Custom Radiator Ideas
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 929
Likes: 0
From: S.C.
Custom Radiator Ideas
Old radiator hoses are sometimes hard to find as well as being on the plain or ugly side. The Kool-Flex Stainless type hoses are nice but expensive too.
What kind of custom cool ideas have some of you come up with for your trucks...on the "Darkside" ?
I was thinking of having a muffler shop custom bend some stainless exhaust pipe for me and polishing that up to a nice shine.......
Ideas ???? Ed
What kind of custom cool ideas have some of you come up with for your trucks...on the "Darkside" ?
I was thinking of having a muffler shop custom bend some stainless exhaust pipe for me and polishing that up to a nice shine.......
Ideas ???? Ed
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 22,017
Likes: 9,975
From: Rio Rancho, NM
Ed,
This is a timely thread. I'm trying to decide what to use myself. I have stuffed a 500ci Caddy engine in my 49 and am using a radiator from a mid 70's Dodge truck. The lower hose won' be too bad, it just has one 90 degree bend. The upper hose is a bit longer and fairly complex. I think I'll try the exhaust pipe idea.
It'll be cool to hear of what others have done
Bobby
This is a timely thread. I'm trying to decide what to use myself. I have stuffed a 500ci Caddy engine in my 49 and am using a radiator from a mid 70's Dodge truck. The lower hose won' be too bad, it just has one 90 degree bend. The upper hose is a bit longer and fairly complex. I think I'll try the exhaust pipe idea.
It'll be cool to hear of what others have done
Bobby
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,337
Likes: 165
From: Harpswell Maine
Bobby,
I was led to believe that the fitup of the radiator to the core former/sheet metal and hood gasketed defector ( to force air thru the core) are all important for good cooling in our trucks (Mine is also a 49). Did you maintain that fitup? Does it cool well? I would like to avoid an expensive new radiator since I am changing to an automatic and would prefer to have the trans cooled by a coil in the lower tank. I recored my stock radiator a number of years ago and believe that it is still good however it looks like the lower tank is too small to add a cooling coil for the trans.
I was led to believe that the fitup of the radiator to the core former/sheet metal and hood gasketed defector ( to force air thru the core) are all important for good cooling in our trucks (Mine is also a 49). Did you maintain that fitup? Does it cool well? I would like to avoid an expensive new radiator since I am changing to an automatic and would prefer to have the trans cooled by a coil in the lower tank. I recored my stock radiator a number of years ago and believe that it is still good however it looks like the lower tank is too small to add a cooling coil for the trans.
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 22,017
Likes: 9,975
From: Rio Rancho, NM
49Willard,
I havent ran my truck for more than a couple of trips around the block so far. I believe that it will cool well. I fabricated my own core support and I will modify the sheetmetal behind the grill to maintain the air direction thru the radiator. I think that I probably could have mounted my radiator in front of the core support also. I am running an automatic also and will be running cooler lines. I did alot of research at several online radiator places (i don't have the links here but I can post them tomorrow) I chose a mid 70's Dodge because the core size was perfect, it had a trans cooler at the bottom, and the inlets and outlets were close to what I needed.
I did the research on the radiator and then ordered thru the local parts house (autozone I think) I paid $125. Its a Ready-Rad #43-6006 (Industry standard #1586)
I hope this helps
Bobby
I havent ran my truck for more than a couple of trips around the block so far. I believe that it will cool well. I fabricated my own core support and I will modify the sheetmetal behind the grill to maintain the air direction thru the radiator. I think that I probably could have mounted my radiator in front of the core support also. I am running an automatic also and will be running cooler lines. I did alot of research at several online radiator places (i don't have the links here but I can post them tomorrow) I chose a mid 70's Dodge because the core size was perfect, it had a trans cooler at the bottom, and the inlets and outlets were close to what I needed.
