2 radiator questions: The radiator in my 1953 half ton truck is the one that came in it when I bought it. I thought it strange that it is several inches short of reaching the bottom of the mounting shell (see pics). Also, my lower nipple exits the radiator and makes an immediate 90 degree bend upward. I've been told this is wrong for 53. So first I"m wondering what radiator I have? Second: I'd like to know if a 53 and 54 radiator are the same because I know where I can buy a 54 radiator locally at a fair price, and if there the same, I'll likely buy it.
Last edited by Gdads51; Thu Jun 01 2023 02:38 PM. Reason: add picture
Mike Burns 1940 Chev 1/2 ton 1953 Chev 1/2 ton 1953 Ford Victoria 1950 Studebaker Starlight Coupe
Looks correct to me and what came in my '52. If the tank came all the way down there'd be no way to insert a hand crank into the balancer. That's why bottom tank has the recess in the middle. When replacing factory radiator the new bottom tank did not have the recess, it was straight across. Although I never hand cranked it, the recess is an interesting detail to point out at car shows and stuff.
Hard to make out the nipple details; pic is too blurry when enlarged. Mine has a simple petcock in that location, drains straight out toward front.
My radiator has the year on it I belive? Harrison? Should have year and date code if I can remember correctly. Driver's side has year/date code? Passenger side radiator number. Mike , What Harrison number do you have? Should be on passenger side facing firewall.
Last edited by Shaffer's1950; Thu Jun 01 2023 01:33 AM.
I never would have noticed the numbers on the radiator, if you hadnt told me. On my driver's side, mine is A-02 , and right below that is 49A. On the passenger side is the Word "Harrison", and below that is the number 3121096. What do those numbers tell you?
Mike Burns 1940 Chev 1/2 ton 1953 Chev 1/2 ton 1953 Ford Victoria 1950 Studebaker Starlight Coupe
Mike, Looks like your radiator is a 1948 from a Car. The 49-A would be January 1949. I am going off " Brassworks' chart and your radiator number. Your radiator shows 1942-1948 car 2" core. See attach picture of chart Todd
Last edited by Shaffer's1950; Thu Jun 01 2023 04:46 PM.
Are you having cooling problems? If not, don't worry about it.
Even if the truck had some sort of heavy duty radiator compared to a sedan, you aren't towing a trailer full of livestock across Death Valley or even putting half the load on the engine that the truck was designed to handle. You'll be fine.
1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) 1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy) 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) 1956 Cadillac Sixty Special Fleetwood (The Godfather) 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado (The Purple Knif) 1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe 1979 Ford F-100 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
Now that we're on the Harrison radiator identification track, is there a chart somewhere that lists all of their numbers?
Mine does not appear on the chart at The Brassworks that you posted a portion of. It does have the hand crank tunnel.
R 02 41 - K
3115954
The closest I could find so far is 3115919 for a 1941-'48 Pontiac 8 cyl.
Last edited by Otto Skorzeny; Thu Jun 01 2023 08:22 PM.
1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) 1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy) 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) 1956 Cadillac Sixty Special Fleetwood (The Godfather) 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado (The Purple Knif) 1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe 1979 Ford F-100 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
Although I never hand cranked it, the recess is an interesting detail to point out at car shows and stuff. 