Ford GPA vs Ford GPW radiator (inside photos)

[Klaas]

Hi Yves,
A very good address for the new core is this one in the south of the Netherlands (Den Bosch): http://www.radiateur.nl/pages/open_rsb.htm
They are very knowledgable about old cars and their radiators.
They rebuilt my original GPW radiator to new condition and guarantee the work they do.
Increased the number of tubes in the matrix for better cooling when towing as well. I run at a steady 170 degrees F now.
Also rebuilt a GPA radiator for a friend with the 4 row matrix.
Not cheap but well recommended.

[YLG80]

Hi Yves,
A very good address for the new core is this one in the south of the Netherlands (Den Bosch): http://www.radiateur.nl/pages/open_rsb.htm
They are very knowledgable about old cars and their radiators.
They rebuilt my original GPW radiator to new condition and guarantee the work they do.
Increased the number of tubes in the matrix for better cooling when towing as well. I run at a steady 170 degrees F now.
Also rebuilt a GPA radiator for a friend with the 4 row matrix.
Not cheap but well recommended.

Thank you very much for that information. Do you have an idea about the budget?
If they have already made a GPA radiator that' a first choice !
I'm going also to ask for a quotation in France (Sud Ouest Radiateurs ( https://www.sud-ouest-radiateurs.com/en/home/ )
Yves

[Klaas]

My GPW radiator cost almost 540 euro's inclusive of tax. For that money they de-soldered the old radiator, cleaned and repaired the tanks and strengthened the top tank on the inside with an extra rib, replaced the old and worn matrix with a new higher capacity 3 row matrix, tinned both tanks inside and out and assembled, painted and pressure tested the "new" radiator. Also repaired the overflow pipe and straightened the water inlet and outlet pipes and supplied the two coach bolts to fix the radiator to the frame. It is now better than new and should last another 75 years!
I expect a GPA radiator will be more expensive as the 4 row matrix will be more money than a 3 row.
Also depending on the brackets: will it be set up for a GPW or with the different brackets for the GPA (repro GPA brackets are available from some dealers)

[YLG80]

[@Klaas]
Thank you very much for that information.
I've also requested a budget quotation to SOR in France.
I will tell you what they propose.

On my GPA radiator, the brackets on each side have been cut off for a GPW.
That's should not be a big deal to weld a new steel plate of the correct dimension with the hole for the GPA.
Yves

[Klaas]

Hi Yves, the firm in question did the same thing on the GPA radiator for my friend. They will need the dimensions for the brackets and the hole position however.

[Chuck Lutz]

Just for comparisons sake, here is a GPW radiator core:

GPW Core 38 Tubes in Each Row.jpg (31 KiB) Viewed 837 times

38 tubes in each of the three rows, 19 on either side of the center...

[Klaas]

Hi Chuck, do you know the reason for the "missing" central tube in the rearmost row of the GPW core?

[Chuck Lutz]

I believe the design is such that no tube is exactly behind another so that airflow through the gaps is directed to each row. That is my understanding of the design.

[YLG80]

My GPW radiator cost almost 540 euro's inclusive of tax. For that money they de-soldered the old radiator, cleaned and repaired the tanks and strengthened the top tank on the inside with an extra rib, replaced the old and worn matrix with a new higher capacity 3 row matrix, tinned both tanks inside and out and assembled, painted and pressure tested the "new" radiator. Also repaired the overflow pipe and straightened the water inlet and outlet pipes and supplied the two coach bolts to fix the radiator to the frame. It is now better than new and should last another 75 years!
I expect a GPA radiator will be more expensive as the 4 row matrix will be more money than a 3 row.
Also depending on the brackets: will it be set up for a GPW or with the different brackets for the GPA (repro GPA brackets are available from some dealers)

Hi Klaas,
I've got the quote from the French company S.O.R. : 480 euro excl VAT or about 580 € VAT included providing that the tanks are OK and reusable.
The core would be the exact copy of the original GPA 4 tubes cores. One week delay to complete the order.
I need to ask if the radiator would be painted after repair.
Yves

[YLG80]

Brackets cut off for a GPW

IMG_9073-1.JPG (140.4 KiB) Viewed 803 times

[Klaas]

My GPW radiator cost almost 540 euro's inclusive of tax. For that money they de-soldered the old radiator, cleaned and repaired the tanks and strengthened the top tank on the inside with an extra rib, replaced the old and worn matrix with a new higher capacity 3 row matrix, tinned both tanks inside and out and assembled, painted and pressure tested the "new" radiator. Also repaired the overflow pipe and straightened the water inlet and outlet pipes and supplied the two coach bolts to fix the radiator to the frame. It is now better than new and should last another 75 years!
I expect a GPA radiator will be more expensive as the 4 row matrix will be more money than a 3 row.
Also depending on the brackets: will it be set up for a GPW or with the different brackets for the GPA (repro GPA brackets are available from some dealers)

Hi Klaas,
I've got the quote from the French company S.O.R. : 480 euro excl VAT or about 580 € VAT included providing that the tanks are OK and reusable.
The core would be the exact copy of the original GPA 4 tubes cores. One week delay to complete the order.
I need to ask if the radiator would be painted after repair.
Yves

Hi Yves,
So that is in the same price range. Worth getting a quote for your GPA radiator from the Dutch company to see if they will match the French quote.
Will you go personally to bring and collect your radiator, so you can discuss options (and make sure the rad. does not get damaged in transport)?
Best of luck!

[YLG80]

Hi Yves,
So that is in the same price range. Worth getting a quote for your GPA radiator from the Dutch company to see if they will match the French quote.
Will you go personally to bring and collect your radiator, so you can discuss options (and make sure the rad. does not get damaged in transport)?
Best of luck!

Yes I'm going to request also a quotation form the Dutch company.
I have a good packaging for that radiator, coming from repo GPW radiator bought to replace that GPA radiator.
So I will ship the radiator via a carrier.
Before that, I need to find/calculate the dimensions of the brackets and restore them.