Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

I acquired a Packard radiator in a bunch of parts. It is the same height as my 1953 and 1954 radiators but is 2" narrower. The mounting bracket on the passenger side is extra wide so that the mounting holes line up with the standard Packard radiator support. See the attached picture.

"54 Packard" was written on the radiator but that doesn't necessarily mean anything.

Does anyone have any idea what this came out of? I can't use it but I would like to know who could.

Thanks

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Most likely for the small engine base model car but it also could be mislabeled and actually a Korean war year radiator where they had to conserve material. The radiators for those war years were smaller and made of thinner material somewhat compensated for by a larger fan. Is there an embossed tag that has a mfg or a part number on one of the tanks. If you find a number it should be possible to determine the use.

I have heard the rumor often repeated that the Korean War radiators were thinner material compensated for with the larger fan, but I've never seen an example of a Korean War radiator next to one that hadn't been lightened/cheapened. I would figure my 52 would have whatever modifications were being performed during the war (it certainly had that lousy chrome), but my radiator looks just like the ones for the later cars. What are the part numbers or other identifying marks that denote one of these war radiators?

I have heard the rumor often repeated that the Korean War radiators were thinner material compensated for with the larger fan,...

Not a rumor, it's mentioned in either the Service Counselors or Technical Service Bulletins. If you locate the radiator manufacturer's tag (probably McCord or Modine, soldered to the radiator) that will lead you to the specifics.

The radiator is marked for a 1954 Packard. Korean War hostilities ceased in July 1953. Were there still material shortages afterwords, or is the radiator marked incorrectly? Maybe it was an early production and the parts stream for these cars began when shortages still existed. Maybe I just answered my own question.

(o{}o)

The number on the radiator is 1A5453, It is also embossed with "Modine" and "P10 53"

I believe the "10 53" is a Modine manufacturing date code, suggesting it's for a 1954 model. I think I can check on the other number but it might be much quicker if owners of various 1954 models check the number on their cars for you. The smallest engined 1954 model (5400 and 5433) had its own radiator and logic might suggest it would be the smallest of the 54 radiators.