50 pacemaker w/ new Dodge radiator

Richie
Richie Senior Contributor
edited November -1 in HUDSON
Actually not a hard conversion at all. I had my original radiator boiled out and sealed less than a year ago and it started leaking at the top seam again. So I decided to upgrade and searched all the radiator theads here on the forum and followed the advice of the more experienced members. Had to Trim the side brackets on the engine side of the new 76 Dodge B200 van rad and move the saddle that the rad sits in forward about 1/4' so the fan blade would clear the top tank. All in all took a couple of hours and came out OK. I also installed a 6 blade fan while I was at it. No leaks,drips, no errors !!! Richie.

Comments

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    These make alot of sense. They look fairly stock to the avg joe, easy conversion and you have a new modern radiator that holds alot higher pressure and better cooling.
  • rambos_ride
    rambos_ride Senior Contributor
    Thanks for posting the pictures ~ Looks like a nice fit!

    I too looked thru all the Radiator threads - but, I ordered the Honda Passport radiator for the 50 Super (haven't picked it up yet)

    The Honda rad has an aluminum core (probably plastic tanks??) and I ordered mine for an automatic so I can run the TH400 to it.

    Aaron - I still have your radiator - should be heading to Kirkland next week, sorry for the delay....
  • Richie
    Richie Senior Contributor
    nhp1127 wrote:
    These make alot of sense. They look fairly stock to the avg joe, easy conversion and you have a new modern radiator that holds alot higher pressure and better cooling.



    Niels, only the Hudson people would know it didn't belong there, I drove it around quite a bit today, it runs about the same temperature as the original. Now, I don't have to worry about going on trips and having a leak spring up 500 miles from home. I'm going to try and find a 7 to 10 lb. pressure cap for it as I don't feel 16 lbs. is a good thing. I'm happy, Richie
  • Richie
    Richie Senior Contributor
    rambos_ride wrote:
    Thanks for posting the pictures ~ Looks like a nice fit!



    I too looked thru all the Radiator threads - but, I ordered the Honda Passport radiator for the 50 Super (haven't picked it up yet)



    The Honda rad has an aluminum core (probably plastic tanks??) and I ordered mine for an automatic so I can run the TH400 to it.



    Aaron - I still have your radiator - should be heading to Kirkland next week, sorry for the delay....



    You are welcome Dan, I should have taken more pics as I modified the sides but didn't think about it. I had gone to pull-a-part to scope out what the Dodge and Passport rads looked like so I would know exactly what I was dealing with. I measured the Dodge rads from several years but could not find even one aluminum rad in any Passport. Price of AL must be up !! The new Dodge rad was $192.00 including tax from AZ. Richie.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Hi Richie,



    Looks good. Nice job as usual. Are you saying that the six blade fan didn't make any difference?
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Lots of common sense swaps can be done on radiators for us guys that don't insist on/can't afford factory original. I've got a Ford tractor 4 row {that'll cool er !} in my 37 "T" and it looks like it came there. Just changed the side mounts. Cost me $50. BUD
  • Richie
    Richie Senior Contributor
    Dave53-7C wrote:
    Hi Richie,



    Looks good. Nice job as usual. Are you saying that the six blade fan didn't make any difference?



    Dave53-7C, Thanks very much. I won't know how much of a difference it will make until we get our 90 plus degree days here in GA. Driving around on a mid 70's day like today it never got above 160 and I never got stopped in traffic for very long. I don't have a thermostat in it right now. Richie.
  • mrsbojigger
    mrsbojigger Senior Contributor
    Hi Richie,
    Excellent conversion! Lookin good!
    Peace,
    Chaz
  • Richie
    Richie Senior Contributor
    37 Terraplane#2 wrote:
    Lots of common sense swaps can be done on radiators for us guys that don't insist on/can't afford factory original. I've got a Ford tractor 4 row {that'll cool er !} in my 37 "T" and it looks like it came there. Just changed the side mounts. Cost me $50. BUD



    Bud, all it takes is researching something til you are satisfied it will work and you are sure it is what you want. Got any pics of your rad install, I'd like to see that. I really enjoy seeing pics of anything the guys on this forum do, it's good for ideas and helps with my projects. I like doing this stuff and enjoy it even more if it comes out OK. I've tried some stuff that didn't work out as well as I'd have liked it to. That's life, and I'm having fun. JMHO, Richie
  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    Great conversion Rich - only thing I would notice visually that would tell me it wasn't an original installation would be the silver top tank. Scrape the black paint off an original and it's most likely brass colored - at least all I've see were.





