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DeWitts radiator install problem

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Old Jul 18, 2010 | 04:43 PM
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Default DeWitts radiator install problem

I recently bought a DeWitts BB radiator with dual Spal fans to go into my 1970. I pulled the radiator support and old radiator out of the car to pull the tired 427. After removing the original radiator from the support, I find that the DeWitts will not mount to the radiator support, there are no bottom posts and nothing at the top in the center for the original bracket to grab. My new DeWitts is roughly the same width as the radiator support (much wider than the original radiator) and the height appears to be correct for the radiator support *if* there were mounting tabs. Upper hose and overflow connections are correct but the lower hose connection is a little higher than the stock radiator, not quite all the way at the bottom like the original.

I am going to call DeWitts tomorrow but am wondering if any DeWitts-experienced members could help satisfy my curiousity today, what's not right about my new radiator?

Thanks!


Last edited by UBETRUN; Jul 18, 2010 at 04:57 PM. Reason: To show the radiator/fan combo I bought from DeWitts
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Old Jul 18, 2010 | 06:07 PM
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Don't want to be rude or anything but bad press is bad press, contact vendor first then post pos or neg results.
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Old Jul 18, 2010 | 06:14 PM
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I certainly didn't intend to bash DeWitts, I figured it was something I was doing wrong or my car had a SB setup or perhaps I ordered the wrong radiator. Sorry if it came across that way, not my intention AT ALL.
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Old Jul 18, 2010 | 06:28 PM
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No it's not really bashing Dewitts but a better approach would have been "Has anyone run across this while installing Dewitts rad" don't get me wrong here but working on these cars is at best not much fun unless you get some relaxation out of it and when something doesn't fit, well I've got a hammer embedded in my garage wall to demonstrate how I feel about this sort of thing.

However you have to take a step back, and being the weekend it's kinda hard to do but there could be litterally 100 different reasons why the rad doesn't fit. Someone could have change he original radiator support, you could have given he wrong year or you gave the correct year and they made a mistake.

Anyway I am sure a call to Tom tomorrow will have things back on track for you
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Old Jul 18, 2010 | 07:04 PM
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Originally Posted by MotorHead
Someone could have change he original radiator support, you could have given he :
It's probably something like that. My guess is the car wasn't originally a BB and still has the small block core support. The small block base car radiator mounted on two studs on the bottom and one rubber cushion top center as the OP described. That core support was for the small aluminum radiator and the core support used a flat baffle plate to close up the openning a bit. See below



The BB support for 69-72 would have two U brackets welded on the bottom, about 28" center to center. The two upper brackets are bolt-in type. Here is what's required to complete the BB conversion

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Old Jul 18, 2010 | 08:25 PM
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Thanks Tom, you and Motorhead are absolutely correct on the SB/BB support. I have a SB support and guess I need to find a BB support somewhere.
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