Cradle type radiator mounts in a '66
Thread Starter
3rd Gear Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 621
From: California
Cradle type radiator mounts in a '66
I am going to replace the radiator in my '66 inline 6 soon. I am going to attempt to fit a radiator that is unnecessarily large. The stock radiator has tabs on each side that allow bolts to attach it to sheetmetal. I have been looking at universal, crossflow radiators, such as this: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-381424/
Everything about it seems dandy, but because it is a crossflow, it doesn't have the tabs. I would need to rig up some cradles. Do the V8 cars use the cradles? If anyone has every rigged them up on an early Mustang, I would love to see some pictures. Other feedback? Edit: I just realized I would need to do some customizing of my tranny coolant lines. That may be a dealbreaker. Either way, I'd still like the info.
Everything about it seems dandy, but because it is a crossflow, it doesn't have the tabs. I would need to rig up some cradles. Do the V8 cars use the cradles? If anyone has every rigged them up on an early Mustang, I would love to see some pictures. Other feedback? Edit: I just realized I would need to do some customizing of my tranny coolant lines. That may be a dealbreaker. Either way, I'd still like the info.
5th Gear Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,302
From: Northernish Eastish Central Texas
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 439
From: MO
I used a Griffin 24 X 19 radiator from Summit, about the same price, and Summit's generic cradle mounts. The top is held by some coil spring spacers in the mounts. I saw a real nice 69 Mach 1 that had this and stole his idea. I have a Taurus 3.8L fan and it cools great - crawling traffic in 100 deg heat is no problem. (Some guys can't get a Taurus fan to fit with a SBF.) I cut out the radiator support for a little more airflow.
My lower mounts are about like JamesW's except I bolted them to the lower radiator support since I don't have the strut arm braces.
My lower mounts are about like JamesW's except I bolted them to the lower radiator support since I don't have the strut arm braces.
Last edited by ozarks06; Mar 13, 2010 at 09:48 AM.
6th Gear Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,232
From: PA
I am going to replace the radiator in my '66 inline 6 soon. I am going to attempt to fit a radiator that is unnecessarily large.
"unnecessarily large" should be your first clue.
The stock radiator has tabs on each side that allow bolts to attach it to sheetmetal. I have been looking at universal, crossflow radiators, such as this: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-381424/
First, cut back on reading those catalogs.
Everything about it seems dandy, but because it is a crossflow, it doesn't have the tabs.
What's "dandy" about it? It doesn't fit.
I would need to rig up some cradles. Do the V8 cars use the cradles?
No. 71-73 had cross-flow saddle mounts.
I just realized I would need to do some customizing of my tranny coolant lines. That may be a dealbreaker.
Rigging modified trans lines would be a half-hour afterthought on this job.
Why are you doing this? Bolt-in direct fit stuff would cool anything your six could throw at it, even if you have AC and live in Miami.
"unnecessarily large" should be your first clue.
The stock radiator has tabs on each side that allow bolts to attach it to sheetmetal. I have been looking at universal, crossflow radiators, such as this: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-381424/
First, cut back on reading those catalogs.
Everything about it seems dandy, but because it is a crossflow, it doesn't have the tabs.
What's "dandy" about it? It doesn't fit.
I would need to rig up some cradles. Do the V8 cars use the cradles?
No. 71-73 had cross-flow saddle mounts.
I just realized I would need to do some customizing of my tranny coolant lines. That may be a dealbreaker.
Rigging modified trans lines would be a half-hour afterthought on this job.
Why are you doing this? Bolt-in direct fit stuff would cool anything your six could throw at it, even if you have AC and live in Miami.
6th Gear Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,232
From: PA
I used a Griffin 24 X 19 radiator from Summit, about the same price, and Summit's generic cradle mounts. The top is held by some coil spring spacers in the mounts.
My lower mounts are about like JamesW's except I bolted them to the lower radiator support since I don't have the strut arm braces.
My lower mounts are about like JamesW's except I bolted them to the lower radiator support since I don't have the strut arm braces.
What I'm wondering is how you achieve torsional stiffness without an export brace.
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 439
From: MO
I am going to replace the radiator in my '66 inline 6 soon. I am going to attempt to fit a radiator that is unnecessarily large.
"unnecessarily large" should be your first clue.
The stock radiator has tabs on each side that allow bolts to attach it to sheetmetal. I have been looking at universal, crossflow radiators, such as this: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-381424/
First, cut back on reading those catalogs.
Everything about it seems dandy, but because it is a crossflow, it doesn't have the tabs.
What's "dandy" about it? It doesn't fit.
I would need to rig up some cradles. Do the V8 cars use the cradles?
No. 71-73 had cross-flow saddle mounts.
I just realized I would need to do some customizing of my tranny coolant lines. That may be a dealbreaker.
Rigging modified trans lines would be a half-hour afterthought on this job.
Why are you doing this? Bolt-in direct fit stuff would cool anything your six could throw at it, even if you have AC and live in Miami.
"unnecessarily large" should be your first clue.
The stock radiator has tabs on each side that allow bolts to attach it to sheetmetal. I have been looking at universal, crossflow radiators, such as this: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-381424/
First, cut back on reading those catalogs.
Everything about it seems dandy, but because it is a crossflow, it doesn't have the tabs.
What's "dandy" about it? It doesn't fit.
I would need to rig up some cradles. Do the V8 cars use the cradles?
No. 71-73 had cross-flow saddle mounts.
I just realized I would need to do some customizing of my tranny coolant lines. That may be a dealbreaker.
Rigging modified trans lines would be a half-hour afterthought on this job.
Why are you doing this? Bolt-in direct fit stuff would cool anything your six could throw at it, even if you have AC and live in Miami.
Agreed. With a 6-cylinder, a replacement radiator would be plenty and a lot easier, though it might cost more.
5th Gear Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,445
From:
I did a '68 bigblock radiator in my '66.
Here is some info on how I did it.
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2400202/7
And turning a stock '68 bigblock radiator shroud into a dual electric fan setup
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2400202/10
It was a fun project, except for cutting out the front radiator support frame cross brace (which would not have been necessary, except someone did a hack welding job on the stock one).
Hth,
Here is some info on how I did it.
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2400202/7
And turning a stock '68 bigblock radiator shroud into a dual electric fan setup
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2400202/10
It was a fun project, except for cutting out the front radiator support frame cross brace (which would not have been necessary, except someone did a hack welding job on the stock one).
Hth,
Last edited by Scott H.; Mar 13, 2010 at 10:18 PM.
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 386
From: Benicia, Ca
We upgraded the 17 inch to a 20 inch aluminum radiator in The 66. We cut 1 1/2 inches from each side of the radiator support to allow air to flow to all of the radiator.
Have an electric fan 2500cfm from Speedway that is temperature controlled and run through a relay circuit.
Stainless Steel Radiator overflow/recover tank keeps it topped off
The 66 never gets more than 2/3 on the temp scale now even when idling on a hot day.
Pictures are here: http://chris66dad.tripod.com/id39.html
Have an electric fan 2500cfm from Speedway that is temperature controlled and run through a relay circuit.
Stainless Steel Radiator overflow/recover tank keeps it topped off
The 66 never gets more than 2/3 on the temp scale now even when idling on a hot day.
Pictures are here: http://chris66dad.tripod.com/id39.html