I got a brand new flathead radiator for my 1952 F-1 from NPD.It looks real good but I bet it weighs about half what the original does.I put it in my truck and it don't run any cooler than before!I don't have a shroud on it and I wonder if that would help?The radiator fit like it should and it don't leak,so I guess that is a plus!I already put a six blade fan on a while back and that made no difference also.

 

How hot is the motor running? I will always agree having a new radiator is a great plus. How many rows does it have, 3 or 4 ? How about a new thermostat? The shroud should help. Your head gasket may be going bad or the water jacket passages may be clogged up with rust. I've heard some of the flathead 8 cylinders tended to run hot. Just some thing to check. good luck

 

How hot are you running? A pair of 180 thermostats and prestone heavy duty coolant for diesel engines (its purple) net me a 30 degree drop in temp. I went from 220 degrees to 190. A fan shroud will help out big time.

 

I have not checked the temp.I am just going by what the gauge reads,which it likes to stay at about the third mark.The radiator is three rows and I have new 160 degree thermostats installed.It has never boiled over but the gauge reading keeps me worried.I really thought with a new radiator I would see a big improvement.

 

If I understand you correctly, the needle is about a third of the way from C to H? Stock gauge? That's right where mine runs. You don't want to run it colder than that or it will tend to sludge up.

 

Yes,it reads about a third of the way to the "H" on gauge.The gauge was replaced with a NOS and the reading never changed either.I am still running the stock wiring and I have not replaced the senders.I wonder if I get a shroud I can put it on with out taking the radiator back out?If I take the top hoses lose and take the fan blade off,will I be able to get it down in and mounted?

 

Yes, that's how I put my shroud on, but my hood was off too if I remember correctly.