how did you make lower brackets to hold champion aluminum radiator?

[travz500]

how did you guys make your lower mounts for your champion aluminum radiators? I got a 4 core and its thicker on the tank than the original saddles on the frame I was gonna custom make some but was curious how you did yours and what about the top i have a idea but how did you make yours work? pics would be great if you got em

[65Gregg]

Is it a cross flow?

[Clyde65]

I used the stock rubber insulators and cut them in half ( basically) with a hot knife.

[1963c-10]

I put the lower mounts in a vise and reshaped them to fit. Took a little work, but has held fine for 3 years and I didn't have to modify the rubber mounts. I converted from a 6cyl, so I had to use a V8 top mount and ditch the old six cyl mount.

[travz500]

never thought about reshaping the metal I cut some channel iron and was gonna make them but didnt like the way it was gonna look not that anyone is gonna notice but i will know and for the top I got a few of the v-8 radiator top mounts but the top tank is about a 1/4" bigger than them so gonna have to fab that to I guess

[old cruiser]

I did the same as 1963 c10 and just reshaped bottom mounts and slid rubber hose over them to stop from rubbing. Removed top mount and made support brackets to go from shroud to radiator support panel.

[travz500]

Originally Posted by old cruiser

I did the same as 1963 c10 and just reshaped bottom mounts and slid rubber hose over them to stop from rubbing. Removed top mount and made support brackets to go from shroud to radiator support panel.

Any pictures by chance I kinda want to eliminate top bracket myself
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[65chevygal]

Originally Posted by travz500

Any pictures by chance I kinda want to eliminate top bracket myself
Posted via Mobile Device

I would like to see pictures too. I have a 65 C10 with the 230 and I'm trying to figure out the best way to make the champion radiator fit.

[Sharps40]

I just mounted a replacement 3 core V8 Radiator on my 230 I6. The thread is attached below, start reading at post number 107. With code P20 you can order the V8 radiator from Advance and get 20% off plus free shipping...this should get you a brass radiator for about $190 shipped to your door. Its a good radiator. I don't like the aluminum because they are epoxied rather than slodered and need modified or new mounts to make them work. The V8 radiator is much closer to a drop in/looks better in my opinion, but see the attached thread for how to's. (Incidentlly, the Murray v8 radiator from Orellies appears to be the same but I didn't order it there since I've never found a coupon for parts from Orellies and $$$ saved is significant, it buys the fluids or hoses)

I used the V8 mounts and rubber top and bottom for the conversion. I also removed the I6 airdams and replaced them with the smaller v8 air dams (these could be easily made from sheetmetal so no worries there)

The 230 I6 lower hose was a direct fit. I used a 1.75 to 1.5 flex hose 20" long for the fit to the top as described in the thread. Over all I'm quite happy and it took my I6 from 12ish quarts to about 15ish quarts. (Hose numbers for the conversion are photographed in the thread.) No shroud needed so far and increases room for access to belt/fan/water pump etc.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=571916

[Sharps40]

Originally Posted by 65chevygal

I would like to see pictures too. I have a 65 C10 with the 230 and I'm trying to figure out the best way to make the champion radiator fit.

You and I are close. Holler if you want to drive up some weekend and look over the brass radiator install on a 1965 I6 C10.

[tincan1966]

The only aluminum radiators that are expoxied are the ones with plastic tanks. The Champion is welded together.
I installed one a couple years ago, and like everyone else, just spread the lower mounts a little and reused the OEM rubber.

[Sharps40]

Good that they are welded. Bad that they are ugly. 4 core is nice though.

[tincan1966]

Wouldn't run anything but an aluminum radiator anymore. I like using an electric fan, also. A 2 core alum w/1" tubes cools equally as good as a 4 core copper/brass.
Then again, I could care less about being in original condition. Those that do stay like OEM, I totally agree with using an original style.

One key to making one last is to make sure and use distilled water when filling the first time, helps keep the impurities out.

[cww180]

I know its an old thread but all of these parts available these days and the brackets aren’t available new?

[The Rocknrod]

The upper V-8 Brackets are available at Aspen Auto Parts in Arizona. Not sure about the lowers. The rubber upper/lower rubber is available at The Car and Truck Shop in Orange California.

[Chevy Fleetside]

I just took the top mount and drilled out the spot welds and removed the old bend. I had some 20 gauge sheet metal and just bent it in my vise a bit bigger then the radiator and welded it on to the old mount. I cut a new rubber buffer for the top of the radiator. For the bottom I did like most others. Just rebent them to fit the bottom of the radiator. I don't remember if I used the original rubber buffers or not. I had thought of making some side brackets but what's the hurry..