Radiator Support Question
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Tuned
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 408
Likes: 2
From: South Carolina
Radiator Support Question
Hey FTE,
I went to the junkyard today to get a couple of things for my '79 Bronco one thing being a radiator support. I pulled this radiator support off a 74/75/76 (not really sure) Ford truck and I have a question about its radiator mounting bracket. Neither of my current trucks have a mounting bracket this large and I'm not sure if its going to work in my current setup.
Can you tell why this radiator support has such a deep mounting bracket and what it was used for? Will it work with a standard front mounting flange radiator?
Thanks in advance!
I went to the junkyard today to get a couple of things for my '79 Bronco one thing being a radiator support. I pulled this radiator support off a 74/75/76 (not really sure) Ford truck and I have a question about its radiator mounting bracket. Neither of my current trucks have a mounting bracket this large and I'm not sure if its going to work in my current setup.
Can you tell why this radiator support has such a deep mounting bracket and what it was used for? Will it work with a standard front mounting flange radiator?
Thanks in advance!
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
Likes: 83
From: NorCal
Thanks!
That's for a rear flanged radiator. Its physical size belies its actual weight and is a heavy sucker.
Also note the opening's full width out to the contour on each side. Small block core supports had smaller openings.
That's for a rear flanged radiator. Its physical size belies its actual weight and is a heavy sucker.
Also note the opening's full width out to the contour on each side. Small block core supports had smaller openings.
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 408
Likes: 2
From: South Carolina
So my next question is can a small core, front flange radiator mount to this? I pulled some measurements and it appears so but im not sure if its kosher. The depth should be fine since currently there's about 6" in between the radiator core and the fan.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,037
Likes: 9
From: Kasson, Minnesota
A front flange radiator can mount to it but does require notching a little bit of the flange bracket in order to have room to fish a bolt and socket extension in between the flange and radiator. You also have to drill some mounting holes in the support to mount the front flange radiator. I have both of those supports in my 77 and 75. I have a front flange mount radiator in my 77 because I originally bought the wrong radiator and just made it work. You could just cut those flanges off the support to make things easier.
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Tuned
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 408
Likes: 2
From: South Carolina
A front flange radiator can mount to it but does require notching a little bit of the flange bracket in order to have room to fish a bolt and socket extension in between the flange and radiator. You also have to drill some mounting holes in the support to mount the front flange radiator. I have both of those supports in my 77 and 75. I have a front flange mount radiator in my 77 because I originally bought the wrong radiator and just made it work. You could just cut those flanges off the support to make things easier.
Thanks Buck! That's just what I wanted to hear. The holes are already open on the support due to an a/c condenser that was mounted there. So I guess I'll just need to notch.
Thanks again! Operation replace can commence.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,037
Likes: 9
From: Kasson, Minnesota
Fit the radiator in there first just to make sure there isn't any issues. How wide is your current radiator? If its a smaller one something like 24 inches or so, you may end up being just a bit short on the width and would need to make a mount flange I'm not sure. The radiator I mounted was 26 or 27 inches wide. This was my original radiator I had.
http://broncograveyard.com/bronco/i-...a-cooling.html
http://broncograveyard.com/bronco/i-...a-cooling.html
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Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 408
Likes: 2
From: South Carolina
Fit the radiator in there first just to make sure there isn't any issues. How wide is your current radiator? If its a smaller one something like 24 inches or so, you may end up being just a bit short on the width and would need to make a mount flange I'm not sure. The radiator I mounted was 26 or 27 inches wide. This was my original radiator I had.
1977-79 351M,400 Radiator, Extra Cooling
1977-79 351M,400 Radiator, Extra Cooling
I didn't get a chance to finish working on the radiator support today because I was working on rebuilding my steering gear at the same time (and mocking up the stereo head unit in the F250). I'll get back to the radiator in the morning.
Thanks again Buck!
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,037
Likes: 9
From: Kasson, Minnesota
I think 28.5" sounds about right and should work. I don't have my 77 at my home right now so I cant look, but I think you can use those clips for the bolts and use 4 existing holes on the support. It's a tight fit, but works. I've tried to find some pics on my 77, but can't seem to find any.
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Tuned
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 408
Likes: 2
From: South Carolina
I think 28.5" sounds about right and should work. I don't have my 77 at my home right now so I cant look, but I think you can use those clips for the bolts and use 4 existing holes on the support. It's a tight fit, but works. I've tried to find some pics on my 77, but can't seem to find any.
Thanks for your help on this Buck. Reps sent.
I got the support and radiator back in on Sunday. It went pretty well and the front end lines up much better now.
The radiator slid right in between the mounting flanges with no issues and I was able to use the existing mounting holes. Thanks to your heads up on the mounting issues I went ahead and put the u-nuts on the radiator itself and then drove the bolts in from the front of the truck so space wasn't an issue.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,037
Likes: 9
From: Kasson, Minnesota
Glad it went in Ok. After seeing your pics, mine is the same way. It's funny how I couldn't remember for sure how I did it so your pics triggered my memory. Looks good and should work out just fine.
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