Curious on what radiators everyone is using, I'm on a strict budget so, instead of paying $600 for a new radiator I was trying to look at my options... I know I could have it rechorded.. But would it be cheaper and more efficient to get a universal one from summit, like this one? http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=SUM%2D381428&N=700+4294839040+4294810996+4294891681+4294906186+4294883149+4294883015+4294882959+115&autoview=sku



Anyone with advice please chime in.. What size do I need, I'm out of town until Friday so I can't go remeasure, I think I remember it being 27.5"x19" but i can't remember...



And what about tube sizing.. I think the originals have like 1.25" tubes, when this one only has 1", btu besides that i think it's spot on?

William



1957 Ford Fairlane 500

292 Bored .30 over

Fordomatic

I adapted a universal aluminum rad, cross flow with side tanks, to the 1946 stock radiator frame.  Cost started relatively low with an ebay price plus shipping of $175, but more than doubled with all that was required. 

Edit:  The radiator shown in your link is very similar to the one I ended up with.  Same location and size for inlets and outlets, 2 row 1 in. tubes.  Things to consider:  catch can, use fan shroud or electric fan, method of mounting.

Mike, located in the Siskiyou mountains, Southern, OR 292 powered 1946 Ford 1/2 ton, '62 Mercury Meteor, '55 Country Squire (parting out), '64 Falcon, '54 Ford 600 tractor.

I have a friend who can weld, and brackets are $35, oerflow tank is like another $15.. and i was plannin on using the stock fan, is that not a good idea?

William



1957 Ford Fairlane 500

292 Bored .30 over

Fordomatic

The stock fan should have a fan shroud.  Universal radiators dont have provision for shrouds so it will take some planning.

Welding on side tanks required a person experienced in TIG.   

Mike, located in the Siskiyou mountains, Southern, OR 292 powered 1946 Ford 1/2 ton, '62 Mercury Meteor, '55 Country Squire (parting out), '64 Falcon, '54 Ford 600 tractor.

There are some pretty ugly (in my opinion) universal chrome fan shrouds available.


Lawrenceville, GA

Charlie are you thinking about the half shrouds that mount through the radiator core?  Their effectiveness would be questionable too.

Mike, located in the Siskiyou mountains, Southern, OR 292 powered 1946 Ford 1/2 ton, '62 Mercury Meteor, '55 Country Squire (parting out), '64 Falcon, '54 Ford 600 tractor.

So one of these would be a drop in plug up and i'd be good to go deal????

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1957-1958-1959-Ford-Fairlane-3-Row-High-Effic-Radiator_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286Q2em20Q2el1116QQhashZitem380085048426QQitemZ380085048426QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories#ht_3204wt_827



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1957-1958-1959-Ford-Fairlane-3-Row-Radiator-SA_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1205Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a1Q7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem400040945318QQitemZ400040945318QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories#ht_3169wt_812





Also... I don't think my fairlane has a fan shroud?

William



1957 Ford Fairlane 500

292 Bored .30 over

Fordomatic

Sounds like the same thing. They're certainly not better than a shroud that covers the entire core but they are much better than no shroud at all.


Lawrenceville, GA

I had an excellent aluminum radiator made in Gadsden AL for $275. Was made from my radiator pattern so they will have the dimensions now. It's great. Went out a couple of weekends ago for a little 300 mile jaunt and it never saw 160 degrees goin' down the road. Am very happy with it.

Doing Fords for 45 years. '56 Customline Victoria

E.J. in Havana FL

Do you have their name and number?  Excellent price.

Mike, located in the Siskiyou mountains, Southern, OR 292 powered 1946 Ford 1/2 ton, '62 Mercury Meteor, '55 Country Squire (parting out), '64 Falcon, '54 Ford 600 tractor.