I HAVE A 55 BIRD WITH LOTS OF HEAT MAKING CHROME ON THE ENGINE (FRONT COVER,OIL PAN,ECT) AND COOLING TROUBLE OPTIONS (AIR COND.,CRUISE-O-MATIC AUTO)---I WAS OVER HEATING REAL GOOD--SO SOMEONE TOLD ME TO CALL GRIFFITH RADIATORS IN NORTH CAROLINA---I DID-- AND THEY SAID THEY STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL BLUEPRINTS FOR A ALUM. RAD. THAT THEY USED TO SELL TO ALL THE NASCAR BOYS IN 57 AND THAT THEY WOULD DIG OUT THE PLANS AND MAKE ME ONE (PERFECT BOLT IN FIT)--JUST SEND THEM $650.00 AND WAIT FOR 2 WEEKS. I DID AND IT CAME---I PUT IT IN--NO MORE OVERHEATING PROBLEMS..( I DID HAVE TO TRIM THE STOCK T-BIRD SHROUD A TAD-NOTHING MAJOR) AND ADD A AFTER MARKET TRANS COOLER FOR MY CRUISE-O---BUT NOW ALL IS WELL AFTER 5 YEARS---SO CALL THEM--I'M SURE THEY ARE ON THE INTERNET---MAYBE THEY HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU?? IT'S WORTH A PHONE CALL--BUT $650 IS A LOT OF MONEY--IT'S YOUR CALL-----BYE......MORGUS IN TOLEDO,OHIO 419-377-9449----OH YEAH--I'M ALSO RUNNING A 16 INCH 'CLUTCH FAN'--IT'S THE BIGGEST YOU CAN FIT WITH THE STOCK SHROUD.....

Further info on this subject; the June -09 issue of Street Rodder has articles about cooling problems. Interestingly, Walker Radiator claims that contrary to popular thinking, there is no cooling advantage to aluminum Rads over copper brass ones. They are lighter & possibly easier to manufacture & look nice. But they don't provide any cooling advantage in comparable size, and aren't better with respect to corrosion problems..

Paul

I have read that there is no cooling advantage from another source, and believe it.  Just for the record, I replaced my stock 42-52 giant four row truck radiator with an aluminum 19X17 cross flow, two row, and have the same problem:  runs too cool at cruising speeds of 35 plus, 155 to 160 with 180 thermo.

Mike, located in the Siskiyou mountains, Southern, OR 292 powered 1946 Ford 1/2 ton, '62 Mercury Meteor, '55 Country Squire (parting out), '64 Falcon, '54 Ford 600 tractor.