cutting my radiator support?
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,148
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From: Seneca, SC
cutting my radiator support?
Ok, so my new oil cooler came in for the 77 f100 and I am stoked to put it on, but I noticed a problem. The only places that I liked for it to mount have an airflow problem called the radiator support. The air can't circulate past it because of all that steel behind it. I know that this is a structural piece for the front clip, but I also know that it has several more holes in it including one for the radiator. I know there might be some descrepency, but here's my question.
How detremental is it to cut a 7''X10'' hole in the radiator support, and if I were to do it, should I shoot for the middle or what?
Thanks in advance
How detremental is it to cut a 7''X10'' hole in the radiator support, and if I were to do it, should I shoot for the middle or what?
Thanks in advance
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,148
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From: Seneca, SC
man that's great stuff 460. Thanks a lot for the pictures. Did this have any effect on the radiator's cooling that you could see? I was kinda hoping to keep seperate points for the radiator and the oil cooler if I can help it. Maybe if I cage the hole in angle iron and weld it in it would retain the strength?
The eventual plan is to get some more coolers like for the power steering and have seperate electric fans for each. Don't know anybody doing it that way, and I think it would look really cool.
Thanks torque1st. I thought that was the general plan for factory. They like to stack stuff (thinking diesels of today with the air cooler, radiator, trans cooler, oil cooler all sandwitched together). I just think that if I can pull it off it would be more efficient for cooling to do it this way. seems like the more coolers taht I stack on top of each other the less efficient they all will be.
anyway, think the angle iron would fix the loss in strength?
The eventual plan is to get some more coolers like for the power steering and have seperate electric fans for each. Don't know anybody doing it that way, and I think it would look really cool.
Thanks torque1st. I thought that was the general plan for factory. They like to stack stuff (thinking diesels of today with the air cooler, radiator, trans cooler, oil cooler all sandwitched together). I just think that if I can pull it off it would be more efficient for cooling to do it this way. seems like the more coolers taht I stack on top of each other the less efficient they all will be.
anyway, think the angle iron would fix the loss in strength?
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
When you cut holes in the radiator support it allows air to bypass the radiator which can cause engine overheating (or a BIG loss in efficiency). The radiator support and vehicle motion forces the air thru the radiator.
Last edited by Torque1st; Sep 22, 2005 at 12:17 AM.
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Seneca, SC
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Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
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Likes: 37
Hey we aim to help but we can't always please.
If you had all of the sealing flaps intact plus the radiator support well sealed you "might" be able to get away with a 7x10 hole, but it could put you over the line on engine cooling. Most of the time these old trucks are compromised anyway because people have ripped off all the sealing flaps over the years. -They know not what they do.
From the pics it looks like yours are missing. Ooops, those are not your pics. Those pics are of 77460ford's truck.
If you had all of the sealing flaps intact plus the radiator support well sealed you "might" be able to get away with a 7x10 hole, but it could put you over the line on engine cooling. Most of the time these old trucks are compromised anyway because people have ripped off all the sealing flaps over the years. -They know not what they do.
From the pics it looks like yours are missing. Ooops, those are not your pics. Those pics are of 77460ford's truck.
Last edited by Torque1st; Sep 22, 2005 at 11:27 AM.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,945
Likes: 3
From: Spokane, WA
One other option that I had set up with my old core support is to mount the cooler over the goofy holes that are already cut in some of them, as you can see in 460's lower pic, just to the left of the radiator. I put my tranny cooler there and had it forward a bit, so it wasn't mounted right against the support. Air seemed to travel around it quite well. The new support I have doesn't have those holes but now my cooling system is all in the back anyway. 
Doing it again I would have just put the cooler in front of the radiator. Trucks with AC have a condensor in front of the radiator already and it covers the entire opening. I don't think a 12x12 oil cooler will hurt a thing.
Doing it again I would have just put the cooler in front of the radiator. Trucks with AC have a condensor in front of the radiator already and it covers the entire opening. I don't think a 12x12 oil cooler will hurt a thing.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 13
From: Kincardine, ON
I was good boy Torque1st and sealed everything up again when I was done. The pics show trial fitting of the coolers. My challenge now is making nice metal covers to replace the floppy material ones. The carboard mock-ups work well but what a time when working with metal. Oh well, that's what winter is for.
Amish77, I didn't notice any change in cooling, I do live in a cooler zone though. This past summer was one of our hotter ones and the coolant temp stayed steady. Keep us posted with how you make out.
Amish77, I didn't notice any change in cooling, I do live in a cooler zone though. This past summer was one of our hotter ones and the coolant temp stayed steady. Keep us posted with how you make out.
Last edited by 77460ford; Sep 22, 2005 at 12:37 PM. Reason: spelling
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,945
Likes: 3
From: Spokane, WA
Originally Posted by 77460ford
My challenge now is making nice metal covers to replace the floppy material ones.
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Seneca, SC
yeah that would look good ivan.
I guess it's in front of the radiator for me. Thanks for all the help guys. and torque1st, I'm not mad. I posted just to make sure I wasn't making a 500 dolllar and two week mistake, which I suppose I was about to.
Can't deny that all those coolers with seperate fans would look awesome though.
I guess it's in front of the radiator for me. Thanks for all the help guys. and torque1st, I'm not mad. I posted just to make sure I wasn't making a 500 dolllar and two week mistake, which I suppose I was about to.
Can't deny that all those coolers with seperate fans would look awesome though.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,945
Likes: 3
From: Spokane, WA
Originally Posted by amish77
Can't deny that all those coolers with seperate fans would look awesome though.
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,954
Likes: 64
Originally Posted by Torque1st
Find an industrial rubber belt supply store and check out their scrap bin. You can find nice reinforced rubber sheet there to make flaps out of.
