Long time since I've posted, mainly because w/ your help I've got my propane powered slant six purring like a happy kitten, and haven't needed any assistance (nor had much to say).

BUT... since you all are knowledgeable, wise, brave, clean, reverent, etc. I have a question on the cooling capacity of my old dual-core radiator that was originally cooling a flathead in my 51 Plymouth.

I've put the Plymouth body on a 90 Dakota frame and am running an older 318 (could not make a slant six fit w/o cutting the firewall--the six was my first choice). I'd like to use the old radiator because it looks cool and fits the core support.

Would the radiator from a 51 flathead work to cool a 68 318 turning a 727 trans?



Thanks everybody,
Joe

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Joe Hoppe

71 D100 225 Super Six 727 AT on 2008 Crown Vic CopCar frame

64 Valiant Wagon 225 904 AT 3:23 8.75"

I think it will...........I have had my 1951 Desoto on the road for about a month now....One of the key delights has been cooling. I initially just hooked up the stock rad to the SBC just to get it going. The motor sits too low for a regular fan.

In short the thing cools so well when moving I haven t even developed a plan for an electric fan. If I let it idle for 10 mins it will slowly overheat.

Stock 1951 Desoto rad with mild efi 5.7L Chev. ....no fan...no trans cooler ...stock sheet metal. Highway and town driving.......no stoplights.

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

It cools my slant 6 in my 51 Cambridge. anyhow, the builder moved the radiator forward to fit the slant. 6 . No firewall nods.

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51 Plymouth Cambridge with / 6

Radiators for flathead motors are over sized compared to the same displacement OHV motor. L-heads are not as thermally efficient - 6 head bolts around each cylinder etc. I agree that the radiator should cool okay with a 318. You might want to check out the P15-D24 site if you have not done so.

Thanks every body. Original radiator it is. I feel like I can always count on this site.

51 Cambridge--do you have pix? I have had to move the radiator ahead quite a bit jut for the V-8.


Joe

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Joe Hoppe

71 D100 225 Super Six 727 AT on 2008 Crown Vic CopCar frame

64 Valiant Wagon 225 904 AT 3:23 8.75"

In the link in my sig. I can get more if needed

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51 Plymouth Cambridge with / 6

That Cambridge reminds me Dad's Plymouth when I was about two years old. I remember standing were your gear shift is and working the windshield wipers; vacuum jobbies I recall. His car had three on the tree, and the old flatty, and was a soft light gray. He traded it for a well worn 1954 Starchief that always smelled of gas. Ahhh the good old days before crash test dummies.

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67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC

Wipers 1 speed electric.

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51 Plymouth Cambridge with / 6

51---the photos look great. I love the idea of a slant six in a 50s Plymouth. We have been fitting the 318 and we will have to use hood pins because the radiator is pushed too far to the grille for everything to fit. Impressive that you were able to make it work.

How does it perform?

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Joe Hoppe

71 D100 225 Super Six 727 AT on 2008 Crown Vic CopCar frame

64 Valiant Wagon 225 904 AT 3:23 8.75"

A lot depends n the original motor and the wheelbase of the car.

My car had a 251" six and 126" wheelbase.....lots of room .....

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

What model are you doing this in? Anyhow I didn't build mine. Everything as far as drive train is 80 diplomat. Still needs some fine tuning. Needs a little more off the line. As far as highway, it is great. 70 to 75 all day long.

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51 Plymouth Cambridge with / 6

51 Cambridge--same car, except mine was born a Cranbrook. Mine is on top of a 90 Dakota frame and the 318 is from a 68 Coronet. But it was the sheet metal that kept me from a slant six.

Strange,

Joe

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Joe Hoppe

71 D100 225 Super Six 727 AT on 2008 Crown Vic CopCar frame

64 Valiant Wagon 225 904 AT 3:23 8.75"

Ok took some pics how this was done.
Not how radiator was moved forward with enough room for electric fan

51 Plymouth Cambridge with a slant 6 Yes it fits without cutting firewall by Mikes Big 429, on Flickr
Note no room for the fan.

51 Plymouth Cambridge with a slant 6 Yes it fits without cutting firewall by Mikes Big 429, on Flickr
Where it meets firewall

51 Plymouth Cambridge with a slant 6 Yes it fits without cutting firewall by Mikes Big 429, on Flickr[/img]

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51 Plymouth Cambridge with / 6

Thanks for the pix. Looks like your core support got reconfigured in a big way. Also, I am keeping the mechanical fan, so that counts for a few inches. Impressive fabrication.

Joe

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Joe Hoppe

71 D100 225 Super Six 727 AT on 2008 Crown Vic CopCar frame

64 Valiant Wagon 225 904 AT 3:23 8.75"