'64-'66 Radiator Options - Want to go from 19" to 22"

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Detroit Iron

Detroit Iron

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I have a '64 Barracuda original 273 car. The car now has a 340 in it, so the original radiator which I believe is 19" is insufficient. I'm assuming a 19" radiator was the only, or largest option for 1964. I have a stock Mopar 22" radiator that I would like to put in the car, so I will need to open the hole, for lack of better terms. I'm assuming that I need to replace the panel that I have circled in the picture here in order to get the 22" to fit.

So I have some questions. What were the radiator options for '64-'66 A body cars? And, has anyone done what I'm wanting to do? Am I correct in thinking the panel needs to be swapped for one that supported a 22" radiator? Please let me know how you did it.

Core Panel.png
 
There are plenty of bolt in radiators on the market that'll cool your 340 in the car.
 
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Detroit Iron said:
I have a '64 Barracuda original 273 car. The car now has a 340 in it, so the original radiator which I believe is 19" is insufficient. I'm assuming a 19" radiator was the only, or largest option for 1964. I have a stock Mopar 22" radiator that I would like to put in the car, so I will need to open the hole, for lack of better terms. I'm assuming that I need to replace the panel that I have circled in the picture here in order to get the 22" to fit.

So I have some questions. What were the radiator options for '64-'66 A body cars?
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For 64 - slants and 273’s got 19 in radiators with the panel you circled

For 65 - slants got 19 in radiators with an extended side to bolt to the new for 65 side panel. V8s got a 22 inch radiator with either a 2 core (standard cooling) or 3 core (AC, heavy duty option etc.)

For 66 - am not sure about the slant although I suspect it carried over from 65. V8s got the 22 in radiators

Detroit Iron said:
And, has anyone done what I'm wanting to do?
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I’ve seen (and heard) about the cutting the panel and drilling new mounting holes
Detroit Iron said:
Am I correct in thinking the panel needs to be swapped for one that supported a 22" radiator? Please let me know how you did it.
Click to expand...

The clean way would be to add the correct panel, or cut yours or install a larger radiator. The area blocked by the side panel is not going to make much difference in cooling the motor. I would add a shroud if you don’t have one
 
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65 Dartman said:
For 64 - slants and 273’s got 19 in radiators with the panel you circled

For 65 - slants got 19 in radiators with an extended side to bolt to the new for 65 side panel. V8s got a 22 inch radiator with either a 2 core (standard cooling) or 3 core (AC, heavy duty option etc.)

For 66 - am not sure about the slant although I suspect it carried over from 65. V8s got the 22 in radiators



I’ve seen (and heard) about the cutting the panel and drilling new mounting holes


The clean way would be to add the correct panel, or cut yours or install a larger radiator. The area blocked by the side panel is not going to nake much difference in cooling the motor. I would add a shroud if you don’t have one
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A man with answers. Thank you!
 
Was there an OEM shroud? Can’t remember and neither of my current (235hp 273) have them, and they are original 235hp cars. If there is/was a shroud, I’d like to have it, even though I haven’t had any cooling problems.
 
azaustin said:
Was there an OEM shroud? Can’t remember and neither of my current (235hp 273) have them, and they are original 235hp cars. If there is/was a shroud, I’d like to have it, even though I haven’t had any cooling problems.
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Yes. Heavy duty cooling and factory A/C cars came with them. Most dealer add-on A/C kits had them too. Even slant 6 cars could have had one, but, they're a different shroud than the V8's.
 
65 Dartman said:
For 64 - slants and 273’s got 19 in radiators with the panel you circled

For 65 - slants got 19 in radiators with an extended side to bolt to the new for 65 side panel. V8s got a 22 inch radiator with either a 2 core (standard cooling) or 3 core (AC, heavy duty option etc.)

For 66 - am not sure about the slant although I suspect it carried over from 65. V8s got the 22 in radiators



I’ve seen (and heard) about the cutting the panel and drilling new mounting holes


The clean way would be to add the correct panel, or cut yours or install a larger radiator. The area blocked by the side panel is not going to make much difference in cooling the motor. I would add a shroud if you don’t have one
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You could get a 22" radiator for a slant 6 in the '66 models. Factory A/C and C.A.P. cars had them. 2582929 is the part number.
 
cudamark said:
Yes. Heavy duty cooling and factory A/C cars came with them. Most dealer add-on A/C kits had them too. Even slant 6 cars could have had one, but, they're a different shroud than the V8's.
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Are the shrouds still available aftermarket, or it is going to be an FABO, ebay, etc. search?
 
Wellll; just for reference here's a few shots of my '66- an original 273 2bbl. car.
When I dumped in the 360, I needed a radiator with the passenger side lower radiator connection to match the 360's water pump.
Had a radiator from a '70 Duster 318 w/AC that fit the bill, it basically bolted right in. I may have redrilled 1 or 2 holes in the rad. flange, I honestly don't remember- it was about 5 years ago. Didn't need to open up the radiator yoke at all, the entire core is exposed.
So unless there's something overly different about the '65s, I don't think you're going to have any issues.
1748982777189.png

1748982909134.png


20250603_145720.jpg
 
azaustin said:
Are the shrouds still available aftermarket, or it is going to be an FABO, ebay, etc. search?
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I don't know about any aftermarket ones being available. Factory ones are a bit tough to find though. It needs a stock radiator to start with. One that has the clip nut holes in the radiator side brackets. Something could be fabbed I'm sure, if you're not concerned about a stock look.
 
