theold52

Hi all. Just got a 1952 Oldsmobile Super Rocket 88 with a 303 engine. My stock radiator is very leaky so I paid $200 for an aftermarket aluminum rad.
Quote was real high to fix mine so I will save it in the shop. Would appreciate some advice. My new rad cap will sit only one inch below the hood. Is that OK? (I am a VW mechanic, 30 years, radiators are new to me.) Great fit except the outlet is mighty too close to the front end steel cross member. If I tilt the rad a bit I would have clearance. Or, if I heated the cross member a bit I could tap it and expand on the factory indentation for hose clearance.
Would appreciate any advice. Thanks, Robert

Tedd Thompson

If you have a full inch I wouldn't worry. I can't imagine what would cause enough movement to have the radiator cap hit (assume the hood) or something.... Tedd

theold52

Appreciate the input Tedd. The new rad in total is 3/8" taller. A friend told me he had to slightly modify the cross member on his Chevy to accommodate a new radiator. I should be able to apply a little heat and expand the factory indentation w/o having to worry about it. The rad is a 3 row. Robert

theold52

Radiator installed. I had to cut a small section out of the cross member, but will flip it and weld it back in. Fun time finding hoses but I think I got it licked.
I put in two gallons of antifreeze and on the third gallon (water,) I could hear water running out. Looked under the car and sure enough it was running out onto the ground. Darn, I figured freeze plug, cracked block, some terrible thing. With the flashlight I could see that the plug looked real nice. Back up top, I saw the rotted hose that ran to the top of the block. The return from the heater core. Blocked it off, and,whew, no leaks . Also got the gas tank and sender/fuel pickup installed before it started raining today. Getting close to fire it up day.!