I will hopefully be aquiring a 66. It needs a rad support. What all years will work? also will ones off big trucks work too? and if so how far up in the series? thanks

 

I think that a 66 fits a 66. I know the 66 fits a 65 but learned the hard way that the radiators mount differantly.
The mounting flange is backwards from the 65 to 66 and the battery boxes are a bit differant. Learned from experiance..

I don't know if the newer models fit 66 or not but since Ford canged the fenders in 67 I would think that the support is differant.

Good luck..

jd

 

Kinda limited to the 66 radiator support, according to the Hollander Interchange manual the 66 conventional cab 2X2 is not interchangeable with any other. The 66 F100 4X4 is interchangeable with the 65 conventional cab 2X2. Finally, the 66 F250 4X4 rad support is interchangeable with the 65 4X4. Issue can be matching inner fenders and inner radiator flange vs outer.

That being said, found there are exceptions, I have (2) 65 F100 2X2 with different radiator supports and inner fenders. One of the 65's has a V8 and the other originally had a 6 cylinder. Not sure if that has anything to do with it. Swapped supports from a 66 when I replaced the 6 cylinder then found I had to go back and salvage the inner fenders. Pleased with results, did require minor refab. As jd mentioned, the radiator are either inner or outer flange mounted. Not sure if there are any after market replacements, imagine with proper tools one can get anything close to fit. Perhaps more informed member can provide additional info. If unable to find 66 replacement support, I would salvage a support out of any model 65 or 66, with luck, one that matched existing inner fender pattern. If not, take both support and inner fenders. If unable to align all the celestrial parts as to radiator support, to the inner fenders, to radiator flange then is when proper tools come in handy.

dave

 

If you search this site, I know there is a thread where someone breaks down the applications pretty specifically. The shorthand version for you is, a '66 support (2wd) is unique unto itself. For a bolt-in replacement, you need the same thing.
Big truck supports are wider, I believe. Also, the engines and radiators were different.
Nobody makes a repro '66 support.
However, the good news is the repro 61-64 supports can be made to work. You will need to cut off and re-use your inner fender flanges that are welded to the support (or make new ones). You'll have to transfer and drill for your battery tray, and possibly some radiator mounting issues. But, the balance of the core support remained the same 61-66 (width, height, latch mounting, etc). Since these things are near impossible to find, making the repro early support work on your truck is probably the best way to go.

 

Here is the skinny:

1. These are the same:
'61 - '64 2WD
'61 - '66 4x4
All have rounded inner fenders.

2. '65 2WD is by itself.
Has angular inner fenders.

3. '66 2WD is by itself.
Has angular inner fenders.

BUT, as as DDV said, you can make the '61 - '64 work. Repros are about $300 from several of the suppliers who advertize here, and they are good quality. I have a friend doing the welding to convert the '61 - '64 repro core support I bought into one that will fit my '66 correctly.

One side note is the radiator mounting. The radiator mounts the same '61 - '65. It is POSSIBLE that if you have an early '66, your radiator is correct to fit the earlier radiator brackets. That is, it MAY be a '65 style even though it is a '66.

Here is the difference:
'61 - '65 radiators bolt to brackets spot welded to the inside of the core support. The radiator slides down into a bracket frame, so to speak.

'66 radiators bolt directly to the flat backside of the core support.

Good luck!

Forgot to mention: '67 and later are completely different. No dice there. Also, the F-450 and higher won't fit - or so I have been told.

 

[QUOTE=banjopicker66]Here is the skinny:

1. These are the same:
'61 - '64 2WD
'61 - '66 4x4
All have rounded inner fenders.

QUOTE]banjopicker66, The 66 4x4 have the angle inner fenders, at lease my 66 F-100 4x4 does. but the radiator brackets are backwards to the 66 2wd that I have. I took the 2wd radiator and had the brackets turned around and put it on the 4x4.

 

I used the 66 support and inner fenders on my 65. Everything fit great but had to fabricate brackets for the radiator and battery box. You realy have to look close if you don't know what to look for. They are a little easy to find beings they are made of bright polished 10ga stainless. The fenders all lined up and everything feels solid.

jd

 

Short and Sweet

F100 through 550 61 64 cores are same
F100 4x4 61 to 65 cores are the same
F250 4x4 61 to 66 cores are the same
F350 to 550 65 to 66 cores are the same
F100 and 250 in 65 has a year specific core in 2 wheel drives only
F100 4x4 66 shares the core support of the 66 2 wheel drive truck that is a specific year unit.

So in 66 the correct core support for a 2 wheel drive truck would be a 66 F100 4x4 4x2 or F250 4x2 truck.

Being that said, the new repop core supports are made in such a way that the bracketery can be added from a 65 66 core to make it a 65 or 66 core....

Now the larger trucks 650 and up can also be modified by removal of the lower frame brackets

Garbz

 

Right.
Got it.

Soooooo, Bertha66 and Garbz2 (both Garbz's'z's'z) zinged me.

So whatcha gonna do about it?

I gotta repop core, how 'bout you??

..grin...

 

No Zing... I missed telling you that the 66 F100 4x4 is a ringer LOL... My bad brother John......

 

well I have nice C2TZ core support that was hanging on the front end of the 64

Not to often that they still have the part number on them.....LOL

Garbz

 

Also no zing, but the 66 4wd is a ringer, I tried to use a 66 and a 65 2wd core support on my 66 4wd, it would work, but the mounting on the driver side next to the frame mount had a bracket in the way.

 

Somebody has to keep you straight.

John

 

I have a 66 2x4 and under the hood the only thing that matches my dads 4x4 is the motor. Every thing else is different. The radiator sits in the same place but they mount differently the 4x4 is backwards compared to the 2x4.