Beautiful car, greaser 35! I'm sure your new aluminum radiator will work well for you. Just remember to run a good anti-corrosion additive and 50% distilled water to anti-freeze mix and you should be good to go. I had both a '53 Ford (flathead V-8) and a '54 Ford (OHV 239 V-8) which I rebuilt when the block cracked one winter, using a 292 block and the shorter stroke 239 crank and rods along with Jahns custom forged pistons to allow for the 239 stroke/compression height and larger 292 overbore + 0.030"). Came out to around 278 cu. in. Ran an Isky E-4 cam and '57 312 heads, intake and dual exhaust manifolds. And an Autolite 4-bbl carburettor from a '58 Mercury Marauder. In both those cars, I ran a 1950 Lincoln radiator (with 2 outlets blocked for the OHV engine). Never a problem with overheating. Engine ran temp. as regulated by 160 degree thermostat with no overheating even when crossing the desert at midday in summer driving from Texas to California pulling a U-haul trailer. That was in 1969. With that in mind, for this 'last build', I am building a 292 Chevy inline 6 and swapping it into my '57 Chevy 4dr sedan. So I scrounged up another '50 Lincoln radiator (took several years to locate one, they are hard to find now of days). And I'll run that in my '57 Chevy. Maybe polish the huge brass upper tank this time 'round. The Lincoln radiator is the same height, several inches wider and the core is twice as thick as my original Chevy radiator. I'll let you know how it works out. The '57 will be used to pull a boat trailer in parts of the Texas hill country where its not unusual to encounter long 30% and steeper grades. That's why I'm running the torquey 292 6-banger and making sure it won't overheat. Keep up the good work, greaser 35! I have never seen a more beautifully done '52 - '54 Ford than yours! Best regards, Harry
Thanks for posting! Good info in greaser 35's post there, Jeff! This thread is so long I must have missed this earlier. Especially like the mention of grounding battery to engine, engine to body, engine to frame, aluminum radiator to body or frame, etc. When running aluminum heads, I even go so far as to run ground straps from heads to iron block and from distributor to iron block. Also run ground wire circuit from body to taillight housings, dash lights and other such things. Yeah, I know...... A bit over the top but never a problem with grounding. Might also add...... You can introduce a sacrificial anode such as a small piece of zinc suspended by stainless steel chain from radiator cap or other arrangement to make it easily replaceable periodically. When we had subs in drydock during the not-so-Cold War years, we would replace zincs in need of it on exteriour of hulls below waterline for same reason. There are also the 'red' sorts of anti-freeze used in new cars having aluminum alloy engine blocks, heads, water pumps, and radiator cores such as my wife's German built sedan. Available from car dealer and online. Work well at minimizing corrosion, but pricey and cannot be mixed with water nor any other types of antifreeze. I am helping youngest son build a new 350 engine for his 3rd gen. Camaro. He is running AFR aluminum heads and an Edelbrock aluminum intake, so he will have to make the same decision regarding which anti-freeze/engine coolant to run in the near future, as well. My choice will be simpler, as my 292 inline 6 will have a copper / brass radiator and no aluminum parts in contact with engine coolant with the possible exception of thermo base plates I am thinking of making to install between intake manifold and carburettors if I have sufficient hood clearance. Best regards, Harry
Dirt cheap insurance,Summit charges twice as much for the same product. https://www.westmarine.com/buy/mart...W9xxsF_92rYWn60_UOSrQuru1kfrXWJ4aAhgoEALw_wcB
Outstanding! Thanks for the link, Jeff! I can think of several easy to access places both my son and I can install these zincs on our engines. As you say...... Cheap insurance...... https://www.westmarine.com/buy/sier...r-onan--13482120?cm_sp=Onsite-Recs-_-DY-_-PDP Much obliged! We are fitting spin-on marine fuel filters with drain valves to deal with the water content in ethanol fuel and protect our carburettors as it is. Man, I miss being at sea. Underway! Shift colours...... Harry
Je te souhaite une tres bonne annee 2021, pleine de projets et de belles rencontres! Hope I didn't butcher that too badly, Greaser 35. I am sure that the language as spoken in France must be different than in the bayou country of Southwest Louisiana and East Texas where I lived as a boy. Our Mother's side of the family came to America from the region of Elsass und Lothringen (Alsace et Lorraine). Though he spoke both languages, my Grandfather taught me more German than French as a child, even so. Best regards and congratulations on the beautiful car you have made, Harry
And to put on the back beach or on the back seat I did this to myself! A skateboard deck that I still have to varnish!
The 12v is over, small roadtrip of 350 kms for swarms, I’m happy because it works well! My son loves!!!!!
The Jalopy Journal
