Hi All,
Saga continues on my lot's of boxes '71 442 clone. Got the water pump worked out with the proper lengths, thanks for the advice. The original car had a 350, the 455 was put in but the radiator was never upgraded. Since the car came without a radiator, I bought a new 4 row. I know I have to put new saddles in, but this is where I'm not sure something is right. I bought new saddles and rubber for the lowers and removed the old ones. The pictures show that the top support/ guard does not really allow the radiator to be parallel with the fan without pushing the lower hose to where it touches the frame and idler arm. Is there any type of reference to use to assist in getting this set correctly?
Thanks for any assistance.

tommy23t

 

What's the top plate from? Can anyone verify it's the right part?

You can also just trim the lower hose to shorten it.

 

Thanks oddball,
Maybe that top plate is part of the problem. It came in pieces with the rest of the car, and doesn't look like some of the pictures I have found on the web. If that is too far forward, as I think it is, then that would explain the difference. If anyone could supply a picture of the bottom of the rad to core support as in pic #3, that would be most helpful in figuring out where the bottom mounts should go. I can take the top plate from there.

tommy23t

 

Hi again oddball,
I found a picture of the top plate in Fusick's catalog, just for the 4 row. It is different, so appears this is the problem, thanks for the catch. I'll try to get one of those and see where I stand.

Thanks again,

tommy23t

 

The radiator should be one or two inches farther forward (towards the front of the car). There's not even enough room for a shroud there!
There should only be a couple of inches between the rad and the top of the core support, and so the tanks of the rad sit in line with the vertical sections of the core support. There should be rubber bumpers that seal the tanks to the core support, which it can't do if it doesn't line up!
Being a 455, I'd recommend getting a shroud and fan clutch if this car will see city traffic.

 

Trimming the hose is almost a requirement to get the right fit.

 

Great info, guys. thank you. Will mount as recommended and trim hose to fit