Hudson radiator conversion

Kdancy

Thought some of you might want to see this. I just installed the new aluminum radiator on a 51 Pacemaker.

Hudson Radiator conversion

I purchased a Dodge application radiator from here-

http://champion-radiators.com/product-category/dodge/

        2
Row 1″ Tubes Aluminum Radiator – AE374    $189.98 $177.95

This is a
heavy duty 2 row version with 1” tubes.

Used Napa bottom
hose (Flex Hose FF209)

Used Napa Top Hose
8484 and cut to fit.

I made mounting
brackets up different than the ones on the site.

A little trimming
on the radiator mount tabs was needed. Don't know if it will need isolators or not. 

airbrushguy

Is that an alternator mount?

RichardD

Amazing; the one that is in my car was $835. I have receipt--- Griffin

Kdancy

Yes, that is an alternator mount. I made a couple of them. Now I need o make a combo alternator-AC compressor mount for one that will have ac.

airbrushguy

Kdancy, I sent you a private message.

GrimGreaser

Sharp. Is that alternator bracket for a GM 10si unit?

DavidC

Very nice and incredible price!
I do recommend rubber isolators to avoid stressing the joints of the rad.

Kdancy

Yes, it's for the 10SI type. I'll check on adding isolaters!
Thanks!!

SuperDave

I made my own isolators.. Bought a grommet assortment from harbor freight and also a small bag of brass eyelets that are used for installing in tarps.

48rob

I made my own isolators.. Bought a grommet assortment from harbor
freight and also a small bag of brass eyelets that are used for
installing in tarps.

Dave, great idea!

Rob

52hudsonman

 I am going to put a dodge radiator on my 52 wasp could you give me more info on modifacation you  did  thanks

Glowplug

The following link
http://hudsonrestoration1948-54.com/
is my Hudson page- go there , select Cooling on the left side front page. At that page select alternate radiators and it shows installation of a Dodge radiator.

My 53 wasp was modified with a Dodge van radiator- works well.

Kdancy

52hudsonman,  really the pictures pretty well tell it. I did mine slightly different than the one on Ken's Hudson page, but at the end of the day, there wasn't much to it.
click on the pictures above and expand them so you can see. Part numbers and all are there to install a new aluminum radiator.
 I went that route as couldn't justify the extra expense of re-coring the one on this Pacemaker.

RL Chilton

If price is the determining factor, don't go original.  Almost always costs more.  

BigHairAgent

REMEMBER:  #8349. 
I did the Dodge radiator swap for our '51 Pacemaker back last summer. Inexpensive and super easy, but the biggest problem I had was to find a bottom hose.  I'm kinda paranoid about using a flex hose or a splice, so I went over to NAPA and the counter-guy let me go in back and search through a few hundred hoses to find the one that would work. After digging around for an hour, I ended up buying three different candidates but I stumbled onto the right hose:  #8349.  It's a little long (a good thing) and has a twist at the end, so you'll have to cut it to fit.  Anyway, that radiator works like a champ, no leaks and the Hudson runs cool.

Kdancy

Tried to reply using my pad but can't. Now back on PC.

Thanks for the post, always good to have part numbers!

RichardD

A flex hose for the bottom hose doesn't seem like a bad idea especially if the medal elbow is not used (with 2 hoses). They have a wire coil in the rubber that will keep the hose from collapsing on the suction side.