Here is the latest pic of my American Eagle (Champion Brand) AE718 2 core aluminum radiator (1" tubes) and my Duralast (bought at Autozone) heavy duty water pump installed in my 77. Everything is working great, fit perfectly and no issues. Temp runs 180-190 tops.

 

looking good!

 

Very nice.

 

Must be good to have new stuff in the engine bay!

Got to ask... that alternator belt sure looks close to the upper radiator hose. Think I'm seeing something attached to hose to protect from belt, or is it just the way the picture makes it look.

On an unrelated note, I've been trying to figure out why my alternator is an inch or more back from the water pump and crank shaft pulleys, misaligned so much it's been grinding rubber off the belt.
Yours seems okay but can't be sure from that angle.

Noticed you don't have the "belt guide" attached to top bracket where that lone bolt is on it. Mine has just the bolt there, too, and I wondered what it was there for until I found parts diagrams showing it.
Don't know what the guide does exactly, because I wouldn't expect the belt to rub on that constantly. Maybe only put there to prevent a loose belt from jumping up into that radiator hose...?

Anyway, if your alternator pulley is aligned straight with the other pulleys I wish I could find out why mine is so far off.

Sorry for using your radiator+WP message here to ask about my car. Just haven't seen many pictures yet showing the '77 alt+wp belt and pulleys, or the alt brackets for that matter. So if you have an original setup there I would really appreciate if you can confirm yours is aligned properly so I know it's possible.
Thanks!

 

Here is another pic...




My set up is completely stock. The only difference between factory and my car is I no longer have the smog pump or the AC compressor or brackets for it. My waterpump pulley is stock. Its really close to the waterpump edge but it doesn't hit. They are all like that. I have a belt guide on the alternator curved bracket. Its the stock guide. All the mounting hardware and brackets are factory stock. My alternator belt isn't close to the radiator hose. I would say its a few inches away easily. My alternator is swung out pretty far because I am using tall valve covers. Because of this.. I am using a belt that is 1 size longer than the stock belt. I believe its .5" longer. My alternator belt is perfectly aligned. If yours is off its probably because you are missing the spacer that goes on the curved alternator bracket where it attaches to the upper water pump mounting bolt on the drivers side of the car. That thick spacer is what lines up the belt with the alternator pulley.

 

So no mods installing Radiator?

 

Nothing but 5 minutes spent trimming the upper and lower rubber cushions. Basically.....it was a perfect fit and the build quality is excellent contrary to what all the Dewitts gang said. Not bad for $200 shipped from Jegs.

 

I see that belt guide in that 2nd picture, thanks for showing that. Didn't know what those looked like installed and is larger than I thought.

A regular washer is apparently what I have on the water pump bracket. And after more looking and pictures maybe the misalignment of my alternator is only 1/2" to 3/4", but still hard to believe that little spacer could make that much difference. Will know when I try adding either a spacer or a couple more washers there.
Of course I can only guess the lower bracket has all the hardware put on right until I get to that too.

Good to know about your radiator. I was just about to replace mine before changing the hoses and solving my leak problem. Still think the radiator is on its way out since after buying the car I discovered coolant was like muddy water (sunny day shadow when checked, level ok, color??) but currently able to run the car at no more than 200 degrees on the highway for half hour, 85 F day.

I won't worry about having to change out the radiator now if I must do so.

 

Are you planning on sealing that big gap above the radiator? I guess with the temps you are getting, its not necessary. I always thought that IF you could control engine temps without that upper seal that it might provide some needed ambient airflow through the engine compartment to help control exhaust heat, etc.

 

On my 66 the hose was close to the belt and I wrapped and zip tied a piece of thin aluminum sheet there for peace of mind.

Not sure which "gang" I am in while I did buy the dewitts and it is a work of art I never trashed the imports and in fact wish with all I know now I had went that route....

 

What gap??

 

I have an older car (74) and there is a gap between the shroud and rad at the top maybe thats what hes mistaking for the gap between the support and rad?
Since my original sealing strips were toast I used a piece of foam pipe insulation which worked great at the top and I left the sides open. I see your shroud fits like a glove against the Rad...

I also installed a champion (3 row) and only had to modify the upper cushions myself.

 

Augie where did you get yours from I spoke with JEGS they said no listing for mine started with 77? Just curious

 

The stock 1977 Corvette had a plastic cold air intake duct to the enclosed air filter that filled the gap on top of the radiator support that is missing from the OP's radiator support. (post #1, 1st picture)



The foam strip from an earlier C3 could be substituted to fill that gap, possibly improving his radiators efficiency, but then he would be forcing mostly warm air from the radiator into his open element air cleaner. Since engine cooling efficiency doesn't seem to be a problem, providing some cool outside air over the radiator support directed toward the open element air filter might be more useful.

Good luck... GUSTO

 

Nice job.I've had excellent service from my champion, fit like yours did.

 

Well dang it, why didn't I think of that! I was given that plastic duct with the various parts when I got my car and I don't know how many times I looked at that gap between crusty old foam pieces above the radiator without putting 2 and 2 together!

So thanks for telling about it. Maybe I will try installing it to direct air to my open air cleaner.

 

I bought mine from a dealer on eBay. Was like $175 shipped.