Radiator dilema. What would you do?

66nightMARE · Oct 23, 2005

Well, heres my dilema. I ordered a Griffin Aluminum radiator a little while ago. I was stupid and didnt research it. It didnt come with mounting brackets of any type, no tranny cooler, and the bottom hole is driver side instead of passenger side. So here are my questions:

-Should I try and fab something up to mount it, and just have a rad. shop move the hole to the other side?

-Should I sell it and buy something else?

-Will a rad. from a Fox body bolt up to my core support?

There are lots of different options obviously. What would you do?

glastang · Oct 23, 2005

"Should I try and fab something up to mount it, and just have a rad. shop move the hole to the other side?"

Leave the oulet like it is a crossflow cool's way better, change the water pump
Fab something up to mount it or got to a wrecking yard and get the brackets and bolts and bottom support's of something like a Granada. (of course whatever you use has to be the right witdh so measure first.) Use a tranny cooler.

66nightMARE · Oct 23, 2005

glastang said:
"Should I try and fab something up to mount it, and just have a rad. shop move the hole to the other side?"

Leave the oulet like it is a crossflow cool's way better, change the water pump
Fab something up to mount it or got to a wrecking yard and get the brackets and bolts and bottom support's of something like a Granada. (of course whatever you use has to be the right witdh so measure first.) Use a tranny cooler.

I tried changing the water pump. I went and got a water pump for a 1970 mustang. It WOULD bolt straight up, but my timing point is in the way. A buddy mentioned grinding the point down and relocating the point elsewhere...but in the same spot if you get my drift. I wasnt sure how good of an idea that is. Will not having the point there really make it THAT much difficult to time it? I figure I could get tthe timing close, make sure there is no pinging, and the throttle response is there, etc...then I should be ok. What do you think?

Mach1steve · Oct 23, 2005

maybe I'm dumb, but.....

Why didn't you just return it ?
If there's a re-stocking charge.. so what...
Remember what your pappy told ya ? Use the right parts and the correct tools !

zookeeper · Oct 23, 2005

As far as your timing pointer goes, I wouldn't worry about it. Most older cars using original, rubber-isolated balancers, aren't accurate anymore due to slippage and they seem to get timed just fine. While sending it back and biting the bullet may be "the right way" to fix it, you'll be fine if you want to just grind off the pointer and time it by ear, or fab up a new pointer. After all, I imagine shipping wouldn't be cheap and that's your responsibilty on returns. That also gives the UPS man one more chance to wad up your expensive, delicate radiator, and UPS isn't in the habit of paying claims. They could back over it with a truck and it would be your fault because of "improper packaging", then you'd be out the money and the radiator. Screw it, grind off the nub and be done with it.

66nightMARE · Oct 23, 2005

Now to the hard part. Trying to mount this thing. Its 27 1/2 by 19''. What would be the best way to mount it? It did not come with brackets. So all I have to work with is A big ass radiator and a core support. Any ideas?

pictures:

glastang · Oct 23, 2005

Ouch that is one big a$$ radiator. It probally be cheaper to send it back.
With everything you are going to have to modified, and add. I'm sure you can find something in a wrecking yard that would work or even a radiator shop might be able to suggest something.

iskwezm · Oct 23, 2005

Do not send it back,its easy to make it work and worked to cool mine down.I bought the a little bigger radiator.I would suggest cutting the core support so it will mount flat and get a little more air to the core.I just finished my install last week.I had some tabs welded to the tanks and use a "chevy" type so all i had to do was use a Cool Flex hose on the upper and the stock lower hose(pass outlet).

66nightMARE · Oct 23, 2005

Wow. Looks awesome. What do you mean "chevy type". Also, who did you have do your welding?

zookeeper · Oct 23, 2005

Nice job, but I'd move the fan to the rear of the radiator. You have plenty of room and anything you put in front of the radiator blocks airflow, even a fan. I saw a fastback this summer with a monster aluminum radiator and two smaller fans in front and he was claiming it heats up in traffic. When I asked why he has the fan in front, he said that he thought it looked neat, which it does. I talked to him a few weeks later and he'd put the fans on the rear and his problems went away.

glastang · Oct 23, 2005

"Chevy type"
He means the z shaped bracket right under the drivers side outlet.
He had it welded to the radiator tank and bolted it to the radiator support.
Excellant job Iskwezm, super nice paint job too.

iskwezm · Oct 23, 2005

66nightMARE said:
Wow. Looks awesome. What do you mean "chevy type". Also, who did you have do your welding?

A "chevy" type has the top hose on the drivers and lower on the passenger.

The guy that built my engine did the tabs,but any "good" welder that can weld aluminum should work,but it might be pricey.(cost me 80 bucks to make and weld the tabs

You might be able to use late model 5.0 hoses

iskwezm · Oct 23, 2005

glastang said:
"Chevy type"
He means the z shaped bracket right under the drivers side outlet.
He had it welded to the radiator tank and bolted it to the radiator support.
Excellant job Iskwezm, super nice paint job too.

THANKS!!!!!actually the "Z" bracket is for the fans ,I made those...cost me 5 bucks for a strip and bent and polished it it.

The tabs are under those "Z" brackets.

HistoricMustang · Oct 24, 2005

This may give some ideas with the mounting.

HistoricMustang
www.historicmustang.com

66bluepony · Oct 24, 2005

iskwezm

What did you use around the opening you cut for the big radiator. Looks really nice.

HistoricMustang · Oct 24, 2005

66bluepony said:
What did you use around the opening you cut for the big radiator. Looks really nice.

3/4 x 3/4 aluminum angle used top and bottom of radiator to attach. Be sure to add rubber to help with vibration damper - aluminum not as strong as steel.

This gives a better shot of the front.

HistoricMustang
www.historicmustang.com

66nightMARE · Oct 24, 2005

Wow. Ya'll both did great jobs. Thanks for the replies. It helps A LOT.

iskwezm · Oct 24, 2005

66bluepony said:
What did you use around the opening you cut for the big radiator. Looks really nice.

i originally was going to use a pinch weld moulding,but i found a Ranger door opening weatherstrip that i warrentied for my brother and never put on.its cushioned against the the core so it doesnt rub on the metal.

SitDown · Oct 25, 2005

iskwezm said:
i originally was going to use a pinch weld moulding,but i found a Ranger door opening weatherstrip that i warrentied for my brother and never put on.its cushioned against the the core so it doesnt rub on the metal.

Was wondering the same thing...That really came out nice!

What rad/fan combo is that?

iskwezm · Oct 25, 2005

SitDown said:
Was wondering the same thing...That really came out nice!

What rad/fan combo is that?

Its a Summit (made by Northern)universal "chevy" type,the core size is 28.5X19 and it cost $169.99.

The fans are 2 16" pusher/puller Scotts fans,rated at about 2-2100 cfm,but i think i might go for something with more CFM later.

Radiator dilema. What would you do?

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