I did the research on the radiator and then ordered thru the local parts house (autozone I think) I paid $125. Its a Ready-Rad #43-6006 (Industry standard #1586)
I hope this helps
Bobby
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,788
Likes: 47
From: Minnesota
I bet you could hide a black aftermarket tranny cooler in the area in front of our radiator and it would cool the tranny fine. I have also seen people put the coolers further back in a flat spot even under the bed. I bet you could put a large unit under the bed that would cool using convection. You could put a thermostat controlled fan on top of it also. Maybe an airscoop hanging down to catch air to help cool. My truck sits low enough nobody would really see it anyway.
Originally Posted by 49willard
Bobby,
I was led to believe that the fitup of the radiator to the core former/sheet metal and hood gasketed defector ( to force air thru the core) are all important for good cooling in our trucks (Mine is also a 49). Did you maintain that fitup? Does it cool well? I would like to avoid an expensive new radiator since I am changing to an automatic and would prefer to have the trans cooled by a coil in the lower tank. I recored my stock radiator a number of years ago and believe that it is still good however it looks like the lower tank is too small to add a cooling coil for the trans.
I was led to believe that the fitup of the radiator to the core former/sheet metal and hood gasketed defector ( to force air thru the core) are all important for good cooling in our trucks (Mine is also a 49). Did you maintain that fitup? Does it cool well? I would like to avoid an expensive new radiator since I am changing to an automatic and would prefer to have the trans cooled by a coil in the lower tank. I recored my stock radiator a number of years ago and believe that it is still good however it looks like the lower tank is too small to add a cooling coil for the trans.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,190
Likes: 2
From: Riverside, So Cal
Ed - Ithink your idea of the polished stainless tube radiator hoses would be way cool. Please post pics of it if you go that way.
49Willard - My 56 has a stock radiator and a 351C. The rubber seal and radiator valance (the brace accross the between the fenders in front of the upper radiator) were both removed for my tilt hood setup. With an puller electric fan mounted to the radiator, all works great. So, while sealing around the radiator makes sense, it apparently isn't always necessary.
Also, I didn't want to use the radiator to cool the auto tranny. My stock radiator isn't cored for that and the PO just hung some cheapo cooler core on the front of the radiator. I added remote tranny and oil coolers under the cab. They are located between the frame rail and cab outside where the saddle tanks would go. The tranny cooler is just behind the battery box. The oil cooler is on the driver side. Both are completely above the bottom of the running boards. Sheet metal brackets secure 1X8X11 alum radiator and electric puller fans to the frame rails on an angle into the wind. Both setups have scoops. Just another idea.
49Willard - My 56 has a stock radiator and a 351C. The rubber seal and radiator valance (the brace accross the between the fenders in front of the upper radiator) were both removed for my tilt hood setup. With an puller electric fan mounted to the radiator, all works great. So, while sealing around the radiator makes sense, it apparently isn't always necessary.
Also, I didn't want to use the radiator to cool the auto tranny. My stock radiator isn't cored for that and the PO just hung some cheapo cooler core on the front of the radiator. I added remote tranny and oil coolers under the cab. They are located between the frame rail and cab outside where the saddle tanks would go. The tranny cooler is just behind the battery box. The oil cooler is on the driver side. Both are completely above the bottom of the running boards. Sheet metal brackets secure 1X8X11 alum radiator and electric puller fans to the frame rails on an angle into the wind. Both setups have scoops. Just another idea.
Trending Topics
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,300
Likes: 1,059
From: NM
I've thought about making pipes for my flatty's (dual) radiator lines (many years had them stock, mine came to me with flex hoses). The problem I would see is finding someone who can mandrel bend the pipes, otherwise they'd have to be welded up from mandrel bends and straight pipe. Another issue is that both radiator hoses and stainless muffler tubing are ID controlled (in this case you'd want the OD of the pipe to match the ID of the hose). Maybe they are close enough OD-to-ID that you could slip hose over the tubing? The factory flatty pipes are also made with ridges at the ends to keep the hose from coming off; but I've also seen custom pipes without.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,552
Likes: 0
From: Adams,CO.
Hot rod flatties have been using the stock chrome pipes for a long time now and that works and looks real good. Hot Rod and Custom Supply sells them as a kit for the Ford pick ups for 70.00 and includes 2 pipes, 4 hoses, and the clamps. My buds do the S/S thing, use a 3" long rad hose on each end with 4 Billet Specialties hose ends to clean it all up. No clamps show. Little pricey.
