I ran into this when I purchased a 4 row radiator for a 55 Club Sedan. Wasn't a custom radiator like yours or anything, but it definitely did not fit, and I was stuck (long distance, low price I paid, etc). The radiator was brand new so I decided to keep it and use it. Ended up having the spacer machined down about 1/4 inch or so at a local shop and personally ground the shaft of the water pump. Tucked it all back in, it is a nice squeeze, but it cools like there is no tomorrow. As a matter of fact, I ended up having to install a higher temp thermostat. The thing wouldn't run above 180 not matter what I did, even blocking the radiator with cardboard once on a test run!

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

After cutting a little off the new radiator mount, test fitting it several times while being VERY careful we finally fit it in! YAY! It has 1 inch clearance from the stock fan, it clears the bottom radiator hose and tranny cooler lines Just need to redrill a couple of mounting holes and I is done! Now, the bottom part of the radiator does rest on a support bar as we put the flange that is mounted on the new radiator on the other side of the stock radiator mount on the wagon. Is it OK to have that bottom part rest on that support part or do I need to put a "cushion" under it?? I can't imagine it doing any damage to the radiaor as the radiator will be tightly secure once mounted. Just curoius! This had been a pain, but it's worth it!

Do you mean the U frame of the rad mount or the gravel pan that is horizontal to the rad. Could you shoot a picture of the area that is touching. The rad tank should not touch anything or it could wear a hole threw as it is very thin copper.

marv

It's the U-frame of the radiator mount. MAybe lift it up half an inch? I think I have clearance enough so it doesn't hit the underside of the hood.

Forgot to mention this, If I go up that half inch, the fan may not clear the lower radiator hose! Ooops! Maybe cut the side of the U-frame so it doesn't touch? I can do that, and leave the radiator at the height it is. Just that metalon the U-frame is fairly thick.

Can you not raise it so there is fan clearance as well lower hose clearance. Or is it the side of the radiator touching the frame. If it is the side of the radiator it will have the mounting bracket between the core and U frame.



I just needs room to not be touching the lower tank. Leave the greater clearance with the lower rad hose.

marv

There is an ince clearance between the lower radiator hose and the lowest part of the fan blades. I am worried if I hit a good bump, not like I try to! But, would the fan blade cut into that hose?? The engine probably wouldn't go up and down, more like side to side, I assume. MAybe raise the rad up half an inch? Then that will give it half inch clearance from the bottom of the U-fram, half inch from the fan and hose. 

The motor should only raise up or down very minimally unless your motor mounts are broke. The rad should only raise up or down minimally as well unless the mounting bolts below your rad U frame are loose or broken or rubber mount is shot. There should be tension on the rad U frame two springs to hold the rubber mount tight.



If you have 1"of clearance between fan and rad hose use the most of that 1" for clearance on your rad hose, that is the area that will move the greatest if engine should shift or you should go through a dip the frame will torque slightly and both motor and radiator hose could move towards each other. The hose would be the loser.



You just need enough clearance with the rad to rad frame to prevent rubbing, 1/8" is sufficient or put a piece of sheet rubber between the rad and rad frame so there is a clearance. Just so its not metal to metal on the lower rad tank to rad frame. Metal to metal will whittle a hole or crack the tank. You need some clearance here or an insulator to protect the lower tank.

marv

Is half an inch clearance between the fan blade and lower rd hose enough?? I sure hope so! FINNALY got the thing in now! Almost done!

It should work. I just checked the lower hose to fan clearance on my rad and it is about 3/4" .

!/2" clearance should not be a problem. Time will tell. If clearance becomes a problem you could use a smaller diameter fan. Do you know what your fan diameter is. Stock should be 18.25".