Another '41 Radiator Mystery

[drolston]

The radiator depicted came out of my '41 Coupe, which is loaded with bastard parts. It was mounted to the frame with no pad and no springs. It had no fender support brackets. It was literally wedged at the top between the fender inside flanges. The hoses lined up and the drain petcock is in the right location over the hole in the front pan. The crank hole is at least an inch too high in my '41. It has minimal dings, but you can see a little white dust along the bottom edges of the top tank, and I did use one bottle of Barrs Leak to stop a tiny dribble near the top of the core. The car never got over 180 on hot days in traffic.

Nonetheless, I am replacing it with a Champion aluminum radiator from Mac's, because it is shiny, cheap ($238), and half the weight.

The core dimensions are 20 7/8 wide x 22" high
Overall dimensions are 22 7/16 wide x 28 7/8 high. (tank top, not cap)

Can anyone suggest the likely origin? Maybe it came out of a '42 - '48, which needed a taller radiator for the higher mount fan. But I do not remember a crank hole on the '48 I had in 1963. Mystery!


If anyone wants it, PM me to work something out.

[fordor41]

My '41 radiator core was split down the middle, not a crank hole. Also I don't see the "keyholes" in the sides for the radiator to inner fender brace.

[40 Deluxe]

Truck radiator maybe?

[mercman from oz]

A friend of mine imported a 1941 Mercury Town Sedan from the USA about 10 years ago. While he had the Radiator out for cleaning, I took a few shots. I have never seen a Radiator with the Bottom Outlets like this. Also note the way the Hoses angle out (obviously, the ends had been cut off). I believe that this is the Radiator that you need, but could be wrong?
1941 Mercurys were sold new in Australia, but I do not know of any survivors.

[rotorwrench]

Aftermarket radiators have been around as long as motor cars have. All of the OEM radiators made for the crank driven fan engine in cars and comercials were split core types so they could put a crank hole in there. I think the trucks were split core too but they were a bit different and looked more like the one in the first photo.

The Mercury radiators were also built this way but the one pictured from a 41 Merc may have been modified to work from a larger truck radiator or perhaps from a later model car. As far as the lower cooling ports, I can't tell you what is going on there. None of my FoMoCo catalogs have an illustration of a 41 Mercury radiator and I can't find a photo of one. A 41 Merc owner could tell you more about that subject. The Brassworks has photos of all but the 1941 Mercury.

[drolston]

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By looking at Brassworks pictures I have established that it is not from a 42 - 48 car, as those radiators have the support bracket at the bottom, versus 6" up the side, and they have no crank hole.

The picture of a 41 Merc radiator provided by Mercman shows the keyhole on the side for a fender bracket, which my radiator does not have.

So I am guessing it came from a truck with a crank mounted fan. Not sure what years that would be.

[flatjack9]

My 39 has the crank mounted fan and still has the keyhole slots on the side. I believe the Ford and Mercury would have used the same radiator. A 41 would have 11A embossed in the top radiator tank on the same side as the spigots.

[Lawson Cox]

I BELIEVE THE RADIATOR PICTURED IS FOR A 38-39 PICKUP. Probably wrong. I had a NOS one like that and it had an 81 part number so 38. (Long curved cast iron lower water outlets looked strange.)

[drolston]

The radiator is marked 01T on the top tank, with JA under that. An old post identified that radiator as being from a 122" wheelbase truck. Not sure what years that might be, but based on the crank hole, it must be pre-war.

If anyone needs it, please PM me.

[38bill]

Originally Posted by Lawson Cox

I BELIEVE THE RADIATOR PICTURED IS FOR A 38-39 PICKUP. Probably wrong. I had a NOS one like that and it had an 81 part number so 38. (Long curved cast iron lower water outlets looked strange.)

No, not a 1/2T anyway. The '38/'39 pickup crank hole is way down low and the crank goes through well below the radiator. The top tank is also about twice as thick as the core.

[38bill]

Originally Posted by drolston

The radiator is marked 01T on the top tank, with JA under that. An old post identified that radiator as being from a 122" wheelbase truck. Not sure what years that might be, but based on the crank hole, it must be pre-war.

If anyone needs it, please PM me.

PART O1T 8005-A
'40 -'41 truck. Models O1T,U,O18T,O14T,11T,118T,114T

[drolston]

So, we have established it as a 40 - 41 Truck radiator. Thanks.
It is in good operable condition and not beat up. Need it out of my garage; $100 plus shipping.

[V12Bill]

Originally Posted by Lawson Cox

I BELIEVE THE RADIATOR PICTURED IS FOR A 38-39 PICKUP. Probably wrong. I had a NOS one like that and it had an 81 part number so 38. (Long curved cast iron lower water outlets looked strange.)

The 38 - 39 radiators had a cupped out section in the bottom of the top tank for the fan to clear the tank. It also had 81C for for pickups and other commercial uses.

[vtwinsideways]

Originally Posted by 38bill

PART O1T 8005-A
'40 -'41 truck. Models O1T,U,O18T,O14T,11T,118T,114T

Darn! If it was for a 19-C I could make it dissappear for you.