Engine Cooling

Keep It Cool: Vintage Copper/Brass & Aluminum Radiators

There is no faster way to kill a vintage engine than overheating. If your classic car is leaving green puddles on the driveway, smelling like maple syrup, or creeping into the "Red Zone" in traffic, your radiator is likely clogged or corroded.

At Old Car Parts NW, we specialize in high-performance and authentic replacement radiators that fit your classic car without the need to cut hoses or drill new mounting holes.

Copper/Brass vs. Aluminum: What Do You Need?

• The Purist Choice (Copper/Brass): For many restoration projects, nothing beats the look and durability of a traditional copper/brass radiator. These units maintain the factory appearance for judging and offer excellent heat transfer and repairability.

• The Performance Choice (Aluminum): If you have a modified V8 or live in a hot climate, our high-efficiency aluminum radiators offer superior heat dissipation in a lightweight package.

Why Choose Our Radiators?

• Direct Fitment: Designed to match the original core support mounting points for Ford, Chevy, Mopar, and AMC.

• Correct Transmission Cooler Lines: No need for messy adapters; our radiators feature the correct fittings for your Powerglide, C4, or 727 Torqueflite lines.

• Max Cooling: We stock 2-row, 3-row, and 4-row heavy-duty cores to handle everything from stock inline-6s to big-block strokers.

Hold the Pressure: Vintage Radiator Caps & Safety Covers

The radiator cap is more than just a lid—it is a precision pressure valve that keeps your engine from boiling over. On vintage cars, a worn-out cap with weak spring tension lowers the boiling point of your coolant, leading to overheating in traffic even if your water pump and thermostat are working perfectly.

At Old Car Parts NW, we stock authentic NORS (New Old Replacement Stock) radiator caps from legendary brands like Stant, AC Delco, and Wayne.

Why Pressure Ratings Matter

One size does not fit all. Putting a modern high-pressure cap on a vintage radiator can blow the seams apart. We stock the correct PSI ratings for your specific era:

• 4 LB & 7 LB Caps: Essential for pre-1960s systems and non-pressurized overflow tanks to protect delicate soldered seams.

• 13 LB - 16 LB Caps: Standard for 1960s-70s muscle cars and high-performance V8s.

• Safety Lever Caps: Features a built-in lever to safely release pressure before opening, preventing steam burns.

Our Inventory:

• Standard Pressure Caps: The classic "eared" design.

• Safety Release Caps: For added protection during maintenance.

• Locking Caps: Vintage accessory caps to prevent theft and tampering.

The Heart of Your Cooling System: NORS & Rebuilt OEM Water Pumps

A cheap water pump is the fastest way to ruin a road trip. On vintage engines, correct coolant flow is essential to prevent overheating. Unfortunately, many modern "white box" replacements feature lightweight aluminum castings, incorrect impeller designs, or poor bearing quality that leads to early failure.

At Old Car Parts NW, we specialize in NORS (New Old Replacement Stock) and Rebuilt OEM water pumps. We focus on providing parts that match the factory specifications for flow rate and fitment.

Why Choose Our Vintage Pumps?

• Correct Castings: Many of our pumps are original iron castings, ensuring the correct thermal expansion and bolt-hole alignment for your engine block.

• Proper Hub Height: Avoid the nightmare of thrown belts. Our pumps are checked to ensure the pulley flange sits at the correct height for V-belt alignment.

• USA Quality: We stock pumps from the golden era of manufacturing, featuring heavy-duty bearings and seals designed to last.

Our Inventory Includes:

• NORS Replacements: Brand new vintage stock from trusted names like Airtex, GMB, and Grapho.

• Rebuilt OEM Units: Original factory cores professionally rebuilt for purist restorations.

• Wide Application: Hard-to-find pumps for Ford Flatheads, Chevy Inline-6s, Mopar V8s, Buick Nailheads, and more.

Save Your Original Casting: Water Pump Rebuild & Repair Kits

For many vintage restorations, replacing the water pump isn't an option. Maybe you need to keep a "numbers-matching" engine bay, or perhaps the aftermarket simply doesn't make a replacement pump for your rare 1930s or 40s vehicle.

At Old Car Parts NW, we offer the solution: NORS (New Old Replacement Stock) Water Pump Repair Kits. These hard-to-find kits allow you to breathe new life into your original iron housing, restoring factory performance without losing the authentic look.

Why Rebuild Instead of Replace?

