The Ford Barn

Keith · 10-13-2025, 10:21 AM

On an original 1930 Radiator from the factory how many cores rows were there? Two rows or three?

Bob-A · 10-13-2025, 12:24 PM

I believe the original radiators were 3 row. My '31 roadster had an old replacement 2 row radiator in it when I got it. Never had a cooling problem with until it started leaking. Replaced it with a Snyder's 3 row radiator some years ago.

Bob-A

"Skirts are for Women not Car Fenders"

Joe K · 10-13-2025, 12:48 PM

The judging standards indicate either 3, 4, or 5 row depending on the source and final destination of the radiator. They varied both in round tube or oval (slanted) tube. And there was some variation in the "layout" of the tubes depending.

1930s radiators are shown as "Ford" with three rows of slanted oval tubes, or "Ford Commercial" as four rows of slanted oval tubes.

The Judging Standards don't specify the "fins per inch" of any of the five variants.

The tube arrangement for both 30-31 is each tube directly behind the tube in front of it. (i.e. no angular displacement.)

Addendum: The source for the Judging Standards is "The Model A as Henry built it" by DeAngelis/Francis/Henry which adds "132 fins" for the passenger 30-31 and "140 fins" for the commercial 30-31. You can do the arithmetic for a typical height of a 30-31 radiator to get to fins per inch.

Joe K

Pilotdave · 10-13-2025, 07:56 PM

If I'm reading the JS right, the 30-31 radiators were all 3 rows of tubes....

Keith True · 10-13-2025, 08:41 PM

The book Joe K references has excellent diagrams of the tube layouts.The 30-31 car and pickup radiators had three rows of tubes,and the mid 30-31 AA had four.Try putting an AA radiator shell on the car radiator and you will see.35 years ago I couldn't find a painted steel shell for the pickup,with the little peak in the top,so I figured I would just use an AA shell.It would just be straight across at the top,without the point hanging down.I blasted one up,and painted it with black Imron.Put it on my radiator and found the radiator sat back better than a half inch from the front of the AA shell.I could slide my fingers between the shell and the radiator core.

Joe K · 10-13-2025, 08:48 PM

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Keep in mind that most radiators today have "oval" tubes as the assembly and heat transfer of these is much easier.

The only one today I'm aware that does a "round tube" 28-29 is Brassworks - and these are SERIOUS money compared to the run of mill Model A Parts sources.

I picked up a "funnel top" radiator top and bottom that someone had cut the tubes out of anticipating to have it re-cored. Fortunate that it was small money for "one of those projects someone never got to."

I looked into having Brassworks put a new original core onto these. It was cheaper to buy the entire Brassworks funnel top new and complete than it would be to re-core.

Maybe someone can give me input into a funnel top re-core using modern tubes? It might be better thermally than round-seamed tubes.

Joe K

10-13-2025, 10:21 AM	#1
Keith Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rutland, MA Posts: 130	Radiator core rows On an original 1930 Radiator from the factory how many cores rows were there? Two rows or three? __________________ Keith

10-13-2025, 12:24 PM	#2
Bob-A Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Central FL, USA Posts: 1,192	Re: Radiator core rows I believe the original radiators were 3 row. My '31 roadster had an old replacement 2 row radiator in it when I got it. Never had a cooling problem with until it started leaking. Replaced it with a Snyder's 3 row radiator some years ago. Bob-A "Skirts are for Women not Car Fenders"

10-13-2025, 12:48 PM	#3
Joe K Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cow Hampshire Posts: 5,014	Re: Radiator core rows The judging standards indicate either 3, 4, or 5 row depending on the source and final destination of the radiator. They varied both in round tube or oval (slanted) tube. And there was some variation in the "layout" of the tubes depending. 1930s radiators are shown as "Ford" with three rows of slanted oval tubes, or "Ford Commercial" as four rows of slanted oval tubes. The Judging Standards don't specify the "fins per inch" of any of the five variants. The tube arrangement for both 30-31 is each tube directly behind the tube in front of it. (i.e. no angular displacement.) Addendum: The source for the Judging Standards is "The Model A as Henry built it" by DeAngelis/Francis/Henry which adds "132 fins" for the passenger 30-31 and "140 fins" for the commercial 30-31. You can do the arithmetic for a typical height of a 30-31 radiator to get to fins per inch. Joe K __________________ Shudda kept the horse. Last edited by Joe K; 10-13-2025 at 12:57 PM.

10-13-2025, 07:56 PM	#4
Pilotdave Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Grafton, MA Posts: 1,311	Re: Radiator core rows If I'm reading the JS right, the 30-31 radiators were all 3 rows of tubes....

10-13-2025, 08:41 PM	#5
Keith True Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Epping N.H. Posts: 3,693	Re: Radiator core rows The book Joe K references has excellent diagrams of the tube layouts.The 30-31 car and pickup radiators had three rows of tubes,and the mid 30-31 AA had four.Try putting an AA radiator shell on the car radiator and you will see.35 years ago I couldn't find a painted steel shell for the pickup,with the little peak in the top,so I figured I would just use an AA shell.It would just be straight across at the top,without the point hanging down.I blasted one up,and painted it with black Imron.Put it on my radiator and found the radiator sat back better than a half inch from the front of the AA shell.I could slide my fingers between the shell and the radiator core.

10-13-2025, 08:48 PM	#6
Joe K Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cow Hampshire Posts: 5,014	Re: Radiator core rows Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Keep in mind that most radiators today have "oval" tubes as the assembly and heat transfer of these is much easier. The only one today I'm aware that does a "round tube" 28-29 is Brassworks - and these are SERIOUS money compared to the run of mill Model A Parts sources. I picked up a "funnel top" radiator top and bottom that someone had cut the tubes out of anticipating to have it re-cored. Fortunate that it was small money for "one of those projects someone never got to." I looked into having Brassworks put a new original core onto these. It was cheaper to buy the entire Brassworks funnel top new and complete than it would be to re-core. Maybe someone can give me input into a funnel top re-core using modern tubes? It might be better thermally than round-seamed tubes. Joe K __________________ Shudda kept the horse.