Professor Fate said:
Wellll; just for reference here's a few shots of my '66- an original 273 2bbl. car.
When I dumped in the 360, I needed a radiator with the passenger side lower radiator connection to match the 360's water pump.
Had a radiator from a '70 Duster 318 w/AC that fit the bill, it basically bolted right in. I may have redrilled 1 or 2 holes in the rad. flange, I honestly don't remember- it was about 5 years ago. Didn't need to open up the radiator yoke at all, the entire core is exposed.
So unless there's something overly different about the '65s, I don't think you're going to have any issues.
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Thank you for the input. I think '66s have a larger opening. I'm going to measure mine when I get home from work. Cool trick dressing your 360 in Commando clothes. Love it.
 
'65 and '66 have the 22" opening regardless of engine. It's just the '64 that kept that small 19" core support from earlier models that didn't have a V8 option. They learned their lesson and made the opening bigger on later models for added cooling.
 
cudamark said:
'65 and '66 have the 22" opening regardless of engine. It's just the '64 that kept that small 19" core support from earlier models that didn't have a V8 option. They learned their lesson and made the opening bigger on later models for added cooling.
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Thank you for the information. So is the difference in the opening taken from the panel that I have circled? I want to open mine up and make it look stock, so want to know if I can just get that piece from a '65-'66. Thanks man.
 
Sure, any '65-6 A-body core support will work. Lots of work to change one though. Get a good spot weld cutter....or two
 
65 Cuda 340 said:
I had a three row core put in my original 65 Barracuda radiator. Cools my 340 no problem.
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When I posted this, I didn't realize the 64 radiator opening was smaller than the 65-66.

I knew the 63 opening was smaller, but there was no V8 in 63. Kinda surprised Mopar didn't enlarge the opening in 64 when the 273 V8 became available, but maybe the small radiator was OK for the standard 273 which was the only 273 available that year.

Carry on. . . .
 
With a 273 2bbl and being new, the 19" radiator was adequate. Add some years and horsepower and it isn't. You can improve it by installing a 3 or 4 row core in the existing tanks and brackets, and by adding a shroud and a 6 or 7 blade rigid fan. To me that makes more sense than dismantling the front of the car, cutting off the old core support, and welding on a new one. Whatever floats your boat I guess.
 
cudamark said:
With a 273 2bbl and being new, the 19" radiator was adequate. Add some years and horsepower and it isn't. You can improve it by installing a 3 or 4 row core in the existing tanks and brackets, and by adding a shroud and a 6 or 7 blade rigid fan. To me that makes more sense than dismantling the front of the car, cutting off the old core support, and welding on a new one. Whatever floats your boat I guess.
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I didn't mention this in my original post, but after installing the 340 I started having cooling issues with that little 19" radiator. So I installed a three row core and still had issues in summer. Then I put a clutch fan on. Still had issues in summer. Then I went to electric can... the biggest one I could run, and that ALMOST solved the summer time blues. But on a hot day at stop lights.... it was still getting too toasty.

So, the plan is 22" radiator with a stock mechanical fan and clutch with a shroud. Done!
 
Detroit Iron said:
I have a '64 Barracuda original 273 car. The car now has a 340 in it, so the original radiator which I believe is 19" is insufficient. I'm assuming a 19" radiator was the only, or largest option for 1964. I have a stock Mopar 22" radiator that I would like to put in the car, so I will need to open the hole, for lack of better terms. I'm assuming that I need to replace the panel that I have circled in the picture here in order to get the 22" to fit.

So I have some questions. What were the radiator options for '64-'66 A body cars? And, has anyone done what I'm wanting to do? Am I correct in thinking the panel needs to be swapped for one that supported a 22" radiator? Please let me know how you did it.

View attachment 1716413691
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So it depends. some early 64 cars had a 19 regardless if they were a /6 or V8, these cars are desirable because most all of them had the bigger "Barracuda" emblem on the side and the valiant on the right rear tail panel. These cars were only made from like April and May. Most the June, July cars had the 22 inch radiator for V8 cars (like mine built second week in July) but these cars were much like 65's Barracuda emblem and no valiant on the right rear tail panel.

If you have an early car please don't cut it up, sell it to me!!!!!
 
64_Barracuda said:
So it depends. some early 64 cars had a 19 regardless if they were a /6 or V8, these cars are desirable because most all of them had the bigger "Barracuda" emblem on the side and the valiant on the right rear tail panel. These cars were only made from like April and May. Most the June, July cars had the 22 inch radiator for V8 cars (like mine built second week in July) but these cars were much like 65's Barracuda emblem and no valiant on the right rear tail panel.

If you have an early car please don't cut it up, sell it to me!!!!!
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This is an early one. I get what you're saying about not cutting it, but it's not like it's an original Hemi car. I seriously doubt opening the core support is gonna kill the value.

Here's more detail on the car.
 

JDMopar said:
@Lee Robinson sells Mopar metal from time to time. He may or may not currently have a 22" radiator support for an early A, but you can contact him to see. He is in CA. @RAT ROD AL parted a 65 Barracuda or 2 a while back, but I can't remember if he cut out the radiator support. Good luck with your search.

:thumbsup:
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Thanks @JDMopar I was in touch with Al and he thinks he may have the piece but he's currently away from home. Things I learned on this thread will help me identify exactly what I need. Thanks for the heads up.
 
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