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Old Jun 13, 2011 | 03:56 PM
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Default radiator install questions

I'm just getting around to installing my new radiator and support and had 2 questions.

#1 - the dimple on the lower outlet of my Dewitts I know is supposed to be there, but it's placement seems off to me. Can others comment if they had the same issue?





#2 - I'm unsure of the correct support to radiator seals installation. Here is a picture of what I believe to be the correct order. I'm just curious as to why the drivers side seal is so much shorter.



Thanks,
Jeff
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Old Jun 13, 2011 | 04:02 PM
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Unfortunately my Coffman radiator support lacks all of the seal PIF holes.
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Old Jun 13, 2011 | 11:42 PM
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Mine might be a little different because it's a big block, but I can tell you for sure my driver's side radiator seal was shorter just like yours. I got the seals from NSV. I'm not sure about the radiator outlet dimple, I'll have to check tomorrow. I also had to drill holes in my new support for the foam seals. I got the support from Paragon. Hope that helps.

Last edited by pewter99; Jun 18, 2011 at 02:21 PM.
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Old Jun 14, 2011 | 08:23 AM
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Yup mine was the same. Too short on the drivers side. In fact when i was installing them it was too long on the passingers side! I don't know if i installed it wrong but i just cut the extra off of the long one and used it on the short one. After the radiator is secured up tight to the support, it's not comming off. In the end it was pretty close as to what i thought it should be.
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Old Jun 14, 2011 | 07:31 PM
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Hi,
On my 71 sb aluminium radiator the passenger's side the original seal is shorter because it extends down only as far as the lower outlet on the radiator.
Could that be true in your case?
Regards,
Alan
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Old Jun 15, 2011 | 10:47 PM
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My outlet was not dimpled. Must be different on big blocks?
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Old Jun 15, 2011 | 11:52 PM
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Forgot picture:
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Old Jun 16, 2011 | 12:05 PM
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Originally Posted by 72VETTELS5
My outlet was not dimpled. Must be different on big blocks?
I think the outlet on the BB radiator is an inch or so higher. I looked at the Dewitts page and you can tell it's definitely higher, so no need for the dimple.

I'm a bit more unhappy that the dimple they did put in there doesn't seem to match up even remotely close to where I think it should be. Maybe it's just my car is off, maybe the dimple matches 100% of what an original would be like. If it matches the original and the original is that far off, I think they should sell an option where you can purchase either the bad, original design (for purists) or Dewitts would sell a modified dimple outlet that more closely matches where it should be. But then again I'm a dreamer.
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Old Jun 16, 2011 | 01:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Alan 71
Hi,
On my 71 sb aluminium radiator the passenger's side the original seal is shorter because it extends down only as far as the lower outlet on the radiator.
Could that be true in your case?
Regards,
Alan
Maybe it's me or I don't understand the question, but the seals he has pictured are used in between radiator support and the radiator. So i don't see how one could be longer than the other. I ordered mine for BB. I do have a Dewitts direct fit not sure if that makes a difference.
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Old Jun 16, 2011 | 02:31 PM
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Originally Posted by 69MA
Maybe it's me or I don't understand the question, but the seals he has pictured are used in between radiator support and the radiator. So i don't see how one could be longer than the other. I ordered mine for BB. I do have a Dewitts direct fit not sure if that makes a difference.
69MA, you understand correctly, it between the rad support and the radiator, so there should absolutely no nipples or outlets to get in the way. I went ahead and installed them as shown on my picture, I will just have some gaps on the drivers side as the seal doesn't cover all the way from top to bottom.
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Old Jun 16, 2011 | 06:53 PM
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Originally Posted by StingrayLust
Maybe it's just my car is off
Could be, nobody has ever shown me a photo such as yours. The indent is the same as the copper radiator and I always thought that was a crazy way to provide clearence for the stabilizer bar. I would have to see a lot more feedback before we would make any changes. I will be looking at cars at shows this summer to see how it lines up on other cars.
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