Early66L72

for all who have done this before which i am sure is a bunch of you. installing the radiator and everything is new. rad rebuilt, core support, all 4 rubbers and new upper rad hold downs. So the problem is by just pushing and pulling it wont go down far enough in the bottom holders to get the bolts installed thru the core support into the upper hold downs. Is there a trick you all have used to do this?????

thanks in advance jcw

Avispa

It will take some repeated pushing on the radiator to get it seated in the lower cradles and pushing on the upper cradles to get alignment on the through-bolts. New cushions tend to be on the thick side. No real trick is involved - just be sure you pulled the little nubs on the cushions all the way through the corresponding holes on the cradles so that they lock in place. Had the same issue when replacing my radiator mount cushions.

Early66L72

Thanks for the reply.. worked on it for a couple hours without much success. Gave up for a while and then used some small ratchet straps around both upper and lower cradles with a bunch of cardboard to make sure there was no damage to the rad fins. tightened them up and they seated and i could just get the bolts in. got it done so now i have to figure out how to fish the fan shroud in place...

thanks again jcw

Avispa

You may have to pull the radiator back out to get the shroud in position. Leave the shroud loose until the radiator upper cradles are bolted in, then bolt the shroud to the radiator support.

Almost forgot what a PITA it was to install my radiator the first time - had it re-cored with a five tube-row core. The core was improperly manufactured, so the distance between the tank seams at the top was 1/2" too wide. The upper cradles wouldn't align with the bolt holes. GRRRR!!!

Mr D.

Step #1 for installing the fan shroud is to remove the radiator you just installed.

Sorry but I don't think you will get that fan shroud in there as it's a tight fit.

Early66L72

going to try and drop the front sway bar and clutch fan and bring it up through the bottom. if that won't work then let it sit for a week or so and remove the rad. What a pain..

thanks jcw

Mark66

PM sent

Early66L72

will do about 1030 pacific time