What Year of Model A Radiator is This?

[SamHain66]

Hello all, new to the forum. I'm sure somewhere this has been answered so apologies ahead of time. We picked up this radiator and shroud at an Estate Sale awhile back and we have No Clue how to identify the Exact Year of it. I will post as many pictures that I can. Any help is greatly Appreciated!

[Hitman]

1928 - 1929

[Synchro909]

It looks to me like that surround was nickel plated, not chrome so I'd go a little further and say 1928.

[Joe K]

1928 would likely have been a "funnel top" radiator. By the end of 1928 production shifted to the more common "straight" connection.

The funnel tops were a little light on cooling capacity. Ford subtly added tubes and arrangement to aid cooling with each design transition.

Today funnel tops are desired - especially for "show" cars. And they (Brassworks) gets a price for them.

That said - MOST radiators found in a Model A today are replacements from likely the 1950s. Which would have more or less matched the later straight connection radiators. It was a pattern which was quickly adopted by most radiator producers.

Well except for the "Honeycomb" radiator producers. The honeycomb was a rather unique construction technique which soldered together "strips" of copper and made "channels" within the sandwich. They were fairly efficient, economical of materials (i.e. cheap to produce) and a common replacement for radiators.

The trouble with ANY radiator with any amount of use is "deposits" - hence the tendency for radiators to be replaced. The old time radiator shop who could disassemble and "rod-out" a radiator pretty much ended with the ending of round radiator tubes. Honeycombs CAN'T be rodded. Flat tubes/channels are so much more efficient at heat transfer - and economical of materials thing but complicate the cleaning.

So perhaps a 1928 shell containing a later no-name replacement radiator?

The tubes/fins can be counted and compared with information available in the Restorer magazine to see if it is an actual Ford radiator. I'll bet it is not.


Joe K

[updraught]

"The old time radiator shop who could disassemble and "rod-out" a radiator pretty much ended with the ending of round radiator tubes."

The last time I watched a radiator shop rod out a flat tube radiator, he used a flat piece of spring steel like a clock spring. Worked well.

[Bob Bidonde]

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Here is the difference between 1928 & 1929 radiator shells. Both are nickle plated steel.

[Joe K]

"The Ford Model A - as Henry Built It" by DeAngelis/Francis/Henry on page 224 outlines the various changes to the Model A Radiator.

The "funnel top" mentioned was produced by Ford. The design borrowed heavily from the previous Model T.

Producer/configuration below.

28-29 Ford (funnel top) 4 rows 94 round tubes 117 fins AND "shroud"
29 Flintlock 4 rows 100 round tubes 117 fins
29 McCord 5 rows 87 round tubes 117 fins
29-30 Ford Commercial 4 row 136 flat tubes 140 fins (This number may be questioned)
30-31 Ford 3 rows 102 Flat tubes 132 fins
30-31 Ford Commercial 4 rows 136 flat tubes 140 fins

The 29-30 commercial radiator was significant since it was physically "thicker" than the previous automobile radiator. The thickness was not adjusted for in the truck design, Ford instead simply "putting them together" and counting on the skill of the worker to compensate for the "fit up."

End comments are significant.

"The radiator cores for service use were produced by Flintlock and McCord for the 1930-31 cars. In most cases, the service radiators were not the same as those installed at the factory. They had fewer tubes and fins, and gave borderline performance."

Joe K

[California Travieso]

Originally Posted by Bob Bidonde

Here is the difference between 1928 & 1929 radiator shells. Both are nickle plated steel.

Bob,

Is the 1930 shell like the 1929?

David Serrano

[Joe K]

My Model A reference above indicates that all 28-29 shells were nickel EXCEPT the Town Car (1929) which was chromed.

28-29 Trucks painted black.

In 1930 with the new larger radiator shell, the construction turned to "rustless steel" (stainless) with the later to include painted "inserts."

30-31 Trucks painted black and included the non-rustless steel commercial variant with "straight across" at the brow.

Joe K

[Bob-A]

Were not factory 28-29 radiators equipped with hood hooks. Located at each end of the top tank. To support opened hood sides?


Bob-A

[wrndln]

Yes, 28/29 radiators had "hooks" to cradle the front of the hoods when opened. Also, 28 radiators shells had "stepped" Ford emblems on the outside edging and 29 radiator shell have smooth nickel around the outside of the emblems. The first picture is a 28 emblem and the second is a 29/30 emblem.
Rusty Nelson

[Fullraceflathead]

Thanks for that info I never knew there was a difference on the radiator shell emblem between 28 and 29!!!

[Bob Bidonde]

The 1930 radiator shell is unique and made of stainless steel. It is not like / resemble the 1929 radiator shell and it is significantly different than the 1931 shell.