[64speed]

I have a simple question that I hope I can get a solid response on. Can I take the lower portion of my radiator support and drill out the welds, drop it 2 inches and fit the bigger AC radiator? Has anyone done it? Cold cases conversion kit is out of production because by their own admission it was not great. What’s the easiest thing to do short of hunting out a unicorn?

[b-man]

It’s been done.

I had a 1967 GTO here some years back where they did that. They extended a short support to fit the tall radiator. Kinda ugly but it worked.

Unfortunately the core support hung way below the bottom of the bumper. Unless you go the extra mile and modify the bottom with something substantial like 1/8” flat stock to eliminate the upside down channel on the short core support you already have to make the bottom flat like a factory 17-1/2”’support. All that fabrication will be spendy unless you have a good friend who’s a decent welder/fabricator.

Why don’t you try posting a want ad for the core support? If you had done that awhile back when you were considering this you might have found one already.

So it’s not like you can’t do it. But be aware of the ground clearance issues it presents if you don’t make the bottom flat.

Honestly there’s no easiest thing to do save for finding an original support that I’m guessing you haven’t looked for yet. It’s not impossible to find unless you give up before trying to find one.

Solid enough response?

Now cue the guys who are getting by fine with the short 15-1/2” radiators……which the factory didn’t see fit to use in the 1964 389 GTO……and of which the thread starter here doesn’t find adequate.

[64speed]

I looked at Franks Pontiac Parts. The one he had was sold. I have a lead on another.

[BB70]

Seen this

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CZ4jEyE5D/

[HWYSTR455]

What temps is it running?


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[65 Lamnas]

Originally Posted by BB70

Seen this

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CZ4jEyE5D/

This one's mine...just listed it yesterday in a few FB groups.

[Formulajones]

Going through all that trouble just to gain 2" of radiator depth??

What's that add, maybe 3 rows of cooling tubes??

[64speed]

Originally Posted by Formulajones

Going through all that trouble just to gain 2" of radiator depth??

What's that add, maybe 3 rows of cooling tubes??

I am all ears if you have a good idea

[Formulajones]

Originally Posted by 64speed

I am all ears if you have a good idea

Im full of good ideas

However going through all that work I'd personally want a bigger change than that to warrant the time and effort. That was my point.

200 isn't terrible but would like to know more. Is it creeping sitting still or moving? I would have to know if it continues to creep or if it does level off before I can discern there's a bigger problem.

Almost all of these cooling issues I see in Arizona are almost always tune related. The rest comes from crappy electric fan designs. Not so much the height or width of the radiator. We own and/or have worked on tri-5 chevys with fairly rambunctious engines and their stock size radiator ( which isn't very big) and they cool fine if everything else is right.

[64speed]

It goes over 200 and keeps creeping really slow if the AC is on. If it’s off it’s fine

[grivera]

Originally Posted by 64speed

It goes over 200 and keeps creeping really slow if the AC is on. If it’s off it’s fine

Frankly, I don’t think the juice will be worth the squeeze on an already assembled car. I would just turn off the A/C if faced with a temperature creep situation. I wouldn’t sweat anything under 215 degrees…

[HWYSTR455]

Were all the 'regular' tricks & tips done? Like divider plate clearancing, proper AC pulleys, shroud, etc? And it's correctly tuned?

What's the hottest it gets if you leave the AC on?



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[64speed]

It doesn’t temp creep unless the air is on. Without it it runs in the 180s. With the air on I’ve had it go to 208. Fire I shut it down.

[Skip Fix]

Be sure all the air goes through the radiator vs around it also.

[HWYSTR455]

Originally Posted by Skip Fix

Be sure all the air goes through the radiator vs around it also.

'Foam hot water pipe noodle method'.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Foam-King...f-4/5168983190



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[64speed]

Originally Posted by HWYSTR455

'Foam hot water pipe noodle method'.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Foam-King...f-4/5168983190



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What is this?

[Dragracertoo]

64 speed, you have a pm

[Skip Fix]

You block off EVERY crevice air can go through the grille and around the radiator. Sides, underneath, top.
I wantr to think the old A'C core support that was in the trunk of my 65 had rubber shield on the sides -like fender well flaps- to block off air. Noodles can be used as they are soft and can conform to gaps .

64 Corvette project I'm working on had a factory shroud but the entire bottom half was open in front of the cross member-completed the bottom with aluminum sheet to prevent that. A/C Vettes also had a rubber seal at the top so air could not go over the core support forcing it through the radiator. Now it can sit at idle with AC on in 100 degrees and stay 180! Picture not mine another car.

[HWYSTR455]

Yes, hot water heater 'noodle' insulation, can get it in black, is available at Home Depot & Lowes. (pic attached)

It takes heat (obviously), and it conforms to surfaces, forces as much air as possible thru the radiator.

You can spread it at the slit and make it half as thick, cut it, glue pieces together, etc.

Any areas you can't do with a noodle you can use sheet rubber and plastic push pin-type retainers to hold it in place. (A small hole drilled may be required but no biggie).

An air dam also helps pickup air closer to ground/from under car and can also help force more air thru the radiator. It doesn't take much to make a difference.


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[grivera]

Originally Posted by Skip Fix

I wantr to think the old A'C core support that was in the trunk of my 65 had rubber shield on the sides -like fender well flaps- to block off air. Noodles can be used as they are soft and can conform to gaps .

.

Yep -

Dave, I have this kit unused on my shelf if you need it.

https://www.amesperf.com/parts/24346/

https://www.amesperf.com/parts/27982/