69 351w Radiator Upgrade?

69shocktower

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Jul 11, 2016

#1

• Jul 11, 2016

• #1

My 69 Mustang coupe has the standard 18" x 21" radiator, inlet & outlet on passenger side. It's never cooled as well as I'd like. This has 1 review saying installed easy on a 68 Mustang but yeah, just 1 review. Just want to make sure on stock the top is the inlet and the bottom is the outlet. I have measured and have the space for this but not sure about the inlet being in a different position. Will I need to find a new hose to fit? Thanks,

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sdk-338-3hf

 

horse sence

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Jul 11, 2016

#2

• Jul 11, 2016

• #2

Go with the 24 inch ,you can buy the mounting brackets .It has a clamp type bracket for the top and a cradle bracket for both sides of the bottom .You can order the correct one for a 351 ,all the mounting holes are there you just bolt it in .

 

69shocktower

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Jul 12, 2016

#3

• Jul 12, 2016

• #3

horse sence said:

Go with the 24 inch ,you can buy the mounting brackets .It has a clamp type bracket for the top and a cradle bracket for both sides of the bottom .You can order the correct one for a 351 ,all the mounting holes are there you just bolt it in .

Click to expand...

By 24" do you mean the Scott Drake on the link I posted? If not can you be more specific?
As far as mounting brackets I found these for the one I posted.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sdk-c7zz8a193al/overview/

 

horse sence

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Jul 12, 2016

#4

• Jul 12, 2016

• #4

There were two different radiator sizes used in the mustangs ,the smaller radiator that bolted directly to the radiator support and the heavy duty radiator that has a clamp at the top and saddles on the frame rails that the radiator sets in .The one you have sounds like the smaller radiator . Check out Mustangs Unlimited or National Parts Depot and you will find the 24 inch clamp in radiator and the mounting brackets . I am having troubles posting pics or i would post them for you .

 

69shocktower

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Jul 12, 2016

#5

• Jul 12, 2016

• #5

horse sence said:

There were two different radiator sizes used in the mustangs ,the smaller radiator that bolted directly to the radiator support and the heavy duty radiator that has a clamp at the top and saddles on the frame rails that the radiator sets in .The one you have sounds like the smaller radiator . Check out Mustangs Unlimited or National Parts Depot and you will find the 24 inch clamp in radiator and the mounting brackets . I am having troubles posting pics or i would post them for you .

Click to expand...

Mustangs Unlimited has a great selection! I forgot about them years ago. Thanks. They have a 20" 3 row, a 24" 4 row that's 3" thick and a 24" 2 row. I will make sure what I have and measure again. Thanks!

 

69shocktower

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Jul 25, 2016

#6

• Jul 25, 2016

• #6

I'm in the middle of the swap now. My car came with the 20" 2 core radiator but has always had the bracket on top and saddles on bottom so don't know if it originally had a 24". It is only a 2 owner car but it was "worked on" in the 80's. In California which would explain the crappier replacement parts if they were replaced.

 

horse sence

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Jul 25, 2016

#7

• Jul 25, 2016

• #7

Parts bought in Calif. are the same as any where .It just has to do with the person cheaping out when he replaced the parts .

 

69shocktower

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Jul 31, 2016

#8

• Jul 31, 2016

• #8

So I tried to slip in the 24" radiator today. My stock fan is too close or wide or both. Doesnt clear the inlet or the trans cooler lines. They dont seem to make a fan less than 17" wide. Or with a shorter base that I can find. There is a 2" fan spacer that if I put a replacement fan on if possible to use just a spacer as a base might give enough room. My stock fan/base is 2.75" from the pulley to the fan. Help?

 

Last edited: Jul 31, 2016

horse sence

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#9

• Jul 31, 2016

• #9

You can go aftermarket fan spacers for just about any length you need .Summit should have a smaller fan if needed ,and spacer .

 

69shocktower

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Jul 31, 2016

#10

• Jul 31, 2016

• #10

horse sence said:

You can go aftermarket fan spacers for just about any length you need .Summit should have a smaller fan if needed ,and spacer .

Click to expand...

I'll have to go with a 16" fan to clear everything. Do the stock fans come off of there base? I've removed my fan several times but always seemed to be 1 piece that doesn't separate.

Also why wouldn't my stock fan fit with 24" radiator if they were also stock?

Thanks,

 

horse sence

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Jul 31, 2016

#11

• Jul 31, 2016

• #11

What type of fan do you have ? Is it a clutch fan ? if it is just a flex fan there should be no base ,only the center hole for alignment and the four mounting bolt holes .
Not sure if the 24 inch sets higher than the smaller radiator but i wouldn't think it would .

 

69shocktower

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Aug 1, 2016

#12

• Aug 1, 2016

• #12

I measured and it does sit higher. It is definitely not a clutch fan. Here is a pic. Looks like just 4 bolt holes so I am guessing it doesn't come apart? So if you have no fan to start with. What would one use to mount a aftermarket fan on a pulley (whatever you call the base or column that is between the fan and the pulley)? Just spacers like the parts places have? Thanks,

 

horse sence

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Aug 1, 2016

#13

• Aug 1, 2016

• #13

Yeah ,that spacer comes off .It is probably just stuck to the fan .You can buy them all different lengths ,you probably want about 1 inch away from the radiator when bolted up .You can get a good stainless steel flex fan from Summit and i think you could get the fan spacer from Auto Zone .You will need the radiator bolted in and your fan so you can measure for the spacer needed .

 

horse sence

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Aug 1, 2016

#14

• Aug 1, 2016

• #14

Remember the farther back the fan sets ,the closer it gets to the alternator ,but it looks like you have quite a bit of room there .

 

69shocktower

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Aug 1, 2016

#15

• Aug 1, 2016

• #15

If my fan comes apart and I can put a 16" wide fan on it should be perfect distance from radiator without changing length. Just need smaller diameter to clear the hose and lines on the bottom. Thanks!

 

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69shocktower

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Sep 12, 2016

#16

• Sep 12, 2016

• #16

I was able to get plenty of room with a 1.5" spacer and the 16" wide fan. I had to get generic plastic clips and screws for the fan shroud as the ones I ordered from mustangs unlimited and universal ones from local store wouldn't fit. Will figure that out later. Now she cools like a jewel!

 

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