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Took core support out of my 1977 model to sandblast prime and refinish. Bolted it back in and the fan shroud doesn't align properly. It contacts the upper control arm on the passenger side preventing proper alignment. The shroud actually covers edge of rubber radiator mount on driver side . What changed and how do you move the core support towards the driver side. Needs to move 1/4 inch or more 🤔
Last edited by DonChastain; Jan 14, 2026 at 10:49 AM.
Hello,
Year of car?
On 70-72 year cars (maybe more)....
This rod helps support the front of the front of clip.
Has this rod along with the front of the clip sagged a little bit?
Perhaps everything needs to be loosened and re-adjusted?
Maybe?
Regards...
I have loosened every bolt i can find that appears associated with the core support. I have also located and loosened the 4 forward body mount bolts . Using a porta power , i have gently tried to shift the front end towards the driver side which should allow more clearance between shroud and control arm 🤔.
Before using more force I would try and understand where the trouble with the fitment actually is. Have you a copy of the A.I.M. for your particular year? That is the best resource at times for specific jobs, they might have a suggestion or recommendations for the procedure to be done within the design specifications from the assembly line.
IF you don't have a copy then you can get a digital copy at ROCKAUTO.com for a lot less than the hard copies. They offer it in different formats.
I have had this problem with my car i knew it was in an accident in the late 70s and when I went to put the new core support in it fought me all the way … I had the frame straightened years later when I restored the car and it went right in … measure the frame and see what you come up with a quarter inch to a half inch could really make a big difference
I know when I replaced my core support on my 1971 the front drooped a little, maybe 1/8 to 1/4 inch that I wrestled with putting the new one in. Maybe that's the issue.
I'm hoping assembly manual will offer some measurement points to go by .. this core support came out of the car and the cooling fan was not contacting shroud and the shroud didn't come in contact with control arm 🙄
I'm hoping assembly manual will offer some measurement points to go by .. this core support came out of the car and the cooling fan was not contacting shroud and the shroud didn't come in contact with control arm 🙄
If I remember right it will show where everything goes but I don't think it has measurements. It's been a while since I looked at that page of my AIM. Good luck. I was able to get mine back in after struggling with it for a day or so.
Have you been able to come up with a solution yet?
A couple of things to consider; check where the radiator support mounts to the frame extension since the brackets that bolt to support are on an angle. While these cars do not have a bunch of movement there is room to move support fore and aft long with side to side. I believe the holes in the extension brackets are approximately 1/2 diameter and are adjustable on the frame extension as well.
Leave everything loose and place a 2x4 on a floor jack at bottom of radiator support and lift to achieve clearance for fan and control arm. As I am sure you are aware there is not much room between shroud and control arm. You may have to loosen the two bolts to each bracket/header panel to allow a bit more movement.
There is not really any logical explanation as to why things move the they do when taken apart and reassembled using the exact marks for bolts etc but it happens.
1977 Core support misaligned
