Product Description
Ford never made a pressurized Model A radiator but our customers frequently request it. Sometimes they have overdrives, high compression heads, down draft carburetors or other modifications or they just drive faster than the average top speed of a Model A in its production year e.g. about 35mph.
Why use a pressurized system? Water at sea level boils at 223 degrees Fahrenheit and for every pound of pressure, you raise the boiling point of water by 3 degrees. With our recommended 4psi cap and with a 50/50 mix of ethylene glycol it will boil at 235 degrees. It's unlikely that a Model A engine would ever see these temperatures but it is not uncommon for drivers to lose fluid at higher rpms. Even with the internal baffle fluid will find a way out and fluid levels become one more thing to manage on your Model A.
Using an elbow and keeping the neck and cap below the hood line your original Model A will look authentic from the outside and keep the engine cool inside. Whether in a slow moving parade, creeping up a long uphill grade, touring at high speeds, racing in the regional hill climb or local time trial a pressurized system will provide you with peace of mind.
Features of the 1928-1929 Model A car and car based pick-up radiators set-up for pressure include:
Modern efficient copper core design with 10 fins per inch provides 40% more copper fin surface area
Louvers embossed between each fin to disrupt air flow and facilitate heat transfer
3/4" seamless weld tubes in a staggered array to disrupt airflow laterally
Three piece brass die stamped top with correct die stampings
Galvanized steel sidewalls to resist rust
Stay-rod bracket for support rods to firewall
Internal baffle in top tank to prevent coolant loss
Correctly angled funnel shaped top inlet
Correct angle on lower outlet for hose to clear powerhouse generators
Correct depth bottom tank to clear crank
Electric wire tabs soldered to lower tank
Hood holding tabs
Clean solder lines - not gobbed on
Painted flat black to aid in heat exchange
Steel fan shrouds with wire channel (available separately)
Filler neck and overflow tanks (sold separately) will be on driver's side unless noted.
1928-1929 Fords had many changes, read about the ones that cause people problems. If you have modified or altered your vehicle in anyway, please order from the bespoke radiator section. If you wish to restore your OE radiator using your OE tanks, brackets and/or castings please visit the restoration section of our website to begin the process.
Made in the USA (and made with 99.99% North American sourced materials!)
