Where is the part number on the radiator support?

My car has a mix-n-match setup. I have a 4-row, brass, filler cap style, automatic radiator with an unknown support in my......'70 4sp. air car.

I going to replace the radiator but I'd like to find one that matches the support regardless of it being 'correct' for my car. Eventualy there'll be a radiator in the for sale/wanted section (if I can find out what it's for!!).

Any help is appreciated.

Jim

 

I just recored the radiator in my 73. The lower saddles are permanently attached to the radiator support. The upper saddles bolt on. These saddles use "U" shaped rubber liners. I know that pre 73 cars use a different method of cushioning.

 

Jim,
I just replaced my Rad core support in January and I had the same issue, making sure I get the right one. One of the CF members pointed me in the right direction. Basically, with the small block, if you have any options: A/C, automatic, etc. then you have the 26" brass radiator with cap... no expansion tank.
I ordered mine from Corvette Central(and got free shipping at the time), P/N - 243043
It's got the bottom supports attached and the top supports bolt on as mentioned above.
Good Luck, it's not an easy job, but mine was rusted out on the bottom 1/2.

 

Whatever support is 'right' for your car...just remember they are all stamped/spot welded shapes, and are hollow inside....so, to help with water drainage, you should drill drain holes....about 3 of them in the bottom rear of the unit.....

when turning my old original upside down some ten years ago, I drained water out of it....

in spite of all the rust.....

clue??? ya THINK??

 

The thing is mines not rotted and the radiator is fine. Nothing matches therefore nothing seals. The fan shroud doesnt fit the radiator and the radiator doesnt fit the radiator surrond. I figured the cheapest way out was to buy a radiator that fits the surrond versus buying a shroud, radiator and surrond.

If I could only figure out what surrond/support I have...

 

Well, in that case, you might consider going with something like a Be Cool w/ electric fan set up. Keep your existing support, and get rid of all the other stuff; shroud, belt driven fan, etc. I've seen them on C3's and they look good and run cool.

 

For the money, I would buy Tom DeWitts dual Spal setup for 250 bux, and put in a late Camaro V8 radiator for less than 200 bux....it's single row aluminum/plastic tank, but same core size as stock for my '72 here, and so fits the mounts fine....the fans are a piece of cake to mount and I fit some scraps of aluminum around really easy for mounting off the rad support, and made up shroud extensions to seal to the rad without fastening to it....so those Spals really suck hard....full core coverage too....it's FLORIDA, so any car has it's summer troubles here...

 

I never figured out how to qoute multiple people so....

Schmemeggie: I have considered an electric fan. If I go that route I think it will be the MkVIII fan with a DC controller.

mrvette: I dont think a late Camaro radiator will be wide enough for the support. My current radiator (a corvette piece) is ~28" C to C on the supports.

 

There is no part number on the core support and core supports and radiator cores are measured differently, that's why we have so much confusion in the radiator area. Radiator cores are measured between the headers of the radiator, including no edges, lips, sides, etc. The distance between only or the fin surface. When you measure this, the core can only be 26" for the sb or 27.5" for the bb, covering the 69-72 era only. When measuring a core support, you want to measure the center to center distance of the U brackets. This is done by simply measuring from the outside of one bracket to the inside of the other. This distance is going to be about 1/2" greater than the radiator core, or in this case 26 1/2" sb and 28" bb respectfully. The reality is these two core supports are the exact same part with one exception. The lower U bracket position on the passenger side. This bracket can be cut off and relocated to make the support anything you want it to be. The upper (bolt in brackets) left brackets are the same for sb & bb, the upper rights have their own unique parts.

The radiator you discribed (28") sounds like the bigger of these two but the BB radiator did not have a filler neck, yours does. My guess is that the radiator is a 73-76 model unit. This radiator is identical to the 69-72 bb with the filler neck added. Many replacement radiator companies make one radiator for two applications and it sounds like that's what you have. Does this one look like it?
http://www.dewitts.com/pages/product...asp?ProdID=281

I don't know why more people don't use our website photos for doing research. We have a picture of each Corvette model radiator made and you can simply look at the pics to determine what the application was.

 

Tom,
My radiator looks like exactly like the one in your link except mines brass. I'm sure I have the BB support as well because the mounting holes on the bottom of the fan shroud are to narrow for the studs on the support.

I'll take a closer look at things tonight. I may be able to get away with either electric fans only or a new BB shroud with a mechanical fan.

Thanks for the help,
Jim

 

So to re-cap, sounds like a 73 radiator, with a 69-72 BB support, and a 69-72 SB shroud. So, speaking entirely as a radiator guy, how bout this idea. Cut off the lower right mount and move it inward 1.5", making it a sb 26" support to match the shroud you have. You'll need a new upper right U bracket ($15) and then get the DeWitt A70M Direct Fit to match all the parts together?

You could also order the Black Ice option and have the radiator coated for that stock copper radiator look

 

Tom, thats all good except for something I didnt mention. Someone cut off one of the lower mounting tabs on the shroud so its shot.. My upper support brackets match up fine.

The support has two sets of threaded holes, one set on each side and one set of non-threaded holes that are being used for rigged shroud bracket. I just crawled under and the radiator is properly fitted and seated in the lower support mounts. So, if I do have 69-72 BB support all I need is a new 69-72 BB shroud or an electric fan setup. Does that sound right?

It doesnt seem like there should be that much space between the support and radiator. Is something missing?
Here's a pic:








Thanks,
Jim

 

Looks loke the foam seals are missing.

 

 

Chuck, thanks for the pic. what are the two pairs of threaded holes for?

 

I think it's actually a 73 support and that's what the extra pairs of holes are but the spread is still 27.5" for your idea of using the 69-72 bb shroud will work.

 

What holes are we talking about Jim? Mine (73) doesn't have any threaded holes that I can recall. Other than the welded on nuts for attachment to the nose.

 

I have it all figured out now. I have a '73+ BB radiator with a '73+ support. The two pairs of threaded holes which can be seen in my last picture are for the '73+ fan shroud brackets. Chuck, you can see the two pairs of holes just aboce the pins used to hold the upper seal in place.

I picked up a radiator to support seal kit today and have it insalled.

Thanks for all the help,
Jim

 

That's what this forum is all about. Vette guys helping each other.

 

FWIW, I think the OP guys rad pix there just above looked identical to my '72 here....before the plastic tank Camaro rad, and certiinly after I did the dual Spal setup.....

finally ditching the old shroud in the process.....

methinks your setup was stock as a stove....