Hey guys I was hoping you could help me out with my 1967 cougar. It has a 289 in it and a aluminum radiator. I keep seeing radiator supports and was wondering if anyone could send me some pictures of how the radiator is suppose to be mounted. I feel like who ever installed this one did it improperly as there are fender washers that are huge holding it in.
The factory radiator just bolts directly to the radiator support. Then it has some metal pieces that close the gaps between the side of the radiator honeycomb and the support structure. Don’t have great pictures, but have a couple before I tore my car down. Can’t really see the metal pieces I mentioned, but those are sandwiched between the radiator and frame using the same bolts as the radiator. Hope that makes sense…
.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Ok gotcha. Yeah I was just worried cause I saw so many brackets and isolator a on all these sites that I thought maybe they jerryriged it in there to fit like everything else on the car. Thanks man!
That is the “standard” cooling package. The heavy duty cooling utilizes a radiator that is 24" wide instead of 20". The 24" sits in 2 lower brackets and is held in place with a clamp over the center.
Hmmmmm…well I think I’m going to need the stuff for the bigger radiator. My radiator is almost bigger than the radiator opening.
Does anyone have pictures of the bigger radiator brackets and how it looks installed?
Here is a picture of the larger (24 inch ) radiator mounted in my 1969, the earlier cars, 67-68 mount the same, they just use a different top bracket , the lower brackets for small block cars are the same for 67-70.
All of these brackets and the rubber isolators are availiable aftermarket new at Mustangs Unlimited (ScottDrake) or at WCCC.
I just finished installing a 24" radiator in my '67. It was a '68 radiator, as they do not make the actual ‘narrow’ big-block/AC radiator for the '67. You will also need repro-lower brackets and the top bracket legendarylimeaz shows.
WCCC has it laid out on their website pretty well. If you have a small black and are not running a clutch fan, you’ll be ok. The 24" is a 3 row and measures 3" deep, unlike the skinny 289 rad Tweeder shows, so my BB and clutch fan needed some extra fitment to move the radiator forward about 3/4" by enlarging the opening.
In '67 a 390 with AC got a nominally 24" wide radiator. The really rare one is the 4 speed version without the transcooler…
It is different on the bottom side and require a different set of lower frame mounts. IT is easily replaced with the '68 and later version but you have to change out the lower mounts to the later version.
The '67 with AC and 289 came with a 20" radiator that really was not quite up to the job and in '68 they switched to a 24" wide version. If you are looking for the real solution to over heating issues the best thing to do is to use the 24" in a 3 or 4 row version with the fan clutch and fan shroud. I think, but do not know for sure, that the big block fan can also be used with this combination for max cooling. If it can keep a 428CJ cool, it can probably handle a pretty hot 289 or 302.
I looked at a '68 with the 24" wide radiator installed.They had to push the fins against the old mounting holes in the corners and I thought that didn’t look like a factory fit. It leaves some gaps around the radiator. Obviously putting the 24" in was an after thought for the reasons you describe.
Here is a pic of the lower brackets:
Put in the radiator with them under it before you drill the holes for them, so you can position the mounts to where you want the radiator to sit.
I originally assumed once the side shrouds for the small radiator were removed, the big radiator would fit in the hole. Not so, but only a bit of trimming is needed to make it actually fit the opening with out a gap.
I did wind up getting the WCCC fan clutch to obtain proper clearance though, model 2711 is 3/8" shorter than the model 2710 at MU.
Thank you guys so much. I’m going to go take some picture and post them up because the aluminum radiator that’s in the car as we speak is clearly not installed correctly and maybe the pictures would help resolve what mounts and maybe what radiator I have in the vehicle.
Here’s the radiator:
How it’s currently mounted:
Bottom or radiator: (not sure why there is a cut out like that on it.
Looks like it was intended to mount using the frame stands at the bottom and the clamp at the top like a big block radiator…
Are those two holes where the bottom supports are located at? And is there like a kit that has all the mounts and brackets to get this radiator in correctly?
The lower brackets I pictured are not OE, you will drill holes for them on the outer sides of those lower supports. They will move the radiator UP about 1/2"- 3/4", so check for clearance on top.
I think if you get them and the top mount, you can remove the side shields and those bolts on the front sides of the radiator, and it will do fine.
That looks like an old style Be Cool big block chevy radiator. Previous owner probably had it, or got it from a buddy and was able to make it fit.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk