Hornet Radiator McCord Number

[Deleted User]
[Deleted User]
edited November -1 in HUDSON
Hello All,



I hope everyone is enjoying the holidays. We've missed alot with the club and the friends we've made and hope to change that soon. Chris brought home a 28 Model O, unrestored and in darn good condition so we will enjoy as-is. Enough of that.....



I have a question I'm hoping someone can answer. The Hornet (as most cars) radiators have a manufacturer tag with a number on it. Do those numbers represent the year of the radiator matching the year and time frame of the Hudson car manufacture?



The 52 Hornet we're restoring has a McCord radiator tagged K53. Since it's a late 52 build that could conceivably be a date tag. I've also got a 53 Hornet with McCord RB51 tagged radiator, but of course it could be a replacement.



The Hudson parts manual does not specify different radiators (except transmissions I believe) for the 48-52 Hornet run.



Other car makes I've dealt with, the radiator tag generally refers to the model year and thusly, for an authentic restoration should match. I know alot of folks don't really care as long as it fits and works, but this client has requested this kind of authenticity.



I'd appreciate any thoughts on this.



Thanks to all

Kelley 'Killer' Purdum

Salt Lake City

Comments

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Killer, The one important factor in putting in a radiator is that you may want to put in the round top version of the McCord radiator. The earlier square version had been in use up to about 1951 and then the round top radiators took over. As with everything Hudson there are exceptions. A dealer may have had to replace a customer radiator in 1955 and just had square tops in the parts bin so in goes a square top. Stuff like that can happen, but as a general rule the round top radiator is the style you want for that car.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    It would probably be more correct to have the RB51 radiator in the 52, and the K53 in the 53, but that's just a casual observation. From what I have seen, I think that hudzilla is spot on, that the earlier cars seem to have the flat style, and the later cars have the round style, seems somewhere in 51 or 52, this occurred...
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Hi Kid and Hudzilla



    Thank-you both for your point of view on this subject. Both of these are round tops so we're in good shape there, that's a plus! The K53 is in better condition but not so much so as to make it a clear front runner. I agree with the causal observation just on my experience with other car marques.



    If it were my own car it would be alot easier, it's always challenging to make that final decision on someelse's behalf, especially with limited infrormation. I'd sure hate to have a client be confronted by someone telling him his radiator is wrong and the someone be right!



    If we could only get these old cars and parts to speak, tell us everything we want to know! Well no, no, that's a real bad thing in case my first car would still be out there somewhere. What happened in Datsun stays in Datsun.



    Thanks so very much and I look forward to any other opinions.



    Kelley 'Killer' Purdum

    Salt Lake City Utah
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Thanks 308, that's great info that confirms what I've found on pretty much all cars with tagged radiators.



    This Hornet was within the last 2600 cars built, likely in the last month of the 52 run.



    I've seen early model year build late model cars with the previous year's interior and all sorts of other convenient use of mixed parts while working at dealers. Dipping into the 'new' radiators for '53 wouldn't be all that unusual.



    Unless someone out there has a good radiator tagged 52 that they'd like to sell (or consider a trade-in) looks like we'll be restoring the K53. I'll wait a bit longer before proceeding.



    Kelley 'Killer' Purdum

    Salt Lake City Utah
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    My understanding of the tags on McCord Radiators is the letter and Number refer to the month and year it was manufactured. Same as a lot of batteries have the month in letters and the last digit of the year. A K53 would be the 11th month of 1953. (I can't remember if they skipped "I" because it can be mistaken for a one)



    If you want your car to be totally correct as far as numbers, the radiator would have to be manufactured the month or slightly earlier than the month the car was built. This is really important to chevy guys, but usually not much of an issue in this group.
  • nick s
    nick s Senior Contributor
    I recall that the tag indicates the month and year of production. The letter corresponding to the month A=January, B=February etc. I am not sure but the R may indicate a recondioning. Anyway the month most likely would have been the same or one earlier than the car's production month (of course the radiator had to be mfg before the cars completion) but who knows what may have been sitting in Hudson or Mccord stock to surface later. FWIW my low mileage, not driven since 55, october produced 48 does have an I48 (I=Sept) tagged radiator.

    If you find what you feel is an appropriate tag on less desireable tank, tags can swapped during the radiator restoration as they are soldered onto the tank.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Excellent info! If K is the 11th month of the year, wouldn't that make it a radiator for a '54? (Nov 1953) Or is that the 11th month of the production (model) year?



    I don't know what month Hudson started building the model years for that era. Does anyone know that?



    So, if the radiators are dated by the calender year and this was built in say the 11th month of the production year of 1952 Models and September 1952 was the start of 1953 models, I'd want a radiator G52 (July)? (or F52 June)



    Kelley 'Killer' Purdum

    Salt Lake City Utah
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    hudsondad wrote:
    My understanding of the tags on McCord Radiators is the letter and Number refer to the month and year it was manufactured. Same as a lot of batteries have the month in letters and the last digit of the year. A K53 would be the 11th month of 1953. (I can't remember if they skipped "I" because it can be mistaken for a one)



    If you want your car to be totally correct as far as numbers, the radiator would have to be manufactured the month or slightly earlier than the month the car was built. This is really important to chevy guys, but usually not much of an issue in this group.



    Numbers matching and correctness is now an issue for hudson guys. I am going to be a shows this next year, pointing out incorrect issues, such as date coded wiring, hoses, belts, engines, radiators. Proper cigarette lighter elements, proper sheen to the flat or semi gloss chassis black, you know all the BS the chevy guys like to do. What a bunch of esoteric nut jobs.... :p
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    hudsonkid wrote:
    Numbers matching and correctness is now an issue for hudson guys. I am going to be a shows this next year, pointing out incorrect issues, such as date coded wiring, hoses, belts, engines, radiators. Proper cigarette lighter elements, proper sheen to the flat or semi gloss chassis black, you know all the BS the chevy guys like to do. What a bunch of esoteric nut jobs.... :p



    Knowing this, I'm sure you'll get special invitations to all the meets. Don't forget the crayon and chalk inspectors marks on the cowl. Possibly you'll want to take some paint chip charts along to make sure the color matches on the paint jobs are exact!



    BTW, I'll probably pass on walking around with you, and I'll just meet you back at the truck



    PS, I guess we won't be taking any of OUR cars while you're doing this!
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    hudsondad wrote:
    Knowing this, I'm sure you'll get special invitations to all the meets. Don't forget the crayon and chalk inspectors marks on the cowl. Possibly you'll want to take some paint chip charts along to make sure the color matches on the paint jobs are exact!



    BTW, I'll probably pass on walking around with you, and I'll just meet you back at the truck



    PS, I guess we won't be taking any of OUR cars while you're doing this!



    those rules don't apply to my car...



    Heck, I'm thinking about airbagging my hudson.
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