Online radiator question

[Fordman]

Hello everyone, hope all is well. I had been in the process of restoring my 1951 cub when my building caught fire last winter and am just now getting back around to finishing. I had bought a new radiator off eBay before the fire and it wasn't damaged. I've read a few post lately about the cheaper radiators not being the correct height to get the cap on. Was wondering if anyone knew what the proper height should be or if the problem has been with the neck height and what that should be? If I need to I don't mind buying one from tm but would rather use the one I have if it'll fit. Thanks in advance for your help.

[Bob McCarty]

I think there were several variables, neck height, angle of the pipe, cap wouldn't seat, etc. It's probably easiest to install the radiator with a few bolts and place the hood to see how it fits. If your hood was missing the brackets that attach to the radiator supports, the dog legs may be bowed out and the dash may be bent forward.

[fordhead1983]

Best answer I can tell you is to make friends with somebody at a local radiator shop or who is good with soldering. I brought my radiator in to be re-cored, but when the shop ordered a new core, it came "complete". Neck height was too short, overflow tube was in the wrong spot. The guy I bought it from understood the issue when I showed him old vs new and he said he'd unsolder the old neck and solder it onto the new radiator. No charge.

[bubbaearl]

I bought one online for around a hundred dollars and already had it on and was to tall for the dog legs to bolt up and had to pay shipping to send it back. I then bought a Clancy, over two hundred dollars but it fit like a glove.