I recently needed to pull the radiator on our 1925 Model TT truck to get at the front fan belt pulley. The truck has been in the family since new. It runs and looks great. It was so well cared for by my grandfather that I thought it still had the original radiator. In examining the radiator I found a metal tag on the radiator that says E-12-33 in about 1/2" high letters. My assumption it is an aftermarket radiator built December 1933. Does anybody know what manufacturer the E stood for?
Gary, some pictures of the radiator would help!<g> Dave
Maybe dated like a battery, letter is month, E for May, the day and year!
Can't help you with the radiator, but that sure is a nice looking truck. You see so many over-restored vehicles, especially when it comes to wood bodies. Back in the day, I think high gloss clear varnish finishes on a wood body vehicle were practically non-existent. I think yours is probably very representative of what they looked like back then. Looks like someone bought a Ford chassis and put their own bed on it. I LOVE it.
Kerry I think you are correct as it is logical that E stood for May. I have attached a picture of the tag on the radiator.
Hal you are correct as my grandfather Henry bought the chassis with the C-Cab option but no electric start in April 1925. We have the original sales receipt and he built the box. It has drop sides that fold out flat to be able to sell vegetables along the roadside by the farm. It was also used to haul a lot of cabbage into Minneapolis to sell wholesale. The hardware signs I added later as advertisement for my fathers hardware store.
Prior to my dad towing it across the farm field to save it in the mid 60's, the last time it ran was in the early 40's and then only to joy ride around the farm fields per my dad. I have never had the head off the engine. It has good compression, doesn't burn any oil, starts with a 1/4 pull on the crank and is great runner. My grandfather installed a Muncie three speed transmission and we believe the floor mat is still original, complete with a crudely cut hole for the shifter in the floor mat. Floor boards all original as he kept it stored in a nice shed out of the elements.
It was painted in the mid 1960's, seats recovered and new tires. The wood spokes are as solid as they day they were built. Later I added RM brakes and I'm sure you can guess the reason.
Gary, from the photos it does look like an aftermarket radiator. I have never seen a top tank constructed in that manner on a Ford radiator. It would appear to be a flat tube radiator rather than the original round tube type.
Hope this helps.
allan from down under.
I have a radiator with similar tanks I took off my coupe. If the radiator works and doesn't leak, you should not expect any more. I would use it and let it be one of my truck's eccentricities.