Thread: What radiator for big block 1932 Ford?

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I am looking at going with a big block 454 or 402 with a blower. Also running a 350 automatic tranny. Rear gears are 331. The engine will be tuned and built for street only use. No racing.

What radiator would I go with for my 32 Ford? I assume I will need a different one from my current Speedway Radiator with my small block? I think it's rated for 300-350 horse.

Street and blower, with automatic trans spells a lot of extra heat.... Think I'd probably be looking at some of the aluminun double pass radiators.... I'm sure there's a number of companies making them to fit the deuce shells now... I put an AFCO dual pass in a BBF powered Torino, with automatic and a bit too much compression and it cools very, very well!!! B&M also offers a nice trans cooler with a built in shroud and cooler that can be mounted away from the radiator and eat up less of the cool air that the radiator is going to need. Whatever you run for a radiator, a tight fitting shroud and a 1st rate fan are also crucial to proper cooling..... Takes a few $$$$ to set up a proper cooling system, but IMO it's money well spent when it's on the street and you can go cruizin' without having to keep one eye on the temp gauge and the other eye on the lookout for a place to park and let it cool off!!!!!! For me, nothing more frustrating then an engine that won't cool properly.....

alot of radiators are rated for hp if you think about it that somewhat of a joke your blown bbc will not make 500 hp off idle the last car i did i was thinking i would have some trouble but did not it was just a alum radiator with a very big fan i do get abit hot with my 548 but its more hot engine heat not getting out

I put an AFCO double pass in my Cobra; 454; running road courses; cools very effectively; put a big CFM fan with good shrouds behind it for low speed in-town crusing.

Ron Davis makes one of the best radiators around, Im running one they made for me and with 572 cubes and 1300+hp and as small as it is it works GREAT, I also im running one of there fans with there shroud. http://www.rondavisradiators.com/radgallery.htm