Dewitts rad install problem
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
Most of these front ends have sagged after so many years, especially if the core support has ever been removed and reinstalled.
You should have minimum 1/2" between the sway bar and the outlet.
No reason to play with it.
To adjust, loosen all 6 core support screws,
loosen the 2 large bolts on the side of the angle that bolts to the front crash bar/vacuum resevoir.
Using wood cut to fit, carefully jack up the core support so that you have clearance at the rad outlet. You don't want it to touch.
Retighten all bolts. This could possibly raise the whole front end (fiberglass) a half inch and at the firewall a negligeable amount.
The whole front end literally hangs on that assembly and just sags after so many years. Have done it this way to several cars.
You should have minimum 1/2" between the sway bar and the outlet.
No reason to play with it.
To adjust, loosen all 6 core support screws,
loosen the 2 large bolts on the side of the angle that bolts to the front crash bar/vacuum resevoir.
Using wood cut to fit, carefully jack up the core support so that you have clearance at the rad outlet. You don't want it to touch.
Retighten all bolts. This could possibly raise the whole front end (fiberglass) a half inch and at the firewall a negligeable amount.
The whole front end literally hangs on that assembly and just sags after so many years. Have done it this way to several cars.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
To adjust, loosen all 6 core support screws,
loosen the 2 large bolts on the side of the angle that bolts to the front crash bar/vacuum resevoir.
Using wood cut to fit, carefully jack up the core support so that you have clearance at the rad outlet. You don't want it to touch.
Retighten all bolts. This could possibly raise the whole front end (fiberglass) a half inch and at the firewall a negligeable amount.
The whole front end literally hangs on that assembly and just sags after so many years. Have done it this way to several cars.
loosen the 2 large bolts on the side of the angle that bolts to the front crash bar/vacuum resevoir.
Using wood cut to fit, carefully jack up the core support so that you have clearance at the rad outlet. You don't want it to touch.
Retighten all bolts. This could possibly raise the whole front end (fiberglass) a half inch and at the firewall a negligeable amount.
The whole front end literally hangs on that assembly and just sags after so many years. Have done it this way to several cars.
Wow man, great info. Thanks so much.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: London, UK
To adjust, loosen all 6 core support screws,
loosen the 2 large bolts on the side of the angle that bolts to the front crash bar/vacuum resevoir.
Using wood cut to fit, carefully jack up the core support so that you have clearance at the rad outlet. You don't want it to touch.
Retighten all bolts. This could possibly raise the whole front end (fiberglass) a half inch and at the firewall a negligeable amount.
The whole front end literally hangs on that assembly and just sags after so many years. Have done it this way to several cars.[/QUOTE]
I will run that by my mechanic tonight. thanks for your help. I had the rad support out and painted. maybe on reinstallation it has sat lower than it was originally?
if all else fails i think i will have to go with the plate spacer option, but i will try the support adjustment first. from what i remember on reinstallation it was all pretty tight and seemed to go back exactly where it was.
will post findings later on
loosen the 2 large bolts on the side of the angle that bolts to the front crash bar/vacuum resevoir.
Using wood cut to fit, carefully jack up the core support so that you have clearance at the rad outlet. You don't want it to touch.
Retighten all bolts. This could possibly raise the whole front end (fiberglass) a half inch and at the firewall a negligeable amount.
The whole front end literally hangs on that assembly and just sags after so many years. Have done it this way to several cars.
[/QUOTE]I will run that by my mechanic tonight. thanks for your help. I had the rad support out and painted. maybe on reinstallation it has sat lower than it was originally?
if all else fails i think i will have to go with the plate spacer option, but i will try the support adjustment first. from what i remember on reinstallation it was all pretty tight and seemed to go back exactly where it was.
will post findings later on
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: London, UK
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: London, UK
hi guys,
tried to adjust the rad support but it is so tight there is hardly no movement at all. looks as though i will have to make up some spacers.
just got the charge wire and fan wiring to go
tried to adjust the rad support but it is so tight there is hardly no movement at all. looks as though i will have to make up some spacers.
just got the charge wire and fan wiring to go
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,716
Likes: 121
From: Sulphur LA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06,'11,'13-'14,'16,'18,'19,'24, '25
not to hyjack your thread but to add to noonie's post. there are alot of members that have indicated that the frontend sags on one side, my car also sagged on the drivers side, I made all the suggested adjustments with no improvements. I than removed the radiator to deal with some cooling issues and while installing the radiator I noticed that when I loosened the core support and the two large lower bolts that attache the core support to the vacuum tank I was able to adjust the fender height to match on both sides.
Neal
Neal
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
If you can't get enough adjustment from the 2 big bolts in the angles under the vacuum tube, then loosen the tube mounting points on the frame horns on each side (2 brackets each side) and jack up the tube and retighten. It doesn't take much to free up space for the lower rad outlet. Watch your shroud and fan clearance.
A good body man is better than a regular maechanic in most cases.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: London, UK
The core support will pull up the inner fenders and outer fenders with it.
If you can't get enough adjustment from the 2 big bolts in the angles under the vacuum tube, then loosen the tube mounting points on the frame horns on each side (2 brackets each side) and jack up the tube and retighten. It doesn't take much to free up space for the lower rad outlet. Watch your shroud and fan clearance.
A good body man is better than a regular maechanic in most cases.
If you can't get enough adjustment from the 2 big bolts in the angles under the vacuum tube, then loosen the tube mounting points on the frame horns on each side (2 brackets each side) and jack up the tube and retighten. It doesn't take much to free up space for the lower rad outlet. Watch your shroud and fan clearance.
A good body man is better than a regular maechanic in most cases.
all your help is appreciated guys thanks
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