Radiator support - is this ok?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 308
Likes: 18
From: Sweden
Radiator support - is this ok?
The top of my radiator support (the top of the vertical part before the 45 degree turn) is a good inch above the mounting surface of the hood hinge. Is this normal or should they bee same height? See pic.
I'm asking because i would rather have the rad support an inch lower for a better fit of the parts below.
The radiator support is newer than the car so somebody replaced it. It´s a 1969.
I'm asking because i would rather have the rad support an inch lower for a better fit of the parts below.
The radiator support is newer than the car so somebody replaced it. It´s a 1969.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,278
Likes: 4,372
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi J,
On my 71 the 'nut flange' on the core support, (aluminium radiator), only extends about 1/2' above the flat fiberglass surface on the fender apron that the hood hinge bolts through.
The first welded nut on the flange is about 1", or a little less, down from the top edge of the flange. Quite an overall differece than what your picture shows.
It does look like the core support wants to go down, but then of course all the nuts (3?) will need to be moved up on the flange.
Regards,
Alan
On my 71 the 'nut flange' on the core support, (aluminium radiator), only extends about 1/2' above the flat fiberglass surface on the fender apron that the hood hinge bolts through.
The first welded nut on the flange is about 1", or a little less, down from the top edge of the flange. Quite an overall differece than what your picture shows.
It does look like the core support wants to go down, but then of course all the nuts (3?) will need to be moved up on the flange.
Regards,
Alan
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 308
Likes: 18
From: Sweden
Ok thanks. It could be that someone just drilled three new holes in the inner fender a little bit higher up. Hard to see on the inside of the wheel if there are old holes as the surface is full of dirt and some kind of coating.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,278
Likes: 4,372
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi J,
The location of the top bolt that I can see looks to be in the same relative place as on my car. That wouldn't have changed on a production car because of a change in core support. The apron and hood hinge inner apron brace remained the same.
So I'd bet the bolts are in the right place.
Regards,
Alan
The location of the top bolt that I can see looks to be in the same relative place as on my car. That wouldn't have changed on a production car because of a change in core support. The apron and hood hinge inner apron brace remained the same.
So I'd bet the bolts are in the right place.
Regards,
Alan
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 7,098
Likes: 378
From: Las Vegas - Just stop perpetuating myths please.
Your missing some corner seals too. There are thick seals at the ends of support that help cooling but reducing the leakage around the radiator.
Did u check the bottom of of the core support? Mine was rotted beyond repair and cheaper to buy a repro. Kind'a funny, mine was not only rotted but was from another/latter year so all my brackets had to be replaced also.
Get ready, u don't know what u will find once to start to dissemble something on these old cars.
Good luck,
cardo0
Did u check the bottom of of the core support? Mine was rotted beyond repair and cheaper to buy a repro. Kind'a funny, mine was not only rotted but was from another/latter year so all my brackets had to be replaced also.
Get ready, u don't know what u will find once to start to dissemble something on these old cars.
Good luck,
cardo0
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 308
Likes: 18
From: Sweden
Alan,
Ok now I follow, that means that I probably have the wrong core support, since it obviously is newer than the car.
So, either move the holes+bolts on the core support, or make new holes in the fender right? The latter seems easier... (although not 100% correct.)
Or buy a new and correct core support but I rather spend my money on something else as it looks almost new.
Cardo,
Thanks. Trying to get the nose together and in the right position wich is a bit of a problem, but the seals will be there later.
Ok now I follow, that means that I probably have the wrong core support, since it obviously is newer than the car.
So, either move the holes+bolts on the core support, or make new holes in the fender right? The latter seems easier... (although not 100% correct.)
Or buy a new and correct core support but I rather spend my money on something else as it looks almost new.
Cardo,
Thanks. Trying to get the nose together and in the right position wich is a bit of a problem, but the seals will be there later.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,278
Likes: 4,372
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi j,
Without seeing your total situation it's hard to say which is right.
Being a stock guy I'd look at dropping the core support down, otherwise you end up with both the wrong core support AND butchered mounting braces on the apron.
Have you checked to see if this core support is going to position the fan shroud in the rght place? This could be a problem too.
Regards,
Alan
Without seeing your total situation it's hard to say which is right.
Being a stock guy I'd look at dropping the core support down, otherwise you end up with both the wrong core support AND butchered mounting braces on the apron.
Have you checked to see if this core support is going to position the fan shroud in the rght place? This could be a problem too.
Regards,
Alan
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 308
Likes: 18
From: Sweden
On the right side (pic above) the bracket inside the fender looks ok and the bolts seems to be in the right position. On the drivers side that bracket is totally rusted away, so it's hard to say.
The strange thing is that the nuts on the core support are on different height left and rigt. Maybe that is normal? On the right side the nut is 2 inches from the flange top, on the left side it is just above 1 inch. Accordingly, the core support sits higher above the hood hinge on the right side.
After test fitting the fan shroud it looks like I have 1,5-2" between the fan and the shroud at the top. Judging from that I suppose the core support could be lower?
The strange thing is that the nuts on the core support are on different height left and rigt. Maybe that is normal? On the right side the nut is 2 inches from the flange top, on the left side it is just above 1 inch. Accordingly, the core support sits higher above the hood hinge on the right side.
After test fitting the fan shroud it looks like I have 1,5-2" between the fan and the shroud at the top. Judging from that I suppose the core support could be lower?
Last edited by Johan74; Jan 22, 2012 at 02:16 PM.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 3,039
Likes: 504
From: myrtle beach sc
Army
Just checked mine.
My bolts are within 3/4" of an inch from the top. Someone made the support wrong. The weld nuts should be the same height on both sides. I should know because I worked in maintenance at MTD (modern tool and die) for 34 years. We made all of the 63-82 radiator suports. We also made all of the front bumper outer "dog leg" braces from 68-82 and the ribbed panels behind the seats welded to the birdcage on 68-82. We lost the bidding one time to make service parts ( radiator supports) and they sent the tooling to canada. The support is very hard to make. You have to have the checking fixture to check it.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 308
Likes: 18
From: Sweden
Thanks for the info! After searching some threads here it seems to be a common problem that the replacement supports does not fit very well. 
Guess I have to take it out and re-weld the nuts.
By the way - I have a copper radiator now, but did my 4-speed, non AC, 350 Hp car have a copper radiator originally?
(I've seen different info regarding the HP cars.)
Guess I have to take it out and re-weld the nuts.
By the way - I have a copper radiator now, but did my 4-speed, non AC, 350 Hp car have a copper radiator originally?
(I've seen different info regarding the HP cars.)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 3,039
Likes: 504
From: myrtle beach sc
Army
I think you should have an aluminum radiator.
In 68, 4 speed SB's had an aluminum radiator, with a aluminum overflow tank. 1968's had a different, smaller opening, radiator support,like the 1967's. When my support went, I used the better,larger opening 69 support with a 69 copper automatic radiator,even though I have a 4 speed. All 68's had cooling problems, mine did. The 69's were the same as far as I know with a 4 speed.The original must have been aluminum. They sell aluminum versions of the automatic radiator, which is larger than the original 4 speed aluminum radiator.
