Where to buy radiator for my 59 tbird?

[SquarebirdNO]

Im not sure where to buy a new radiator for 1959 tbird? I tried to buy one new but that radiator did not fit at all.

[Yadkin]

Have you tried taking your old one to a local shop to get rebuilt?

[jopizz]

Where did you buy it from. All the Thunderbird vendors carry new radiators that are made to the same spec as the originals. Try Bob's Bird House. They show them in stock for $385. Yadkin makes an excellent point. Most times the core just needs to be replaced. Most radiator shops can do that cheaper than buying a new radiator.

John

[YellowRose]

Where to buy radiator for my 59 tbird?

Joran, Steve gave you a good idea, and it would probably be cheaper then buying a new one from one of the Tbird parts houses here. If you have someone there in your area in Norway who specializes in cleaning and rebuilding radiators, contact them and see what they would charge to do it.

If you have to buy a new one then contact one of the many Tbird parts houses here in the States. You will find them all listed in the Advertisements Forum, with their websites, and contact information. To give you an idea of what a new one will cost, I am looking at the Bird Nest catalog. You can look at it online at http://www.tbirdparts.com A new radiator for a '58-'60 Squarebird sells for $399.95 US, plus shipping. (Page 46 in their catalog, Part #8005A. You might find it cheaper from MAC's on our East Coast. You won't though as I just looked at the MAC's catalog http://www.macsautoparts.com/ford_thunderbird/ to give you a comparison. On Page 225, they list '58-'60 Squarebird radiators for $434.95, plus shipping, Part # 66-44762-1. However, you might save on shipping costs rather than having one shipped from the many Tbird parts houses located in California or our West Coast. Check the other Tbird parts houses, like the Bird House in Delaware, to see if you can find one cheaper.

As Steve said, you might come off a lot better if you can find someone close to you who can repair and re-core your present radiator.

[DKheld]

The Radiator shop I went to said the Tbird radiator is an unusual size and only one or two folks make cores that will fit correctly so they are expensive. I'm sure some would have one that they could "make it fit" but wonder what size sledge hammer they would use.

Get one from partsetal (Carl Heller) her on the forum. The replacement he supplies fits perfectly. Unbolt the old one and bolt in the new one - easy.

See this thread....

http://www.squarebirds.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=15883

Eric

[YellowRose]

Where to buy radiator for my 59 tbird?

Eric ~ DKheld, may have just given you an even better idea, after reading his comments, including the link you can click on. Carl Heller ~ partsetal, on here, ships all over the world. He specializes in parts for our Squarebirds mainly. I would suggest that you send him a Private Message on here and discuss getting a new radiator through him. You would be sure to get exactly what you need as a direct replacement for your original radiator...

[simplyconnected]

Joran, your original radiator is made of brass and copper. These alloys transfer heat four times faster than modern aluminum radiators and they are much easier (and cheaper) to repair.

Even if the cost is the same for re-coring your original radiator as opposed to buying a new aluminum radiator, ALWAYS go for the re-core. When done, you know the radiator fits and it flows well.

Change your anti-freeze with a good name-brand every few years to keep the anti-corrosion properties. - Dave

[SquarebirdNO]

Thanks for all help. Ill try to recore my old radiator. and if not i would buy a new one from the recommended sites. The radiator i bought a while ago(i cant rember from where) has problems that i cant fit it with the a/c radiator and big mismatch with the upper bracket for the radiator.