    Hudsonly,

    Alex Burr

    Memphis, TN
  • Richie
    Richie Senior Contributor
    mrsbojigger wrote:
    Hi Richie,

    Excellent conversion! Lookin good!

    Peace,

    Chaz



    Hi Chaz, thanks very much I appreciate that. I think seeing pics may help someone else make the same project easier, you know," a pic is worth 1000 words" !! Richie.
  • Richie
    Richie Senior Contributor
    hudsontech wrote:
    Great conversion Rich - only thing I would notice visually that would tell me it wasn't an original installation would be the silver top tank. Scrape the black paint off an original and it's most likely brass colored - at least all I've see were.





    Hudsonly,

    Alex Burr

    Memphis, TN



    Thanks Alex, but how do you know the top tank is not brass?? I never gave it a thought! I just went out and sanded a spot on the tank and it appears to be silver with a brass area around where the side straps are soldered or brazed to the tank. The pics didn't come out very good to show what I am talking about. You are pretty sharp Alex !! Richie.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Richie:

    I was able to get a local radiator shop owner to come by my garage on his way home and measure my space for the radiator and he checked around and found me a F$$d van radiator. I had to trim the sides to get a closer fit. He said it was a little bigger, havent had it on the road yet, but the motor did crank and run without spitting water or steam. This was for the 52 Wasp. $80 if I remember correctly. Bob
  • Richie
    Richie Senior Contributor
    bobdriveshudson wrote:
    Richie:

    I was able to get a local radiator shop owner to come by my garage on his way home and measure my space for the radiator and he checked around and found me a F$$d van radiator. I had to trim the sides to get a closer fit. He said it was a little bigger, havent had it on the road yet, but the motor did crank and run without spitting water or steam. This was for the 52 Wasp. $80 if I remember correctly. Bob



    Bob, you are fortunate to have someone that will do that for you. Sounds like you did about what I had to do. Your price was great. !! Guess we both are happy Hudsonites now !! Richie.
  • hudsonguy
    hudsonguy Senior Contributor
    Richie wrote:
    Niels, only the Hudson people would know it didn't belong there, I drove it around quite a bit today, it runs about the same temperature as the original. Now, I don't have to worry about going on trips and having a leak spring up 500 miles from home. I'm going to try and find a 7 to 10 lb. pressure cap for it as I don't feel 16 lbs. is a good thing. I'm happy, Richie



    I'm pretty sure the Hudson head gaskets don't like to see ANYthing more than 7 pounds of pressure, so I'd be getting that 16 lb. cap off of there soon. Just my .02
  • Richie
    Richie Senior Contributor
    hudsonguy wrote:
    I'm pretty sure the Hudson head gaskets don't like to see ANYthing more than 7 pounds of pressure, so I'd be getting that 16 lb. cap off of there soon. Just my .02



    Hudsonguy, thanks for the warning and I do only tighten the cap to the first notch so it won't build much pressure. I am in the process of buying a 7lb cap today. Thanks, Richie.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Richie wrote:
    Actually not a hard conversion at all. I had my original radiator boiled out and sealed less than a year ago and it started leaking at the top seam again. So I decided to upgrade and searched all the radiator theads here on the forum and followed the advice of the more experienced members. Had to Trim the side brackets on the engine side of the new 76 Dodge B200 van rad and move the saddle that the rad sits in forward about 1/4' so the fan blade would clear the top tank. All in all took a couple of hours and came out OK. I also installed a 6 blade fan while I was at it. No leaks,drips, no errors !!! Richie.

