Building a 32 radiator

Hi from New Zealand

Heres how I build a 32 radiator

First I measured the grill shell to see hox big the core would be
I ordered the core from the suppliers



I make the tanks from 3 pieces of brass



The bottom tank has a strap under it which bolts to the frame.
I turned up these copper rivets to fasten the bottom tank to the strap



The rivets are put in place using this tool , its known as a rivet " set "



Here is the bottom tank with the strap riveted into place



I added a trans cooler




This is the bracket I made to hold the rods which go back to the firewall.




This was also rivetted and soldered to the top tank.





The hole for the outlet is cut a bit smaller than needed then a flange is tapped down into the tank. This makes a stronger joint as ths solder is sweated into the joint.



I made up the outlets then ran a swage around both ends. One swage stops the outlet goint to far into the tank and the other stops the hose coming off the outlet



Outlet soldered in place




Here.s the top tank with all fittings finished



I folded up some side straps and solid rivetted the brackets in place for the grill shell mounts



And here is the finished radiator mounted

 

Let me be the first to say...... "Anyone can fire up their Mastercard or Visa and buy one from Walker, US Rad or whomever..... you however built one..... and did a stellar job", I might add.

 

I envy dedication and craftmanship that I see in our far away hot rod brothers and this is just one more prime example of it. Great job.

 

Nice job! Where did you get the core from?Im looking for one to redo my 46ford radiator.Im like you I like doing EVERYthing myself.

 

Shit god damn! Very nice.

Pete-

 

+1!!!!

 

Bravo!!

 

I am in New Zealand, our local radiator company makes them.
There should be someone over there who would make you a 46 core.

 

Might I ask what the alternator, in one of your pictures, came off of ? NOT to mention the bang up job you did on the radiator!...

 

Nice job, I really like the rivets.

 

That is very cool! Thank you!!!!

 

I love to see shit like this..........so why did you do it anyway? did some one say it culd not be done....that is what make me go right out in the garage to prove them wrong...anyway whatever made you do it it is just great to see people are not afraid to do it. great piece I might add. Congrats!!!!!!!!

 

nice work

 

Wow, very impressive work.

 

Great job - how did you go about working out the water volume of the core? as I need to make one with a large core to cool a flattie using a Model 'Y' grille shell. Thanks

 

I used a 4 row core and just made the radiator as big as would fit in the shell. I have found the hemi is not a hard engine to cool. A freind had the engine in a T bucket before I got it, it came out of a 54 New Yorker. I made the radiator for that using the original New Yorker core. it was a perfect fit in the T shell and cooled well.

I don't like your chances to cool a flat head in a Ford Y you have not got much in the way of frontal area. Good luck PM me if I can be any help.

 

I think that is outstanding. I'm going to try to build one for my 32 w/flathead. What did you ask for when you bought the core?
Thanks, and again, great job
Jim

 

Nice!

Good job

 

The manufacturer would need the height and width of the core, the thickness and the size of the header plates, also the relationship of the header plate with the core ie does the header plate overhang the core.
Hope this helps.

 

Wow, very nice job!!

 

Thanks for sharing, that was very cool to see.

Great job also!

I nominate this for archiving in the Tech area.

-W