Thread: Rad Grill Question

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I'm building a rad grill for my '27 Model T with a pretty built up 383 and I was wondering if this would be okay to use as a grill guard. It's got 1/4" holes and I'll be using a strong electric fan, probably around 2700CFM. For the price of a chopped rad and the amount of gravel on the roads here I don't want to chance a hole in it.

Thanks,
Sean

Well, you will be blocking approx 50 percent of the airflow from what I see in the pictures. I don't know if that will be enough to affect cooling. Maybe one of our Engineer types like Brian or others will know more.

You might just have to try it and pull it out if it becomes a problem.

Don

Yea maybe I'll see what they say. I'm just making a grill and had that in my garage, thought it would look cool and different.
My rad says it's good for 600hp and I'll be lucky to be around 400-450.

Sean

I think Don is right on; serious blockage. I'll bet you can tell the difference in air flow instantly with your hand with this on or off and your electric fan running.

This is the old 'no free lunch' scenario. Great armor but poor cooling.

But heck, if you want it that bad you can try it out. Just proceed with caution until you can see what the effect is. If paper won't stick to it with the fan on it is too blocked for sure.

Kitz

I could drill them all out , or make one million little micro venturies!!!

Sean

sgo70---Don't do it. It will block too much airflow.

I would make a simple grill with 3/16" rods spaced about 1/2" apart going verticle, run 3 supports on the back side going horizontal, spaced evenly.

Okay that's out, I'll have to think of something else. This is what I got done so far. You guys might think it's tacky . The rad sits up about 1/2" so you can't see the tank.

Sean

I kinda like it; I don't think it is tacky and it will still catch the big stuff.

Kitz

No, I like it a lot. You did a nice job on that. I've said before that I like aluminum radiators better than copper, just my personal preference. But the one downside I have found is that the fins between the tubes get bent very easily. Even water pressure from a hose when washing the car can bend them, and I have a few bent ones from big bugs on the highway hitting the radiator at speed. I am going to have to take some time with some duckbill pliers and straighten them back out.

Don

use the factory stuff. I have seen it cheap at swap meets.
there are probably different kinds, this is one.
The Filling Station - Chevrolet & GMC Reproduction Parts

I like your grill shell,did you perhaps build some extra room into it so you could pleat some expanded metal and put it in between the shell and the radiator? Folding it makes even very light gauge metal much stronger. You can probably figure out a way to put it on the outside just for travelling and take it off for show. Hope this helps,Hank

I saw a roadster at Paso last year that they added an air deflector out of sheet metal curved down from the botton of the radiator over the front axle.. he said it ran 20 degrees cooloer with the deflector sending more air up thru the radiator..

Nothing tacky about it at all. Hotrodding at its best.

Originally Posted by sgo70

Okay that's out, I'll have to think of something else. This is what I got done so far. You guys might think it's tacky . The rad sits up about 1/2" so you can't see the tank.

Sean

Thats awsome!
I'd use it if the motor liked it or not