The Ford Barn

dross02466 · 11-14-2022, 09:34 AM

Good morning all,
I am removing an old radiator from a 1929 Tudor and I have some questions.
What are the general steps to follow?
Do you remove the front bumper for easier access?
Do you remove the headlight bar attached to the fenders?
There is very little room between fan and radiator.

Any hints are welcomed!
Thanks in advance,
Don

Rob Doe · 11-14-2022, 10:45 AM

Cover the radiator with a protective, fairly heavy cardboard. Before you do anything. The fins are very fragile and look awful when crushed.

The lights on our coupe had to be unwired and the conduits removed, removing the lights was a 30 second job per side. I did not remove the bar, but it would have been fairly easy. Going back together is not so easy, but doable.

Gary WA · 11-14-2022, 10:49 AM

drain radiator, remove top bottom hoses,remove hood/rods,I place cardboard between fan and radiator Remove lower two,bolts/nuts/cotter keys, remove! No need to remove light bar / bumper.

Bill G · 11-14-2022, 08:40 PM

Certainly no need to remove the bumper. Gary WA outlined it pretty well. If you have the Les Andrews book, it is outlined there too.

Brentwood Bob · 11-14-2022, 11:29 PM

Measure spacing/length of both radiator support rods so you don't have to realign your hood when you reinstall everything.

Ramman · 11-15-2022, 07:08 AM

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I usually only loosen the outer forward nuts for the radiator service. Loosen the outer nuts on both ends for engine removal.

Gary Karr · 11-15-2022, 01:56 PM

If you also remove one of your hood shelves, you can easily remove your radiator without having to rotate it in order for the mounting brackets to clear the shelves.

whirnot · 11-24-2022, 12:42 AM

I always remove the bumper first. It's only two bolts and then you don't have to reach over it.

katy · 11-24-2022, 10:41 AM

Is the fan on a '28-'29 closer to the rad than the one on a '30 - '31?

31a · 11-24-2022, 08:46 PM

I remove the bumper takes about 5 minutes then you have more room to work, saves the back.

11-14-2022, 09:34 AM	#1
dross02466 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 6	Radiator removal Good morning all, I am removing an old radiator from a 1929 Tudor and I have some questions. What are the general steps to follow? Do you remove the front bumper for easier access? Do you remove the headlight bar attached to the fenders? There is very little room between fan and radiator. Any hints are welcomed! Thanks in advance, Don

11-14-2022, 10:45 AM	#2
Rob Doe Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 495	Re: Radiator removal Cover the radiator with a protective, fairly heavy cardboard. Before you do anything. The fins are very fragile and look awful when crushed. The lights on our coupe had to be unwired and the conduits removed, removing the lights was a 30 second job per side. I did not remove the bar, but it would have been fairly easy. Going back together is not so easy, but doable. __________________ "It ain't what you know for certain that gets ya in trouble. It's what ya know for certain that just ain't so!"

11-14-2022, 10:49 AM	#3
Gary WA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Clinton,WA/Whidbey Island Posts: 4,105	Re: Radiator removal drain radiator, remove top bottom hoses,remove hood/rods,I place cardboard between fan and radiator Remove lower two,bolts/nuts/cotter keys, remove! No need to remove light bar / bumper. __________________ www.whidbeymodelaclub.com

11-14-2022, 08:40 PM	#4
Bill G Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Walla Walla, WA Posts: 1,045	Re: Radiator removal Certainly no need to remove the bumper. Gary WA outlined it pretty well. If you have the Les Andrews book, it is outlined there too.

11-14-2022, 11:29 PM	#5
Brentwood Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: brentwood, ca Posts: 4,247	Re: Radiator removal Measure spacing/length of both radiator support rods so you don't have to realign your hood when you reinstall everything.

11-15-2022, 07:08 AM	#6
Ramman Member Join Date: Oct 2022 Location: Findlay, Ohio Posts: 95	Re: Radiator removal Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I usually only loosen the outer forward nuts for the radiator service. Loosen the outer nuts on both ends for engine removal.

11-15-2022, 01:56 PM	#7
Gary Karr Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,487	Re: Radiator removal If you also remove one of your hood shelves, you can easily remove your radiator without having to rotate it in order for the mounting brackets to clear the shelves.

11-24-2022, 12:42 AM	#8
whirnot Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Bend Or. Posts: 1,057	Re: Radiator removal I always remove the bumper first. It's only two bolts and then you don't have to reach over it. __________________ Bill Worden 1929 Roadster 1929 Briggs Town Sedan 1930 Closed Cab pickup Smith Motor Compressor 1951 Ford F1 High Desert Model A's

11-24-2022, 10:41 AM	#9
katy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Red Deer, Alberta Posts: 5,046	Re: Radiator removal Is the fan on a '28-'29 closer to the rad than the one on a '30 - '31? __________________ If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!. Got my education out behind the barn!

11-24-2022, 08:46 PM	#10
31a Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: College Station, Tx Posts: 326	Re: Radiator removal I remove the bumper takes about 5 minutes then you have more room to work, saves the back.