Radiator Questions!

[KyleSeal]

Well Im in the assembly stage (finally) of my 70. So this brings lot of questions to mind during assembly.

The main one I'm battling right now is the radiator fitment. I have a new core support in my truck from LMC, which actually is working out very good, but the radiator I have (came with truck when bought, looks 'stock') does not fit. Ive read some info on HD mounts (upper/lower) but am still left with some questions.

Does this core support not have the HD lower mounts? What is the measurement for the HD lower mounts? Also, does my radiator look stock? The P/O had removed the lower mounts, bolted (literally) the radiator to the core support and used angle iron to hold it in place, so I have no original reference of fitment with it. See attached photos.

I'm not afraid to cut and install new ones, but before I cut up my nice replacement support I want to know for sure. Also, if it comes down to it and I need to just have something that works, would a 2 or 3 row work okay for a mild cam/stock bottom end 350 V8? Average summer temps in VA are 90-100 June - August.

Thanks in advance.

[KyleSeal]

More pics.

[toolboxchev]

It appears to me that your radiator is not for your truck. The bottom return is the give away. It should turn toward and up to the center...yours appears to be out out the square body era and your mounts are for a three row radiator possibly.

[MIKE77z]

Doesn't look right to me either, i have a 2 row aluminum replacement from northern rad it fits in the 3 row brackets that came with the blazer that rad you have pictured looks like a rad out of a 6.2 diesel square body truck to me ( those are a 2.5 inch core ) but i could be wrong.

[In The Ten Ring]

I'm facing the same problem. My replacement core support came from a 1970 big block'ed truck and I think all my replacement radiators have lower bracket problems. I may have to fab up something.

I am tempted to order a custom, USA made radiator. "Buy American, hire American, the Trump Effect."

[B. W.]

It looks like your lower rad mounts are 3 core, need 4 core mounts, the rad support must be "massaged" to fit the 4 core mounts. 1st pic is 3 core, 2nd is 4 core.

[In The Ten Ring]

Originally Posted by B. W.

It looks like your lower rad mounts are 3 core, need 4 core mounts, the rad support must be "massaged" to fit the 4 core mounts. 1st pic is 3 core, 2nd is 4 core.

Whoa! Easy solution I guess. Thanks for the pic.

What vendors here carry 4 row lower brackets?

[Z10]

I have this installed in my 72GMC
http://www.speedcooling.com/1967_197..._Radiator.html

Great price and it fits like a glove. I've got 11k miles on it Hot West Texas with zero issues. You can see more pics in my build thread.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by B. W.

It looks like your lower rad mounts are 3 core, need 4 core mounts, the rad support must be "massaged" to fit the 4 core mounts. 1st pic is 3 core, 2nd is 4 core.

Bingo, I just went through this. Assuming 4 row radiators were standard with 402 blocks, GM neglected to bend the support so the brackets sit flat.

A crescent wrench works real well OP.

Before:


After:

[VetteVet]

Mine had a bolt attached to the bottom of the mount that goes through the support but I was lucky, I had four core mounts already installed. I have a three core and a four core radiator but I didn't have the four core top mounts so I used the three core. It was in when the PO had it and it worked fine so I am going to use it.

Also I lost one of the rubber inserts for one of the top ones, and I got creative and taped the support up and filled it with RTV silicon, and it works great.
Then I found the original!

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Whether it was factory or a mechanic I once used, I believe the fact the bottom brackets weren't fitted contributed to one of my top brackets coming apart at the spot welds. I bought all new brackets, repro., from Olympia Wa. guy. Nothing special about original brackets.

[KyleSeal]

HERES THE SOLUTION (I'm the OP'er and I found my solution): my radiator is a stock style 4 row radiator. My LMC core support (in my original post pics) had 2-3 row lower brackets. I needed to get the 4 row lower brackets. A friend of mine had lower brackets from a 1-ton truck, so I removed them and installed them on mine (massaging needed as stated above) and the radiator fits great and is ready to be run. Parts vendors do sell these brackets and they are labeled as "HD brackets".

[In The Ten Ring]

I love the "HERE'S THE SOLUTION" in all caps, it's like something I would type.

HD brackets huh? I am going to have to do that in the next week or so, it's high time to get my truck ready for assembly! Thanks brother!

[KyleSeal]

Originally Posted by In The Ten Ring

I love the "HERE'S THE SOLUTION" in all caps, it's like something I would type.

HD brackets huh? I am going to have to do that in the next week or so, it's high time to get my truck ready for assembly! Thanks brother!

Not a problem, IMHO theres too many threads where guys asks questions, figure it out on their own and never come back with their answers!