CG&J aluminum Radiator for Stepdown

Kdancy

http://www.cgj.com/store/product/hud-3401-aluminum-1953-hudson-radiator/
 Felt some may be interested in this. The donor radiator was from a 53 Hornet.

Frankvintagefullflowcom

One has to wonder why they didn't choose to use 1-3/4" for the outlet as is the original. It should also be a direct fit (dimensionally) for all StepDowns. Not 100% sure about the Pacemaker. I think the only difference was the core thickness in those.
Frank

Kdancy

yes, I found the pacemaker core was thinner than the Hornet one.

Added--- they will put any size inlet- outlets you want, just request it when ordering.
Added -  they also changed the blueprints and page add to the bottom outlet being
1 3/4" instead of 1 1/2". For those that it might be an issue with.

Kdancy

Delete

RichardD

Excellent price. Not sure if tube number or constructionis is same. The Aluminum Radiator I have in the Hornet cost $745.oo  from  Griffin in SC. Part # is 9D-29001-01.  That in 2012. but it is perfect.

allan

Does anyone know how much more efficient aluminium is at heat transfer than the original style radiators?

Allan

Kdancy

This info is posted on one of the custom radiator sites. 

Looks like fin size is the biggest factor.

Important
Note: Each 1/2" tube loses 20% of
its contact area due to the end radius.

The lost
fin contact area on each 1" tube is only 8% of its area Plus the flow rate
in Aluminum is much greater.

 

The lost fin contact area on each 1" tube is only 8% of its area Plus the flow rate in Aluminum is much greater.

Kdancy

Now back to the inlet - outlet sizes, I have a question-
I took my mic and checked both ID's, I got only .050 difference in the water pump id and the thermostat housing ID on a stock Hudson 308.
 Is there a real need to go with 1.5" on the thermostat and 1.75" on the water pump if you have the thermostat choke point and only seeing .050 id differences?

Frankvintagefullflowcom

K,
I think you might be confusing outlet of engine (T-stat housing) with outlet of the radiator (bottom tank fitting). My comment about size was in reference to the inlet and outlets of the radiator itself. Those are OD dimensions, BTW.
Thermostat and water pump passage IDs should be a match, as you have found. Radiator outlet and pump inlet sizes are always (watch someone prove me wrong there) larger, relative to pump out and radiator in, since they are on the intake "side" of the pump. Notice I avoid the term "suction". There ain't no such thing as suction. It's just a word we have created to describe the effect of pressure differential. (another pet subject of mine)
Frank

Kdancy

Frank, ok, I'm still not getting it.
  The wall size of the inlet and outlets on the new Radiator is only about .15

 308 engine on test stand-
Thermostat housing = 1.24" ID and 1.58OD
Water pump inlet = 1.30" ID and 1.65 OD

   51 Pacemaker radiator =  (we know the core is smaller than Hornet)
Stock radiator = top to thermostat inlet = 1.44 ID and 1.50OD
                      Bottom outlet =                1.35 ID and  1.66 OD

 All ID's are less than 1.5" by a few thousands.
 All OD's are slightly more than 1.5" by a few thousands. 
     So, why wouldn't 1.5" inlet and outlet work for a new radiator? As well as 1.5" hoses?
 Also checked a radiator in a 64 Studebaker PU and both inlet and outlet are 1.5" OD
  Just trying to learn and understand !!

RichardD

Here is the choke point in a Stepdown unless you are using a high-flow thermostat that most folks aren't aware of.  High flow== twice the area on open than a normal thermostat !!!!

Think you can see which one is the high flow>>>

RichardD

Note on above: Use this type(either one) of thermostat(s) when the bypass is closed with stainless freeze plug {or has the small hole as per Walt}; otherwise use an original-type shrouding thermostat.

Frankvintagefullflowcom

Kerry,
Re-read your post carefully and apply the following logic: If the wall thickness is ~150  thousandths then the difference betwixt ID and OD will be approximately 300 thousandths (heck, it's a casting. You can't expect any better precision than that).
The ID and OD can't be only a few thousandths apart or you'd be able to see daylight through them in places.
I didn't realize that trying to identify the "choke point" was the subject here. It's always the thermostat unless something else is fouled up. I erroneously thought that we were discussing OD of nipples to get hose IDs right.
Frank

RichardD

You are correct, Frank. I just elaborated on the thermostat choke point and the full flow one I installed. Didn't mean to divert the main subject.

Kdancy

The original question was why didn't CG&J put a 1.5" inlet on top and 1.75 on bottom. My thoughts are if the ID is not a factor, why bother. You are installing a custom aluminum radiator anyway. Now I think I understand why the prints were drawn up that way, it wasn't a misprint. It should also be easier to come up with a hose that works with 1.5" on both ends.

RichardD

whatever this means: the top inlet on the Griffin Alum. radiator is 1.5"; I just measured it. The upper hose OD is 1.75".

Browniepetersen

I would expect that is a direct fit for my 1954 Hudson Hornet Special?  Is this a better option than the 80's Dodge Van radiator?

Frankvintagefullflowcom

Gosh......I thought this was over.
Even if it is a custom Aluminum radiator, I'd assume (you know what that means) that you are hooking it up to the original engine water outlet (T-stat housing) and the original water pump inlet. In that case, you'd probably want the hoses to be as original. Forget ID of anything except the hoses. We're talking (and talking and talking) about the OD of the parts that the hoses gozonta.
 I'm out.
F

Kdancy

For those that might be interested, CG&J will install whatever size you want, just request it when ordering one,
As for me, I'll use the 1/2" id hose and easily stretch it the .15 to fit over the water pump inlet.
Much ado about nothing I think.
Brownie, the CG&J radiator was made based on a 53 Hornet radiator I sent them, so it's a direct fit, not sure about 54, I would bet it is the same one.

Park_W

Kerry, appearance of upper tank aside, would this radiator fit '48-'54?  (I'm  not familiar with every stepdown radiator).  Why are they limiting the description to '53?

Kdancy

Park, it should as I think all stepdown radiator supports are the same. I know the pacemaker core is thinner but the space should be the same as others.
They built it based off the 53 hornet radiator I sent to them so they know for sure it fits that one.

RichardD

The Griffin PN is also for a build based on a '53.