Squarebird Radiator

[Tuxedo]

Does anyone make a repro radiator for a '60 bird? Maybe even an aftermarket one?

[YellowRose]

Squarebird Radiator

Most Tbird parts vendors carry radiators for our Squarebirds. Click on the LINKS button on the Home page and you will find a list of vendors. Check their online catalogs or give them a call on the phone.

[JohnG]

Suggestion: if you are going to get another radiator, then do what it takes to get one with the most cooling capacity. Don't just get a radiator. Squarebirds do not have the best cooling ability in the world and most of us do what we can to improve on it (6 blade fan, shroud for example).

I use a recored stock radiator but I know there are guys on this site who have bought aftermarket replacements that are better than stock . Hopefully they will post some experiences.

Some of this depends on where you live and how you drive, but for my money, good cooling is essential.

John

[rhertel]

Recore

I, as John, had my radiator recored by a good radiator specialty shop. My car has A/c and a rebuilt engine, and I have had no cooling system problems.

Rich

[YellowRose]

Squarebird Radiator

Here is a post you might want to check out.

04-27-2008, 07:37 PM
tbirdave
Apprentice
Join Date: Jun 12 2006
Location: modesto, CA, USA.
Posts: 57



radiator
Get a hold of Superior Radiator,(I think they are in Michigan) they built me an aluminum one and I have never regretted it. My car runs between the T and E on the temp guage year round and I'm in CA where our summers get to be 110. Check previous postings for the location as I have given this info before. Don't mess around with repos, I have had numerous problems with surge tanks, I finally put in a 61 -63 one, they are built better and have had minimal problems with it.
Tbirdave

In addition, if you do a Search on this forum for radiator you will find a lot of posts about this subject and what guys have had to say about their radiators and what they have done to fix them. You will probably also find some more companies to contact. Some have said they have had problems with repro radiators. Hopefully, others will comment on this subject quickly also. Hope this helps.

[JohnG]

Good job, Ray!! That's the kind of thing I was talking about!

john

[saverio]

what temp is correct?

Can someone please tell me what temp i should be reading when my car is warmed up and in idle mode. My guage works, at least I think so,but it rarely goes higher then T. Reading about all these hot running problems i am starting to doubt my guage's accuracy.I plan to shoot the radiator with an infa red gun.
thanks,

Sal

[JohnG]

hi Sal

You probably should calibrate it. Running too cold is perhaps as bad as running too hot.

If you took the sending unit out and put it in a container of near boiling water with the car in ACC mode to keep the gauge reading and used your infrared gizmo, you could jot down a temp for each letter on the gauge as the water cooled and be done forever.

Knowing what temp your thermostat opens at is useful as well.

john

[Guest]

Tuxedo,
On the radiator, Larry's Thunderbird and Mustang Parts, @ www.larrystbird.com, have a heavy duty radiator. Fits '58-'60 4-row. You might give them a try.

[Guest]

Larry's website down?

Tuxedo,
On the radiator, Larry's Thunderbird and Mustang Parts, @ www.larrystbird.com, have a heavy duty radiator. Fits '58-'60 4-row. You might give them a try.

just curious as to if anybody here in the forum may know why the www.larrystbird.com website has been down for maintenance upgrade now for about 8 months running? I have not called them to ask why, but often when I am checking for parts I access their website and always get the "under construction" disclaimer. So I then always end up going to another bird house's website. Maybe someone here has some experience and knowledge of why their website has been out of commission for so long.

[saverio]

thanks John,
as usual I have come to the right place when I need help.

Now about that loan!! Just kidding.

sal

[byersmtrco]

Tuxedo,
On the radiator, Larry's Thunderbird and Mustang Parts, @ www.larrystbird.com, have a heavy duty radiator. Fits '58-'60 4-row. You might give them a try.

I tried to order one of those from Larry's. Those guys are a bunch of strokes. That was just one bad deal of many thru them. I recommend avoiding Larry's TB at all costs.

Ray's idea is prob best re; the alum radiator. I had a local guy build me a 4 row (using a new core & my tanks) It's been fine. My car rarely goes over a buck eighty five. I am running the repro shroud and a 7 blade flex fan. I also have the ribbed 61 & newer des surge tank.

[YellowRose]

Squarebird Radiator

Thanks for the post John. Ya'll might ask byersmtrco what company near him in California made his aluminum 4-core radiator for him...

Here is the information on Superior Radiator in Michigan, 1-586-463-8722, that others have bought aluminum radiators from and been very happy with. Ask for Charlie.. I have read where he is a good guy who can be trusted. Several members have posted their pleased results with this company and you can see them by doing a Search on "Superior Radiator" on this Forum. It appears you might have to do some modifications to them to mount them in.

Some have said that in addition to changing out their radiator to the aluminum one, that they also replaced that Squarebird suspect surge tank with one from a '61-'63 Tbird. These are supposed to be much better and sturdier than the ones on our Squarebirds.

[JohnG]

Some have said that in addition to changing out their radiator to the aluminum one, that they also replaced that Squarebird suspect surge tank with one from a '61-'63 Tbird. These are supposed to be much better and sturdier than the ones on our Squarebirds.

That is valuable information! The 58-60s are poor and even the repros have failed. Thanks!

john

[Guest]

Yes indeed, I would agree that the 58-60 surge tanks are poor. Mine has failed 2Xs in 10 years and have had the seams sweat soldiered each time to repair.