the shell. I've got one sitting right here in my barn. I hate to scrap it, but I don't know what else it's good for.

[huddy]

Originally Posted by mass A man

To answer your question about the bad fit of the shell on the rad. core, I've seen this happen with old, replacement cores where the top tank is too tall or some other oddball core is just not right up to Ford's original prints. It's usually one tank or the other is not right and hitting the shell. I've got one sitting right here in my barn. I hate to scrap it, but I don't know what else it's good for.

I bet that's exactly what I have. Maybe in the spring I'll get a new radiator from one of the "good" builders. (After I flush out the block a few times).

[huddy]

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

The reason I said "jack it level" is because I've seen old Model A's where the bumper bracket to frame bolts have run for years, slightly loose, & wallowed out the frame holes, thus allowing some adjustment.
My Buddy, Ted, bought a '29 Coupe with an even MORE krookedy bumper & it "adjusted" nicely! I don't just say "OFF THE WALL STUFF" to hear my head rattle! I KNOW the're not meant to be "adjusted"! Some cars DO have "funny" holes so they can be adjusted. I got half of my "LARNIN", WURKING IN A WRECKING YARD! In the U.K, they call them "BREAKING YARDS" They also call a SEMI, an Articulating Lorrie. Bill W.

I'll try that. I'm familiar with stuff that "adjusts" by having the '41 Hudson, which has a lot of those adjustable "features.". It's been a NY car all its life, so I'm also familiar with rust. Can't do anything on the frame without a torch, PB Blaster, and an impact gun.