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Reflections Good thing it was cheap, it was only marginally better. |
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Radiator
The other day while working on the seatbelt I took delivery of an aluminum radiator, $203 shipped from Champion. They do not list a radiator for a C-body with a 318 so I looked at different options first being the big block unit they did list. I saw a couple problems; first was the inlet/outlet locations didn’t work and would cost more to relocate, second was the size, I wasn’t sure it was setup for the standard core support or if I would need to swap the 26” one I also have. In looking through all the different radiators they had listed for Mopars I only saw one that was ready to go for an early small block (driver side lower radiator hose). The Champion model EC1635 was listed for several different applications including the 1967 Fury. I felt I could adapt and drill holes easier than relocating fittings and swapping core supports so I ordered it. Coolant drained I removed the old unit and then test fitted the new one, it dropped right on the lower two bolts so located the upper holes through the bolt hole and drilled them out. That do I bolted it up and connected al the hoses and lines then filled it up with 50/50. 2-1/2 quarts in and I was good to go, fired it up and checked everything, great no leaks. So I go to close the hood and bump? Good thing I didn’t just slam it shut like I typically do, the radiator was too high, and to double check this I put some putty on the cap and lowered the hood and pressed down yup zero clearance. Great $30 in coolant and I wasn’t going to loose that, nothing to transfer it to I looked at options. First I put a jack under the radiator and removed the bolts, I then lowered it to a set of holes that were already there on the top and bolted it up. The lower two bolts were going to be difficult as the core support is double walled at that point and you cannot but a punch through them. I loosened the two bolts and spaced the radiator out so I could see the holes in the core support, a little measuring I was able to locate the holes and drill in place. Once again I bolted it up and tightened everything again, closed the hood, done! After a spirited drive I checked everything again and all go, didn’t even need to top off. The entire time the temp needle never left the bottom of the operating range. | |
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