Building your own radiator support?

[Coldshot]

I'm thinking of building my own radiator support, but want to know if anyone has done it before and what the measurments are? For mounting the fenders.
I have a 6.0l LSX going in and want to fit a good sized rad in there.
Would it be best to get one and modify or build it from scratch?

I know there's other rads made for this swap but I've searched and no ones has done it, so I thought I'd ask and see what people have done or come up with.

[gono]

I'm at the same spot in my build. I noticed this an old post. What did you end up doing? I'm thinking of using the stock radiator, but I'm not sure if has enough cooling. Anyone?

[dwcsr]

I'll make a suggestion that rather than making a support and all at thats involved that you invest in a quality radiator like a walker radiator. They have some custom made for LS engines that work really well and are more than adequate to cool a 6.0, down side they are pricey.

Jacking with making a support for a larger radiator is tricky due to the mount points of fenders and grille and inner fenders. If its out of whack getting fender to cab to hood lines to work may be difficult. I'm sure you could do it I'm just saying why reinvent the a wheel that doesn't need reinventing.

This is a 50 with a walker in it made for an LS swap as you can see we have a Tbird/Cougar fan with a custom shroud in the stock location and the fenders and hood all ling up

Down side they are pricey. but making a support and hoping all fits in the end would cost about that much.

[Coldshot]

I ended up finding an old one and customized it. Works just fine to hold up the nose.
Just look for an old one. There's lots around, I got mine for $35

[gono]

Did you use the stock radiator? I'd like to keep mine as stock looking as possible, but will a stock radiator be enough cooling for a 6.0L?

[mr48chev]

You probably can't buy the metal to build one for 35.00

I went out behind the shed Sunday to measure the difference between a 3100 and a 4100 core support and found two small truck core supports I didn't remember having.

[Coldshot]

I'm not at the point of getting a rad. But I don't think a stock one will cut it. There's a fare amount of cheap ones on eBay, but not sure how good they are

[_Ogre]

i'm with dwcsr, they are a lot more complex than holding the radiator on
your truck was designed for a sbc, get a desert cooler radiator from us radiator
i run 350 (5.7L) and never have heat problems with the desert cooler
the desert cooler looks stock and has the trans cooler built in

[Crash0637]

I'm 5.3 swapping my 58. Last night while hanging out at my buddies shop (he only does ls swaps, and is well known in the local area for good work) we had this same argument. He swears that there is more than enough cooling capacity for a 6.0 modded motor with a 4th gen F-body radiator. He showed me 3 racecars at his shop using these. I actually took a measuring tape to one of them. Their rough dimensions at 31 wide and 22 high.

Maybe this will help you.

Hope I don't get beat up on my recommendation lol

[Coldshot]

That's good to know, I'm gonna mesure mine tonight to check that.

[Crash0637]

Actually I currently own a Trailblazer radiator, it is the perfect dimension for the core support in our trucks. The trailblazer has a 4.2 in a fairly heavy truck.So I figured it would work well. Picked it up at a salvage yard for cheap. Only problem is the bottom hose outlet will have to be modded due to the angle.

Not sure if this radiator would be a good option for you.

[Flysocal]

I went with a "superior radiator" made to fit a 1947-54 core support with fan LS water pump hook up and tranny cooler. Got it off eBay for around 400 I think. Now I'm looking for a core support because mine was modified to fit something larger. Thinking about using absolute sheet metals support since they advertise it to give more adjustability over stock....to get sheet metal lined up. Another 400 there....

[Bitties5Deuce]

I'm curious if anyone has built one or are most modifying the stock one. I also am running a 5.3.

[R&B51]

Not sure if I know how to do this right, but there is an amazing build thread on the site that includes building a custom radiator support. It may be a little bit different application than yours but it has some description there. This guy is an amazing metal worker. Just reading through his build thread is inspirational. See if this link works.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=557538

[ptc]

Shannon builds everything 'custom'.... very nice work!

Ill be doing a custom radiator support 'rebuild' in that Im gonna use the existing metal general structure that connects the frame to the fenders etc. Ill be cleaning it up and patching all the unnecessary holes etc. Then prepping it to rehang new aluminum panel covers off of it surrounding the radiator and the new inner panel mounts for aluminum panels. Kinda along these lines:

[ptc]

Found this on the PRC website:

[R&B51]

Coldshot, found the build page number on link I sent before. Look at page 13 of:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=557538

[Coldshot]

I've read threw that thread before. I think that's where I actually first thought about it lol

[R&B51]

Good luck on yours coldshot. Sure would like to see pictures on it continued on this post if and when you build it. I will be right behind you, I'm going to buy a C6 Corvette rolling chassis and put the whole thing in my 51. I'm not nearly the metal worker Shannon is but I will get it done.

[Coldshot]

I ended up just shortening a stock one to fit. I'm a ways away from putting a rad in. I'm sure it will need modding when that happens too.

Truck is on hold for a bit as I get my garage in order... It's taking forever!

[Aaronoregon]

Done several LS swaps now into older trucks. They really don't need much cooling. Just get a good flowing aluminum radiator in whatever size you need and don't worry about it. It's really that simple.

[jweb]

Absolute Sheetmetal makes a custom radiator support but for $420 I would rather modify a stock one.

Also I have seen people use the Champion radiators that are about $160, I put a stock style V8 radiator in years ago and it still cools fine after my swap.

[Flysocal]

Originally Posted by jweb

Absolute Sheetmetal makes a custom radiator support but for $420 I would rather modify a stock one.

Also I have seen people use the Champion radiators that are about $160, I put a stock style V8 radiator in years ago and it still cools fine after my swap.

The 54 core support is 360 because it doesn't have the lower grill mount. Just not sure about how the latch panel and fender supports will mount up to the absolute sheet metal product with it being "posialign". Not to mention my cowl vent patch was a waste of money since it wasn't cut the correct size I could have done a much better job just making my own patch. Classic parts and others have a repop for 260 that includes the fender supports which I don't need. Still trying to find someone or a link to a build with absolute sheet metal core support so I can get a review before I drop $$ leaning towards a repop since originals are very hard to find in unmolested condition