• Maintain Originality: Keep your specific date-coded or OEM casting on the engine where it belongs.

• Superior Components: Our NORS kits often feature heavy-duty, USA-made bearings and shafts that outlast modern budget assemblies.

• Rare Applications: Often, a repair kit is the only way to service water pumps for pre-war cars, tractors, and industrial engines.

What’s Typically Inside?

While contents vary by application, most kits include the essential wear items:

• Precision Shaft & Bearing Assembly: To eliminate wobble and noise.

• Water Seal: The critical component to stop weep-hole leaks.

• Impeller: (In select kits) to restore coolant flow efficiency.

• Gaskets & Hardware: Everything needed to seal the pump back to the block.

Seal the Leak: Thermostat Housings & Water Outlets

Is your classic car leaking coolant right at the top of the engine? The Thermostat Housing (also known as a Water Outlet or Water Neck) is one of the most prone-to-failure cooling parts. Over decades, electrolysis and corrosion eat away at the metal, causing deep pits on the gasket surface that no amount of sealant can fix.

At Old Car Parts NW, we stock authentic NORS (New Old Replacement Stock) and high-quality replacement housings to restore a leak-free seal.

Why Replace Your Old Housing?

• Eliminate Pitting: Once the mating surface is corroded, the gasket cannot seal properly. A fresh casting is the only permanent fix.

• Avoid "Cheap Chrome": Many budget aftermarket chrome housings are made of thin metal that warps instantly when tightened. Our inventory focuses on robust cast iron and heavy-aluminum units designed to OEM specifications.

• Correct Hose Angles: Don't struggle with kinked radiator hoses. We carry housings with the specific 45°, 90°, or straight angles required for your Ford, Chevy, Mopar, or AMC engine.

Inventory Highlights:

• Cast Iron Housings: Essential for factory-correct restorations.

• Aluminum Water Necks: High-quality replacements for intake manifolds.

• Gaskets & Hardware: Don't forget the matching thermostat gasket for a perfect seal.

Control Your Engine Temp: High-Flow & NORS Thermostats

The thermostat is the gatekeeper of your engine's cooling system. In a vintage car, using a cheap, restrictive modern replacement can lead to overheating in traffic or erratic temperature fluctuations.

At Old Car Parts NW, we stock authentic NORS (New Old Replacement Stock) and High-Flow thermostats designed to keep your classic Ford, Chevy, or Mopar running in the sweet spot.

Why Upgrade to a High-Flow Thermostat?

• Balanced Sleeve Design: Unlike standard thermostats that struggle against water pressure, our Robertshaw-style High Flow units use a balanced sleeve that opens smoothly regardless of RPM or water pump pressure. This is critical for high-performance V8s.

• The Bellows Style (Pre-1960s): We carry rare alcohol-filled bellows thermostats for non-pressurized cooling systems found on pre-war vehicles. These are essential for correct operation in Model A Fords and early flatheads.

Which Temperature Do You Need?

• 160°F: Popular for older non-pressurized systems or engines prone to overheating in summer.

• 180°F: The standard factory specification for most 1960s-70s muscle cars; provides better combustion and heater performance.

• 195°F: Required for late-70s emissions-era vehicles to run efficiently.

Ditch the Flex Hose: Molded Vintage Radiator Hoses

There is nothing that ruins the look of a restored engine bay faster than an ugly, ribbed "universal" flex hose. More importantly, generic hoses often rub against alternators or fans because they lack the specific bends required for your engine.

At Old Car Parts NW, we stock authentic NORS (New Old Replacement Stock) and molded replacement hoses that fit right and look factory-correct.

Why Choose Molded Hoses?

• Perfect Fitment: Our hoses are molded with the exact curves and angles designed by the vehicle manufacturer. This ensures they clear your belts, fan, and air cleaner without kinking or chafing.

• Better Flow: Unlike ribbed flex hoses which create turbulence and restrict coolant flow, molded hoses have smooth interior walls for maximum cooling efficiency.

• Complete Selection: We carry the hard-to-find Bypass Hoses (often overlooked until they burst) and shaped Heater Hoses for specific Ford, GM, and Mopar applications.

Inventory Includes:

• Upper Radiator Hoses: The main connection from the thermostat housing to the radiator.

• Lower Radiator Hoses: Often containing the critical anti-collapse spring (check specific listings).

• Bypass Hoses: Small, critical hoses for water pumps on V8 engines.

• Bulk Heater Hose: High-quality rubber for cabin heating loops.