Radiator help needed!!

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casey3307

casey3307

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I bought a 3 row champion radiator for my mother's 1964 valiant vert. It appears that the radiator is unable to co-exist with the factory fan..

I didn't want to mess with an electric fan. Nowhere on the site did they say there would be sizing issues.

Am I doing something wrong? Has anyone run into this? I'm really frustrated.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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I bought a 3 row champion radiator for my mother's 1964 valiant vert. It appears that the radiator is unable to co-exist with the factory fan..

I didn't want to mess with an electric fan. Nowhere on the site did they say there would be sizing issues.

Am I doing something wrong? Has anyone run into this? I'm really frustrated.

The radiator model they sent is cc63dt

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
I had the same issue with the 3 core on my 65 Cuda. I just bought a reduced length fan spacer and that solved the problem. 65'
 
Plymouth 65 said:
I had the same issue with the 3 core on my 65 Cuda. I just bought a reduced length fan spacer and that solved the problem. 65'
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Awesome. I had no idea that was even an option.!!

Do either of you remember where you purchased a low profile fan spacer? What about the length of the bolts going through the fan. I will need to get shorter bolts as well I assume
 
casey3307 said:
Awesome. I had no idea that was even an option.!!

Do either of you remember where you purchased a low profile fan spacer? What about the length of the bolts going through the fan. I will need to get shorter bolts as well I assume
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Mostly an auto supply should be able to get what you need. I would think whatever you remove from the original length you will need to shorten the bolts accordingly. Maybe 65 can help better than I .
 
you don't need a spacer for that unless it's to make sure the fan doesn't get the belt. just make sure the new bolts are the right length
 
Yeah, I had to send my Champion radiator back because I've got air and power steering and if I move the fan back it hits the power steering pump. I'm really annoyed at them because they claim their core is only 2" thick, which is the thickness of a 3 core radiator, but it is exactly 2.5" thick. I ended up buying one from US radiator and I'm assured theirs is 2" thick. We'll see when it gets here in a few weeks.
 
armyofchuckness said:
Yeah, I had to send my Champion radiator back because I've got air and power steering and if I move the fan back it hits the power steering pump. I'm really annoyed at them because they claim their core is only 2" thick, which is the thickness of a 3 core radiator, but it is exactly 2.5" thick. I ended up buying one from US radiator and I'm assured theirs is 2" thick. We'll see when it gets here in a few weeks.
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Well I decided to go ahead and change my water pump since I had the radiator out... That isn't any fun either. I don't know how I am supposed to re-connect that small hose once I get it installed. I saw some people saying that both sides should be connected as the pump is being installed but I don't know how you do that in a timely manner and without messing up your gasket position, rtv , etc .. I am about as mechanically inclined as a tater tot.. A frozen one at that..

When I get the water pump in, and remove the 1 inch spacer, I think my fan will still be too close for comfort with that 3 row radiator. I may have to resort to an electric fan, which I did not want to do. I wish I had the option to send this Champion radiator back but I have already bent a couple of the fins when I naively tried to install the first time...

I am disgusted with this whole process.
 
I am running a two row aluminum radiator for a 1967-up dart in mine. had to drill a couple holes and get a handful of hoses before I was able to get 2 that worked.
have a spacer and the stock 4 blade fan on mine.
 
Well I can't win for sh#t..lol
I replaced the water pump. I placed the pulley and fan on there without the spacer and of course the fan hits the harmonic balancer. And I bet if I put a half inch spacer in there, the fan will get in to the radiator.

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casey3307 said:
Well I can't win for sh#t..lol
I replaced the water pump. I placed the pulley and fan on there without the spacer and of course the fan hits the harmonic balancer. And I bet if I put a half inch spacer in there, the fan will get in to the radiator.

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Looks like u definitely bought the wrong rad. , have u tho about trying to mount it ahead of the cradle /right behind the grill ? that would probly be a ***** too !
 
In my experience, my slantys never needed much fan to stay cool.
I wonder if a thin spacer and, a shallow-pitch smaller-diameter 6-blade steel-fan would do the trick. It looks like you will have to run some kind of spacer as your fan does not appear to be sitting flat on the pulley.My 6-blade fan, as I recall, had a larger diameter mating pad, mightabin a one-piece,and may work with no spacer. I think the fan I am describing, came off my 64 273. Maybe someone has a pic.I sent some time on google but could not find a match to the picture in my head.
Or alternatively; a shallow-pitch flex-blade
 
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AJ/FormS said:
In my experience, my slantys never needed much fan to stay cool.
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Me too. I've only owned one /6, my current 64 Val with 225. Even in +90 degree heat it has never given a hint of running too hot. I rebuilt the engine and used 100% new parts, and I don't have an automatic trans to cool but the gauge stays around the 1/4 mark. This is with the factory radiator and solid 4 blade fan.

One thing about old Mopars is they were built well. Those old engineers never let anything go into production without thoroughly testing it first. Just because GM cars were built as cheaply as possible and Ford's have crappy suspensions is why those people have to change things out.

Having said that, and having followed this thread, it may be time to punt and go back to mostly original. (Check Rockauto for a quick reference) You could probably sell the Champion here on FABO and recoup most of your cost. Probably would work fine on A V8 car. A 3 core radiator is most likely thicker than the original and don't forget a Slant is a longer engine than a small block, by a lot. That limits the space available and why the water pump is offset the way it is, to reduce length!
 
Problem is, as far as I know there is NO direct replacement radiator for a 63-65 "A" body with a slant six, available. They all require some type of mods, either in mounting, or hoses. Someone I know bought a radiator for his 64 Valiant, it was supposed to be a direct fit, but he couldn't close the hood.
 
Charlie you're right. Easiest place to look is Rockauto and they don't have a listing. We're approaching the age with these old hulks that fewer oem replacement parts are available.

I guess I was thinking more along the lines of finding an original rad and getting it checked out by a radiator shop. Even those old school shops are going by the wayside as new cars have gone to aluminum with plastic tanks.

I do have an extra 65 V8 Barracuda radiator I bought for an acquaintance as he was talking about replacing the incorrect slant in his car with a 273 as his car was equipped originally. One of the side brackets is off and needs to be re-soldered but it's rebuildable if he wants it.
 
Charrlie_S said:
Problem is, as far as I know there is NO direct replacement radiator for a 63-65 "A" body with a slant six, available. They all require some type of mods, either in mounting, or hoses. Someone I know bought a radiator for his 64 Valiant, it was supposed to be a direct fit, but he couldn't close the hood.
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I just use bmw cross flows put of the wrecking yards. .. but I'm not a purist when it comes to original equip "in that area anyways"
 
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