lower rad mount retainer lowering for 4 core rad.

[ic1480]

so how do you lower the lower rad. retainers for a four core radiator. New core support and 4 core rad sits too high. any ideas. (the 2 1/2" drop spindles didn't help.) lol

thanks everyone.
IC

[Greasey Harley]

Originally Posted by ic1480

so how do you lower the lower rad. retainers for a four core radiator. New core support and 4 core rad sits too high. any ideas. (the 2 1/2" drop spindles didn't help.) lol

thanks everyone.
IC

17" tall radiator?

[ic1480]

yep 17 give or take a little noticed in the catalogs they say some modification required for 4 row rad. My radiator sits about 3/4 inch too high for top supports to clamp down properly. just wondering what people are doing to modify this.

[bbcmudtruck]

If it clears the hood, just build some new top clamps.

[Greasey Harley]

I just pryed mine open, with a pair of vice grips, but I don't like the way it sets. It kind of rubs on the corners, and it sets all the way against the core support. I found a set of used four core clamps, I'm going to go pick them up this week. I don't like my modified brackets.

[FirstOwner69]

If I recall correctly, the factory just bent the vertical lip down (toward engine)on the engine side of the core support to position the longer 4 core mount lower. Some people on earlier threads have commented on cutting a notch instead. Whatever you do modification wise, be sure to take the vertical positioning of the fan shroud into account. Do you have the correct lower mount/retainers for the 4 core radiator?

[michael bustamante]

get some clamps off a medium duty 67-72 truck, theyre angled upwards for taller radiators.

[GASoline71]

Do you have 4 row radiator cups and the rubbers that go with them? Almost any site vendor will carry them. You will also need the 4 row upper clamps as well along with the rubbers. EZPZ fix... just gotta have the right parts. Unless you're fitting a non-67-72 radiator in your rig, or I'm not understanding you right.

Gary

[ic1480]

new rad and mounts all ordered together. seems as though the top retainers should have been straight instead of bellied down to meet the rad.
thanks for all the replies.

[67 cst swb]

Originally Posted by ic1480

new rad and mounts all ordered together. seems as though the top retainers should have been straight instead of bellied down to meet the rad.
thanks for all the replies.

Sounds like they didn't send you the correct lower mounts. 4 row are different than 3 or 2 row.
Your issue sounds exactly like you do not have the correct 4 row mounts on the bottom.
Unless your new radiator is an all aluminum one, sometimes they do not fit down into the saddle correctly. Then you have to trim the rubber pieces.

[72MARIO]

I have had problems with the repop rad cushion being to thick.

[ic1480]

this is 5/8 to 3/4" from being able to bolt the top retainers down to the core support.
thank you for replying

[GASoline71]

If you have the correct ones for a 4 core (they are longer) they should cup the top of the radiator just fine.

I got my new 4 core radiator retainers (top and bottom with rubbers) from Wes at Classic Heartbeat (site sponsor). They fit perfectly... even on my aftermarket aluminum radiator.

I can't remember but... either the rubbers or the brackets came in "Genuine GM Parts" packaging.

Gary

[ic1480]

They sit down into the rubber saddles completely. the upper retainers, where you bolt the retainer to the core support, stand about 5/8" to 3/4" above the core support. thinking I may just make a 5/8 aluminum shim to go between the core support and the upper retainer.

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by ic1480

They sit down into the rubber saddles completely. the upper retainers, where you bolt the retainer to the core support, stand about 5/8" to 3/4" above the core support. thinking I may just make a 5/8 aluminum shim to go between the core support and the upper retainer.

What are you using for mounts/retainers on the bottom? As I mentioned in post 6, the radiator support has to be modified to accommodate the lower 4 row retainers. The modification may lower the radiator. If you are running a factory shroud and shim the top retainers up, you will also raise the shroud and cause interference with the fan.

[ic1480]

not running a factory fan. using electric which mount to the radiator with some fabricated mounts I made up.
Firstowner69. are you suggesting I cut the iron that the bottom retainers bolt to in order to lower the lower retainers>>
Thank you for your replies
IC

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by ic1480

not running a factory fan. using electric which mount to the radiator with some fabricated mounts I made up.
Firstowner69. are you suggesting I cut the iron that the bottom retainers bolt to in order to lower the lower retainers>>
Thank you for your replies
IC

The factory lower 4 row retainers will not seat on the bottom horizontal portion of the core support due to their length and the raised vertical engine side edge of the core support unless the core support is modified to eliminate the problem. The factory just bent an inch or 2 of this edge toward the engine enough to allow proper retainer seating as I recall. In another thread I read where someone cut out a small portion of that raised edge. You can easily bend it down with a 10 or 12 inch crescent wrench in the almost closed position. Below is a poor picture of my original core support with the 4" retainer as delivered by GM. Not sure the pic will help. I zoomed in as far as I could without losing all clarity. You may still have a small(er) gap at the top, but the bolt should draw it down. Hope this helps.

[mechanicalman]

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

The factory lower 4 row retainers will not seat on the bottom horizontal portion of the core support due to their length and the raised vertical engine side edge of the core support unless the core support is modified to eliminate the problem. The factory just bent an inch or 2 of this edge toward the engine enough to allow proper retainer seating as I recall. In another thread I read where someone cut out a small portion of that raised edge. You can easily bend it down with a 10 or 12 inch crescent wrench in the almost closed position. Below is a poor picture of my original core support with the 4" retainer as delivered by GM. Not sure the pic will help. I zoomed in as far as I could without losing all clarity. You may still have a small(er) gap at the top, but the bolt should draw it down. Hope this helps.

x2

[ic1480]

Firstowner69 thank you
my bottom retainers do sit down tight. That lip was one of my first attempts. Thank you so much for taking the time. Can you tell me if your top retainers look like the ones I posted a pic of earlier. Was thinking they may be wrong. thank you again. IC

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by ic1480

Firstowner69 thank you
my bottom retainers do sit down tight. That lip was one of my first attempts. Thank you so much for taking the time. Can you tell me if your top retainers look like the ones I posted a pic of earlier. Was thinking they may be wrong. thank you again. IC

Looks like they're the same from this picture. How big is that top gap? I reused the original bracket and rubber pieces (which do appear thinner...I think due to age), but the bracket still sat about 1/2" above the core support prior to bolting down.

[ic1480]

thank you very much. I am going to fab up a couple of aluminum strips that attach to top and bottom retainers on the engine side then bolt down the top retainers on the core support. Again. thank you so much. will send pic.s when I get them done

[72MARIO]

Mine new rubber cushions had the exact same problem you show . I threw them out and re used the originals.

[ic1480]

I ended up taking mine to the belt sander. they fit now. gotta love repop. thank you everyone for replying. IC

[gmc 2500 4x4]

hmmm