Help with radiator supports

[chevroletman223]

Whats the difference between the 67-68 radiator support and the 69-72 supports? other than the headlight buckets. Could you cut the buckets off a 69-72 rad support and use it in a 68? I have a beautiful original rot free 69-72 support that i was hoping to use in my 68 because mine got crumpled.. Any help would be appreciated. Dan

[suville]

I have looked at the possibility of doing that and I think it could be done, you would however weld in a washer in the big mounting hole on the core support as you should do in a 69-72 frame mounting holes to reduce the size as they did not extend through the hole when installing a 67-68 core support and you order core support mounting hardware for 60-68

[chevroletman223]

Appreciate the info suville!! so the bolt holes should be the same right? just cut the buckets and put a washer in the mounting holes? Anyone else chime in on this? has anyone done it? Thanks again, Dan

[suville]

Not sure if I was clear on the hole mods. If you look at the mounting holes in the core support and the mounts off the frame the holes are larger on 69-72 than 67-68 so I grind down thick washers and weld them in to reduce them down for a better mount integrety. Hope that clears up any confusion.

[chevroletman223]

Thanks again suville. Anyone else?

[gkesseru]

I too would like to do this to convert a 69-70 support for my 68. It looks like the 69 main panel is really a 68 with an extra bucket welded on. If I grind off the extra bucket, will the remaining headlight hole align with the 68 grille? Has anyone done this?

[mrh33916]

I may be wrong but I seem to remember someone on here saying that the frame mounts on the 69-72 frames are lower than the mounts on the 67-68's to offset the taller rubber bushings. So you should use the mounting kit for your year frame not radiator support??? Again, I'm not 100% sure on that but do have a 67 frame that I can measure later if needed.

[gkesseru]

Frame mounts are a small problem, since I am also swapping the 68 frame out for a complete 81 frame and will probably have to move all frame mounts for cab and radiator. The new wheelbase is 1 1/2" longer but I do not want to chop the frame. I will look into possibility of moving cab 3/4" to split the difference between the front/back. Just got my new parts truck yesterday and have yet to strip down the 81.

[chevroletman223]

ttt

[LockDoc]

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You will also have to put the square holes in the support for the headlight adjusters. Just drill the holes and square them out with a square file. There is also a small hole for the headlight ring retainer spring.

LockDoc

[fishingjred73]

68 has threaded inserts along the bottom front edge for the gravel apron to bolt to 69-72 don't have this.

[chevroletman223]

im thinking i want to get an origional 67-68 radiator support now. because i dont know exactly how different they are but i dont want to deal with the hassle of getting the fenders on and grille and finding out things dont line up. So i will have an absolutely beautiful original 69-72 radiator support for sale, no rot at all. $150 plus shipping. A friend brought it up from mexico. And ill be looking for a 67-68 one thats just as nice. origional or aftermarket. if anyone knows of one please tell me. Thanks, Dan

[gkesseru]

I recently bought a 68 C10 for a total rebuild. It has a 69 radiator support that someone previously installed. Everything lines up except the the headlights. Some previous owner bolted a cut-up headlight bucket in front of the 69 bucket so the headlights stuck way out front. I am planning to grind off the 69 welded on bucket and "convert" the support panel to a 68. As I said, everything else lined right up. From what I can tell, only difference is the extra bucket spot-welded in front of the headlight punch-out.