M38a1 Radiator Replacement Alternatives

1950 - 1968, M38, M38A1, M170, modifications, sugestions, and ideas, official MWO's and unofficial field mods.
Post Reply
Restomod50
G-Private
G-Private
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Sep 05, 2022 2:43 pm
Location: Plano, TX

M38a1 Radiator Replacement Alternatives

Post by Restomod50 » Tue Nov 22, 2022 1:37 pm

What are some of the best alternative and/or cost effective radiator replacements for a M38a1?


IdahoTory
G-Private
G-Private
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Mar 10, 2023 6:27 am
Location: Idaho

Re: M38a1 Radiator Replacement Alternatives

Post by IdahoTory » Fri Apr 14, 2023 10:39 am

BE ADVISED - - > This advice may be considered blasphemous by the faithful, but it should be a legit alternative to a high dollar direct replacement. I've done this on lots of cars.

With minimal fabrication skills, pretty much any radiator you can make fit will work as long as it came off an engine with similar (or greater) performance characteristics and core dimensions. You also have to consider where the inlet and outlet hoses are located. A lot of early tractors have radiators with similar dimensions and they can be very inexpensive. You need to make sure that anything you put in there is not overly obstructed.

I believe these are the dimensions you care about:
Core Dimensions: 16 1/2 X 16 3/4 X 1 3/4
Overall Dimensions: 22 X 19 3/4
Hose Locations: IN-CENTER/OUT-DRIVER
Core Thickness: 1-3/4
Tanks: 2-1/2
Rows: 3

The link below will let you shop for automobile radiators by core size. It will also show you what vehicles they came out of. Determining the vehicle is very helpful. It not only will help you shop online, you can use it to compare engine characteristics (HP mostly). The F-134 4 cylinder only makes 70HP on its finest day so finding a radiator that is supposed to cool a V6 or a comparable "modern" V4 is a safe bet. It's usually not hard to find something that will cool even better than the original.

https://shop.championcooling.com/index. ... t/coresize

You will likely have to get creative with hoses and mounting but make sure you can make it work before you commit to a purchase. Label it as well, so the next guy that has a radiator issue will know its not a stock replacement for the M38A1.

Post Reply

Return to “M38, M38a1 Modifications”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 32 guests