Mounting 24" rad. in '67 - making side mount brackets

[Jonk67]

Well I thought to myself 'what else can I do to make it take me forever to get this car back together?' then I realized that the '68 upper mount bracket wasn't going to line up to mount the 24" '68 w/AC rad. into my '67. So after a trip to the local Metal Supermarket (thanks Steve aka SellersRodShop for getting me hooked to another shop to browse..) I returned with some (edited from incorrect 3/8") 1/4" X 2.5"W X 14" L aluminum bar.

I basically copied the stock spacers from the 20" rad. I took out and cut away the part that would block the extra 2" of airflow on each side. The 1/4" holds the rad. off the mounts and I used carriage head bolts to make sure the bolt heads wouldn't rub the rad. fins. This gives me a solid mount down both sides to bolt the rad. to w/o using upper or lower brackets (guess I have a stock '68 bracket w/rubber pads to sell now). Here's some pics:

alum. stock and 1 side cut (haven't drilled the rad. mount holes yet, will when I cut both and can mount to drill proper, filed the holes square and tapped the carriage bolts in with a hammer, fit snug

Cutaway one mounted

Cutaway and uncut stock mounted

Once I cut/drill the second one they'll both be painted black to disappear and the bolt heads will be cut even with the nylock nuts and all painted black also (do you see a theme going here..?)

Please let me know if you see any issues with this setup.
Jon

 

[joesgt281]

Looks like you're going to have something pretty cool there when you're done.
I used an AFCO cross-flow radiator that required custom mounts that were a bit different than yours.
It was a great fit though, nestling tightly between the frame rails.
Can't tell from your radiator pic but I strongly recommend the cross-flow configuration.
I believe I needed a later model water pump, like a 69, with the inlet on the drivers side.

Oh, and I really appreciated your comment about adding challenges that puts your schedule behind. The radiator on mine was quite the engineering project too. I also spent tons of hours on an electric cut-off switch in the back.
But these are the kind of things that we look back on and get alot of satisfaction from.
Good luck on your project.

 

[johnpro]

I believe I needed a later model water pump, like a 69, with the inlet on the drivers side.

The '69's used the same pumps as the '66-'68 (except K codes).

The '70/later used the water pump with the inlet on the driver's side. You'll need to replace all your brackets (alternator, AC, and PS if they apply) the water pump pulley, the crank pulley and lower hose.

In other words ... don't do it.

 

[JeffTepper]

Don't mean to sound like I'm raining on your parade, but why not use the factory saddle mounts??

 

[Jonk67]

Don't mean to sound like I'm raining on your parade, but why not use the factory saddle mounts??

Well, I was afraid someone was going to ask that :sad

I test fitted the rad. with the repop upper saddle mount but mistakenly put it on the outside vs. inside of the rad. support and didn't think it would work as the mounting holes didn't line up... I also hadn't bought the lower mounts as I could fab them for a lot less. Then I decided that liked the stock '67 look of no bracket at the top and just picked up some alum. plate and started cutting.

It's more fun to me to fab than just order more repop stuff too. Fabbing stuff up also takes longer which aggravates the wife, which in turn brings me satifsfaction...digging my own grave aren't I? :ep

I should have asked for pics of the proper way to mount the upper '68 bracket first but this way is funnerer.

EDIT: after reading cmayna's troubles with repop lower mounts here;
http://www.stangfix.com/testforum/index.php/topic,5804.0.html
I'm kinda glad I went the custom mount route...
Jon

 

[fordrule]

I might be in need of Jon and nicks metal working skills to fab up a rad in my 65

 

[gtscode]

Looks awesome! I had a hell of a time trying to use stock mounts withy griffin. This looks awesome!! Great work I may copy you!

 

[cmayna]

Using a Northern Alum radiator, I had to toss out the idea of using stock bracket set up and also fabbed 4 "L" shape brackets to attached the rad to the radiator support opening. Much cleaner looking not have that stock upper bracket in place.