did ford use a small opening radiator support on the 300 with air or did ford use the larger opening? wanting to put air in a truck I have but cant find a small condensor to fit in the opening.

 

There were two different core supports. One for the super cooling radiator, one for everything else.

But what core support the truck has....has nothing to do with the A/C condenser.

The condenser fits in front of the radiator, even with the core support. It doesn't cover the entire radiator core, either. If it does, the engine will overheat.

Look at Mustang A/C condensers from 1979 and later. The size should be just about correct.

CAVEAT EMPTOR

If you are buying used A/C parts, like the condenser/compresser/dryer tank, etc. IF the connections where the hoses screw on are left uncapped and are then exposed to the elements for only a very short period of time, the parts will need to be evacuated before using them.

These parts may be past saving...because once moisture gets in, they're usually history.

 

Are you sure there are only 2 core supports? Here is why I ask.

I put a core support from a 6 cyl 77 F150 in my 75 F100 360. I had to cut out the opening in the 6 cyl support to match the size hole in the V8 core support.

Next scenario: 77 F150 with 460. This core support has 2 additional pieces welded on each side of the opening which accept the radiator mounting flanges. The 360 V8 core support mentioned above does not have these tabs, the radiator bolts directly to the support. (oddly enough the 77 460 radiator from the parts store would fit the 360 support but not the one with the tabs. I had to get a 76 460 radiator.)

So right there you have 3 distinct core supports. There may be more?

 

Yes

1973/79 Ford Light Truck Parts Catalog / Section 160 / Pages 1 & 2

1973/78 F100/350 with round headlights. The engine size makes no difference.

D3TZ-16138-D .. Core Support ~ 28 1/2" between the radiator mounting holes ~ use with Super Cooling Radiator

D3TZ-16138-B .. Core Support ~ 23" x 25 1/2" between the radiator mounting holes > >

> > The figures 23" and 25 1/2" refer to the width and height, but the parts catalog doesn't say which is which.

So...right there, you have only two distinct core supports...I don't see any others, except for...

There is a third core support, but it was only used in 1978/79 on trucks with rectangular headlamps.

The area of the support behind the headlight buckets has a different shape than the core supports used for round headlamps.

D8TZ-16138-A

One thing to consider...these trucks are 30 years old and better, many have had multiple owners, and who knows what body repairs due to accidents or owner performed modifications have taken place.

Someone may have gone to a boneyard and removed a core support off a 1967/72, and welded it into a 1973/79. There is a difference, but those two types can be made to work.

1967/72 = Same scenario = two types = one for the super cooling radiator, one without.

 

Bill said

"1973/78 F100/350 with round headlights. The engine size makes no difference."

Ok. I don't disagree with your parts books.

But.

I have 2 V8 trucks, a 74 F100 and a 75 F100, both with the type of core support with the larger hole for the radiator.

I also have a 77 460 F150 with the core support with the same size hole as the ones above, but has 2 brackets welded to the sides for the radiator flanges. A buddy just junked a 77 460 F250 and that truck also had the core supports with the brackets welded to it.

Add that to the one I pulled from a 6 cyl 77 F150 and cut the hole out to match my V8 support in the 75 when I wrecked it.

So I have seen with my own eyes 3 distinct type of supports for the 73-77 trucks.

Maybe the books were superceded, or maybe the factory just welded the brackets on the core supports if the truck got the 460, and didn't change the part number?

 

I'm neutral on this subject, only typing what the parts catalog sez.

There's a coupla problems I have here on FTE. I have no trucks to look at from this vintage, I don't work as a partsman anymore, and it's 2008, not 1978...so my memory of what Ford did back then is fleeting.

 

I've seen both small and large openings on the 78/79 rad supports too. Don't get too worried about it, the documentation is only created by humans, and sometimes we make mistakes. (I make documentation with mistakes sometimes too.) And at any rate, the small opening support is easily modified with a sawzall into a large opening support.

 

well my problem is i cant find a condenser and a drier that fits the 22 1/2 opening parts houses only show a condenser and drier for the 28 inch opening. I had the radiator support diped the numbers i found on it is d8tz-16139cc.. the d8t part is hard to make out but i am sure about the last numbers. did this support not come from factory on my 79 truck?

 

[QUOTE=NumberDummy]There were two different core supports. One for the super cooling radiator, one for everything else.

But what core support the truck has....has nothing to do with the A/C condenser.

the condenser for the 28 inch wont fit between the grill and radiator support because the drier is hitting the support, not allowing the condenser to sit flush with the mounting holes