Aluminum radiator upgrade

[IDIBRONCO]

Close. I'm not very familiar with those since I've never owned one.

 

[1mouse3]

That looks like a Dent Side radiator judging by the shape.

Close. I'm not very familiar with those since I've never owned one.

I think dent and bump use a radiator that is close to the same if recall correctly. I have a dent core support in my bump, just had to drill a few holes for the inner fenders. Dont rember having to do anything to get the radiator to fit, think it was bolt in. The core and inner fenders on a dent is galvanised and dose not rust easy.

 

[OlKoot]

The radiator supports are interchangable throughout the 70's. Fordifications.com has a good explanation

 

[OlKoot]

Finally back together, with a 4 core Aluminum tig welded 6061 aluminum radiator. Had some modifications to make to the rad support making sure my block heater fitting, now on the drivers side wouldnt hit the steering box. Block heating fitting replaces the drain ****. And, the clutch fan, wont hit the upper rad hose. Plus the radiator cap, not hitting the hood. All worked out, after moving the radiator 1 inch towards the passenger side. I had to weld in a 1 inch strip on the inside edge of the rad opening. On the drivers side

 

[OlKoot]

Had to modify the upper rad hose a little, no stretching over the inlet, extended with a piece of 2 inch pipe. theres 1/2 in clearance between the fan, and hose.

 

[Clb]

Man
I
Miss America and build the best product in the world days

.Sad you cannot buy a decent bolt on unit.

 

[OlKoot]

This time of year was a hard shop, only rad suport side mounted rads were available, and not engine side mounted rads, i have more than one radiator supports qvailable. I didnt mond mofifying this one.

 

[Slicknik]

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[OlKoot]

After driving for a week, its been very good. I have a Gates water pump arriving wednesday. Shafts wiggling, bearing is shot. Not leaking coolant and, im not driving it like that and taking a chance. Fan coming off and digging into the rad would suck big time

 

[OlKoot]

It's been a few years and a lot of high mountain trips . Radiator is working perfectly

 

[Slicknik]

I hope your running an extra ground strap to reduce electrolysis. Have you flushed the system yet? Another upgrade is to add a coolant filter.

Glad to hear it’s working good for your application

 

[ISPKI]

I hope your running an extra ground strap to reduce electrolysis. Have you flushed the system yet? Another upgrade is to add a coolant filter.

Glad to hear it’s working good for your application

Interesting concern. Is the OEM radiator grounded with a strap? Also - isnt the radiator directly bolted to the support frame which is then grounded to the frame? Or is the Radiator mounted on bushings to insulate vibration from the frame?

 

[Rdnck84_03]

Or is the Radiator mounted on bushings to insulate vibration from the frame?

All I have delt will are rubber mounted.

James

 

[Slicknik]

@ISPKI yes the radiator has through holes for the clip/bolt style fasteners that mount it (in his photos).
Or rubber isolators

Usually there is paint covering the radiator support matting surface so then it’s only grounded with the OEM strap and whatever contact is made between the threads of the bolt and the sheet metal it passes through.

So a second grounding strap is advised when running an aluminum radiator.
My source for this information is “Burbank radiator” in SoCal

 

[Nero]

Also just to toss it out there, in the heavy duty industry, almost all semi radiators are aluminum with plastic side tanks, and every single one has a ground strap for electrolysis prevention.