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,005
Likes: 2
From: Santa Clarita
I just installed a 60 F100 radiator in my 56. I had to make some plates because the holes where about a 1/2" off. Fits real nice and cools great. I had a Mustang radiator in it from the previous owner. It was about 6" too short and had a 3" gap on the sides. LOL..
It funny you mentioned using the stainless exhaust pipes as a radiator hose. I've been wanting to do this for some time and am seeing more and more cars/trucks at shows with this type of hose. My buddy at Midas Muffler says most people use no bigger than a 2" pipe. On each end of the pipe, I'd use a cut piece of radiator hose and clamp it. They look awesome when polished and it really give the engine that nostalgic custom look. I'm just to lazy to go to the muffler shop and have them bend one.
It funny you mentioned using the stainless exhaust pipes as a radiator hose. I've been wanting to do this for some time and am seeing more and more cars/trucks at shows with this type of hose. My buddy at Midas Muffler says most people use no bigger than a 2" pipe. On each end of the pipe, I'd use a cut piece of radiator hose and clamp it. They look awesome when polished and it really give the engine that nostalgic custom look. I'm just to lazy to go to the muffler shop and have them bend one.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,337
Likes: 165
From: Harpswell Maine
Bobby, Thanks for the response I will look into the dodge radiator.
Christropher2, I have considered a separate cooler. I want to set the truck up to tow a 5000# car trailer (no I am not guilty of owning any trailer queens) and planned on a cooler in front of the radiator in addition to a bottom tank cooler. My other tow vehicles 93 Explorer, 95 Town Car and 2003 Ranger 4x4 extended cab have been set up in the past that way. I have not expereinced transmisiion problems.
Christropher2, I have considered a separate cooler. I want to set the truck up to tow a 5000# car trailer (no I am not guilty of owning any trailer queens) and planned on a cooler in front of the radiator in addition to a bottom tank cooler. My other tow vehicles 93 Explorer, 95 Town Car and 2003 Ranger 4x4 extended cab have been set up in the past that way. I have not expereinced transmisiion problems.
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 22,017
Likes: 9,975
From: Rio Rancho, NM
49Willard,
Here are a couple of links to radiator places on the web trhat have searchable online databases. The databases can be a little tedious to use as you have to enter information in page by page until you finally get a picture showing you dimensions of the radiator in question. The catalog from U.S. Radiator is probably the easiest to use.
What I did was finda make and model that had a radiator that would work for me and then I took that information and went to the online site for the local parts stores (Autozone, Napa, Checker, etc) and looked up the vehicle information, then I went to the local store and ordered the part, giving them their own part number.
It can be a litle time consuming but alot of time its worth it as it can be frustrating trying to work with some clueless parts guy.
http://www.usradiator.com/
http://www.radiatorbarn.com/
http://discountradiators.com/
I apply the same techniques for fuel tanks and other parts. If nothing else I can get an idea of what part from what make of car will fit my application, that way I know what kind of vehicle to look for at the wrecking yard
Good Luck
Bobby
Here are a couple of links to radiator places on the web trhat have searchable online databases. The databases can be a little tedious to use as you have to enter information in page by page until you finally get a picture showing you dimensions of the radiator in question. The catalog from U.S. Radiator is probably the easiest to use.
What I did was finda make and model that had a radiator that would work for me and then I took that information and went to the online site for the local parts stores (Autozone, Napa, Checker, etc) and looked up the vehicle information, then I went to the local store and ordered the part, giving them their own part number.
It can be a litle time consuming but alot of time its worth it as it can be frustrating trying to work with some clueless parts guy.
http://www.usradiator.com/
http://www.radiatorbarn.com/
http://discountradiators.com/
I apply the same techniques for fuel tanks and other parts. If nothing else I can get an idea of what part from what make of car will fit my application, that way I know what kind of vehicle to look for at the wrecking yard
Good Luck
Bobby