'55 Radiator

Frankvintagefullflowcom

Here we go again, but with a little twist. We've heard the discussion regarding alternative choices for earlier Hudson radiator replacements but I don't recall any about the "Hash" cars. Being the Nash bodied cars, I'm pretty sure the radiators are different enough that the usual Dodge truck solution doesn't apply.

This subject car is a '55  Hornet with the 308, so in/out locations would be the same but OA dimensions and mounting may differ. Has anyone ever had to find a common replacement for that? Mounting modifications aren't a big problem.

Frank

RichardD

sidetrack: Frank, am also curious about putting high-efficiency cores in these radiators. I have had several old cars, even foreign cars, done this way but have never seen a reference in the forums to doing a Hudson radiator that way. Everyone talks about replacements it seems~~

The shops here take the top tank, bottom tank, with the side mount straps and install a new core, thicker if possible, more fins per inch, more flues, etc.  Perhaps this doesn't work for Hudson's or the top and bottom tanks go bad also.

 I have a Griffin radiator and don't need one. But, sure do wonder why no one mentions it ??

Frankvintagefullflowcom

Richard,

I have a custom made aluminum radiator in our Hornet, made by Engineered Cooling Products but I didn't do it to improve cooling capability. The original Hudson unit is more than adequate in that department (if maintained properly) but it has the inherent tendency to develop cracks at the formed stiffening indentations on the tanks. I think Hudson corrected that issue in later tanks by changing to a rounded shape, at least on the top one.

This particular project is to replace a radiator that was stolen (likely by meth maggots) so I don't have the original to use for an example. I can determine that by measurement but I was hoping that someone might have a suggestion based upon experience. There's a chance that it may be identical to the '54 and earlier SD version.

Frank