    Richie:

    As you know I try to capture the How to Do, upgrades and replacement actions Hudson owners take to keep our Stepdowns running. I would be happy to put a HOW TO DO with all the information as a PDF on my website. So if you would like to support others with this for the long term.. collect the pictures and information and send them to me... I will then formate and send you a copy for approval then I will post to my website with credit to you. :rolleyes:

    Thanks for this sharing post!

    :)
  • Richie
    Richie Senior Contributor
    Heart_Of_Texas wrote:
    Richie:



    As you know I try to capture the How to Do, upgrades and replacement actions Hudson owners take to keep our Stepdowns running. I would be happy to put a HOW TO DO with all the information as a PDF on my website. So if you would like to support others with this for the long term.. collect the pictures and information and send them to me... I will then formate and send you a copy for approval then I will post to my website with credit to you. :rolleyes:



    Thanks for this sharing post!



    :)



    That sounds like fun Ken, I will gather the information and send it to you. I will take a few more pics also. Richie.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Richie wrote:
    That sounds like fun Ken, I will gather the information and send it to you. I will take a few more pics also. Richie.

    Richie has captured how to change out the original radiator with a replacement radiator in a written page with pictures. The HOW TO DO article is now posted at this URL

    http://hudsonrestoration1948-54.com/PDFFiles/Hudson%20Stepdown%20Radiator%20Replacement_Richie%20Hodges.pdf.pdf

    Thanks Richie for sharing with the HUDSON Community.
    :)
  • Richie
    Richie Senior Contributor
    Heart Of Texas wrote:
    Richie has captured how to change out the original radiator with a replacement radiator in a written page with pictures. The HOW TO DO article is now posted at this URL



    http://hudsonrestoration1948-54.com/PDFFiles/Hudson%20Stepdown%20Radiator%20Replacement_Richie%20Hodges.pdf.pdf



    Thanks Richie for sharing with the HUDSON Community.

    :)



    Ken, actually you did all the hard work setting up and arranging the project. Thank you very much !! It looks very professional thanks to you. It may save some time and labor for someone that wants to try it. That is why this forum is the best. Thanks again Ken. Richie.
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Richie-



    Nice job on the install and kudos to both you and Ken for posting the process.



    I'm going to make one more suggestion to you on the installation. It appears that you rigid-mounted the radiator to the bracket. Originally, Hudson had provisions for vibration and movement between radiator and mounting bracket. The front of your car goes through some vibrations whilst traveling down the road, or worse stress "torquing" while entering driveways or large bumps. Harmonic frequencies can abound, particularly over an extended period of time. This can lead to cracking of radiator brackets, or even produces leaks in the tank itself, putting you back where you started. I highly reccommend putting rubber bushings between bracket and radiator and eliminate any potential future problems. Just a thought.
  • Richie
    Richie Senior Contributor
    RL Chilton wrote:
    Richie-



    Nice job on the install and kudos to both you and Ken for posting the process.



    I'm going to make one more suggestion to you on the installation. It appears that you rigid-mounted the radiator to the bracket. Originally, Hudson had provisions for vibration and movement between radiator and mounting bracket. The front of your car goes through some vibrations whilst traveling down the road, or worse stress "torquing" while entering driveways or large bumps. Harmonic frequencies can abound, particularly over an extended period of time. This can lead to cracking of radiator brackets, or even produces leaks in the tank itself, putting you back where you started. I highly reccommend putting rubber bushings between bracket and radiator and eliminate any potential future problems. Just a thought.

    Thanks Russell, had I known I was going to do this I would have taken more pics and actually shown the cutting of the radiator brackets.

    I never gave that a thought about the vibration issue Russell. That makes good sense and I'll put some type of a cushion spacer in there. I'll have to do a little research, and I'm sure the hardware store will have something. Thanks for the suggestion Russell. Richie.
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