So, I'm new here, but not new to classics. Only to Mopars. And I've had a few issues with my little Valiant slant six. But I searched high and low and couldn't find a swap for the radiator when mine decided to pee antifreeze out the front grill. Everyone was saying buy new, or find another. Well, I couldn't find another one. And being poor (by means of the wife saying no to a 300 dollar radiator) I decided to go walk the local junk yard.....and found an aluminum radiator that works. I'm pretty sure it came factory in that truck but make sure before you pull it. 23 1/4 by 23 1/4 perfect square and the inlet and outlet holes were on the right sides. This swap should work on the 64-65 darts as well. If the front gap is the same as my 65, it'll work on others also if it's a slant six. V8s I have no clue. Sorry.
Tools needed:
Angle Grinder with a cut off wheel
Small drill bit
Sockets and ratchet
1-1/4 hose adapter from the 1 3/4 Slant six thermostat housing ( hose will change size)
And a few hours
Radiator from a late 80s dodge Dakota V6
First, take your radiator out and cut off the brackets that mount the radiator to the core support. Be very very careful as not to cut the tanks on the old radiator, someone somewhere will want them. You never know.
Now comes the fun part:
Get your handy angle grinder out and hack off a little over 3 1/4 inches off of the passenger side mourning bracket. Picture below for exact measurement.
Once done, cut both of the brackets off at the top and bottom to get rid of the bendable tabs. You'll cut off about three inches on both top and bottom of both sides and then clean up the cut edges and paint the brackets to your choice of color.
Mounting the new radiator
So mine had a height issue, that was solved by simply cutting the nipples off the bottom of the new radiator. The new radiator measures 23 1/4 by 23 1/4 with the bottom tabs cut. Perfect fit.
The bottom hose will have to go on first with the radiator at an angle. It's a weird fit, and the hose should bend. (I replaced mine, might as well while your in that far with the clearance, better safe than sorry)
Once on, let's get it straight.
Put the drivers side bracket in place on the radiator and get it into position. Have your drill bit handy and poke it through the original bolt hole location marking the bracket on the top and bottom. Drill the holes and bolt it in place but don't tighten it down yet. Do the same for the other side, making sure that the radiator will not have any side to side slack. It should fit perfectly into place once you have both brackets bolted in loosely. Once your happy with the alignment tighten it up.
Now, the problem I had is the bottom hose is the same diameter as stock. The top isn't. Here's where you have to be creative. I ordered a hose that fits a 1 3/4 on one end to a 1 1/4 on the other. You can take two hoses and slide the smaller inside the bigger if your that cheap or need to rig it temporarily. It'll work. Once everything is fitted and tight, fill it up, and ride safe.
Temp is identical to factory so no worries.
Change your thermostat while your at it and gasket. Might as well while you have time.
Tools needed:
Angle Grinder with a cut off wheel
Small drill bit
Sockets and ratchet
1-1/4 hose adapter from the 1 3/4 Slant six thermostat housing ( hose will change size)
And a few hours
Radiator from a late 80s dodge Dakota V6
First, take your radiator out and cut off the brackets that mount the radiator to the core support. Be very very careful as not to cut the tanks on the old radiator, someone somewhere will want them. You never know.
Now comes the fun part:
Get your handy angle grinder out and hack off a little over 3 1/4 inches off of the passenger side mourning bracket. Picture below for exact measurement.
Once done, cut both of the brackets off at the top and bottom to get rid of the bendable tabs. You'll cut off about three inches on both top and bottom of both sides and then clean up the cut edges and paint the brackets to your choice of color.
Mounting the new radiator
So mine had a height issue, that was solved by simply cutting the nipples off the bottom of the new radiator. The new radiator measures 23 1/4 by 23 1/4 with the bottom tabs cut. Perfect fit.
The bottom hose will have to go on first with the radiator at an angle. It's a weird fit, and the hose should bend. (I replaced mine, might as well while your in that far with the clearance, better safe than sorry)
Once on, let's get it straight.
Put the drivers side bracket in place on the radiator and get it into position. Have your drill bit handy and poke it through the original bolt hole location marking the bracket on the top and bottom. Drill the holes and bolt it in place but don't tighten it down yet. Do the same for the other side, making sure that the radiator will not have any side to side slack. It should fit perfectly into place once you have both brackets bolted in loosely. Once your happy with the alignment tighten it up.
Now, the problem I had is the bottom hose is the same diameter as stock. The top isn't. Here's where you have to be creative. I ordered a hose that fits a 1 3/4 on one end to a 1 1/4 on the other. You can take two hoses and slide the smaller inside the bigger if your that cheap or need to rig it temporarily. It'll work. Once everything is fitted and tight, fill it up, and ride safe.
Temp is identical to factory so no worries.
Change your thermostat while your at it and gasket. Might as well while you have time.
