The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop '38 truck radiator options?

My dad built this rat rod truck out of my '38, and his '73. He rigged up the '73 radiator to work, but he admits it was badly done, and was only meant to be temporary. I think that was 10 or 12 years ago. He gave me the truck a few years ago, and I don't drive it a lot because of that. I also need to go ahead, and add an electric fan.
I have the original 1938 radiator, but the tanks look too narrow to made into a four row, and I think the lower hose connection is on the wrong side for the 454. I really don't have the cash flow to have one fabricated, and was hoping someone here would have some suggestions, as to a reasonable replacement. I was even thinking about running two smaller radiators in series. Fabricating mounts won't be a problem, since I'm a welder.
Any suggestion would be appreciated.

I have seen big four core rads mounted in the bed with long tubes run under the truck to connect to the engine. You cound mount it bed level with the fans blowing down under the bed. There are also a few companys making aluminum radiators that work work very well if you had $500 or $600! Joe

Sounds like your dad was on the right track.Does it keep the engine at operating temp?If so maybe the only problem is mounting it better.Why an electric fan? I have found over the years that if you have a properly mounted radiator,and a good shroud,you dont need an electric fan.Surely you can figure out how to better mount the radiator,and also install a shroud.I see way to many streetrods rigged up with electric pusher fans and the fan sitting back about six inces from the radiator. When I first installed a 350 engine in my 55,it ran a little on the hot side,and yes it also had an electric pusher fan on it. I took the pusher fan off and installed a shroud behind the radiator and the truck now runs about 30 degrees cooler.Just something for you to think about.

Thanks for the suggestions Dale.
The fan is almost too close to the radiator, since there's not much room under the hood of a '38. It would begin to get warm in traffic, and of course dad's solution was just not to get stuck in traffic.
Mainly I'd like to find a radiator with the right configuration, and size, then overheating might not be an issue.

Eventually, I might have to fabricate a two-piece shroud since it's so cramped up there. The electric fan would only come into play if I have to get creative with mounting locations. I had entertained the idea of an underbed mounting, but became concerned about rock, and other road debris damaging the core. I guess I could build an elaborate shroud/scoop and put some hardware cloth over the opening for protection.
thanks much, -kk

I had a radiator shop make me a custom brass/ copper unit for a street rod a while back, it cost me $200. It had a staggered tube core for better cooling than a traditional 4-row. Granted it does look like he took a larger Diesel core and headers to cut down to the size I needed, however where the rad was stuffed under the nose of my Opel GT, you couldnt see it anyway.

I still have the rad, would keep your BBC cool. Would have to measure it for exact dimensions, however I believe it was 19W x 22H