Radiator continued

January 31, 2016

 

On this page I will describe some of the modifications for the evaporator coil and associated hardware.

pusher fan removed02

pusher fan removed02

This is the radiator as it was after removal from the truck.  The pusher fan has been removed in this picture. Notice there is no petcock. It is just a basic tri-core aluminum radiator.

Petcock in place

Petcock in place

In this picture you can see the petcock has been added. The radiator is being prepped to except a “puller” fan and the evaporator coil for the air conditioning which has been added.

Radiator evaporator coil too large06

Radiator evaporator coil too large06

Radiator evaporator coil too large01

Radiator evaporator coil too large01

Radiator evaporator coil too large04

evaporator coil too large04

Radiator evaporator coil too large02

Radiator evaporator coil too large02

As you can see in the photos above the evaporator coil is made for a standard radiator from a 1951 Chevy pickup. The after market radiator is not quite as wide as the original.

There will be other alterations required.

Radiator evaporator coil cut down01

Radiator evaporator coil cut down01

Radiator evaporator coil cut down02

Radiator evaporator coil cut down02

In the photos above you can see the evaporator brackets have been modified to fit the width of the radiator.

Tabs will be welded onto the radiator so the evaporator can be mounted securely.

evaporator Mounts on radiator01

evaporator Mounts on radiator01

evaporator Mounts on radiator02

evaporator Mounts on radiator02

 

Now that the tabs have been welded in place the coil can be mounted.

Radiator evaporator coil cut down01

Radiator evaporator coil cut down01 and mounted to radiator

Radiator evaporator coil cut down02

Radiator evaporator coil cut down02 and mounted to the radiator

Dry fit and set in place to check for fit.

Radiator evaporator dry fit03

Radiator evaporator dry fit03

Radiator evaporator dry fit02

Radiator evaporator dry fit02

Yet still more modifications are needed. The radiator was mounted originally by two bolts through the bottom flange of the radiator itself into a rather thing piece of sheet metal running from the drivers side to the passenger across the frame rails. A more substantial way was needed to support the radiator and related components . Below you can see the heavy duty mounts for support has been added. The support between frame rails has also been reinforced.

Radiator mounts raw02

Radiator mounts raw02

Radiator mounts raw

Radiator mounts raw

These mounts have been beveled and capped in the pictures below.

Radiator mounts beveled

Radiator mounts beveled

Radiator mounts beveled 02

Radiator mounts beveled 02

Reinforced tabs are added to the aluminum radiator to complete the new mounting system.

Radiator tabs gussets02

Radiator tabs gussets02

Radiator tabs gussets01

Radiator tabs gussets01

These tabs the way that they were fabricated are a lot stronger than probably needed due to the weld area covered by there shape. Better safe than sorry and this set up should last for years and that is what I am after.

Radiator mounted gussets02

Radiator mounted gussets02

Radiator mounted gussets

Radiator mounted gussets

Radiator Mounted gussets03

Radiator Mounted gussets03

Radiator mounted01a

Radiator mounted01a

A new two speed fan has also been added to take care of any additional engine cooling due to the new air conditioning unit.

Puller fan 02

Puller fan 02

Puller fan

Puller fan

notches in the grill to accommodate the plumbing for the evaporator coil.

notches for evaporator plumbing

notches in the grill for evaporator plumbing

 

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