Weird Radiator Question, help please?

[ba123]

So, about to put my Howe radiator in for good and now that everything else is in there, it doesn't seem quite right in the spacing of the spots the radiator is held onto from the top and bottom.

Any way someone who has a radiator that they know fits in their Bronco and maybe is currently out, could measure the following:

1) The space between where the radiator brackets fit over the radiator on both the top and the bottom?
2) The spacing on their bronco for where those mounts fit into.

My Bronco seems like it's 19.5" center bracket to center bracket on top and 19.25 or so on the bottom.

This Howe radiator is about 19.75" for both.

Is the issue my Bronco, or this radiator?

I either need a different radiator or some wider mounts, but not gonna work right as is if I don't think of something, which sucks cause I just mounted my fan to it perfectly.

Thanks!

Ben

 

[phred]

Most aftermarket radiators I have felt with even though designed to fit a bronco required some work to fit properly. If memory serves one of the venders used to sell a set of wider mounting bushings to accommodate a thicker aluminum radiator. I usually just fabbed up new mounts to fit each case individually.

 

[ba123]

I just looked at these brackets I had to cut to fit with the radiator not in the mounts are 4 core Drake stainless mounts. You’d think they’d fit this radiator that is supposedly 2 core—big cores I guess.

Anyway, I emailed JBG tech support and will see what they say.

 

[Johnnyb]

I cut my factory brackets halfway, front to back, and made them about 1/2" deeper. Cut the factory rubber too (it was still in good shape), and left a 1/2 gap in the middle which I filled with silicone. Fits great now.

JB

 

[big blue]

I cut my factory brackets halfway, front to back, and made them about 1/2" deeper. Cut the factory rubber too (it was still in good shape), and left a 1/2 gap in the middle which I filled with silicone. Fits great now.

JB

I had extra rubber so I cut them so there was no gap just a splice. I have done the same with the stock brackets, I have a lot of extras.

 

[ba123]

Totally disappointed that I’ve gotten zero response from Jeff’s. They’ve been very responsive with issues in the past, not that I’ve had many of them.

I searched around and all I saw were some wide ones on eBay, but not as pretty as I’d like, or the ones Duff’s has that actually give a measurement of 3.5”. I’m sure that means the inside space since every these are 4” on the outside, so I ordered the Duff ones. Didn’t want to wait since it said they had ONE in stock.

Sucks, cause the Drake ones I have say 4 core and they are tiny. I see lots of posts now about the improper sizing but figured since these are the ones Jeff’s says to use with this radiator, they should fit right?

The Drake ones are nice, but just don’t work. I might have a pair of slightly modified Drake ones if they work for anyone. I still have the package as well. Maybe Jeff’s should take them back though.

 

[ba123]

Talk about bad luck…the Duff brckets are just the Scot Drake improper sized brackets taken out of the package and repackaged as their own!!! It says their brackets fit a 3.5 wide radiator, or at least that’s what it implies, but it’s the silly 2.5” bracket.

I don’t understand how this goes on if everyone knows they’re wrong.

 

[DirtDonk]

I just looked at these brackets I had to cut to fit with the radiator not in the mounts are 4 core Drake stainless mounts. You’d think they’d fit this radiator that is supposedly 2 core—big cores I guess.

Sucks, cause the Drake ones I have say 4 core and they are tiny. I see lots of posts now about the improper sizing but figured since these are the ones Jeff’s says to use with this radiator, they should fit right?

Sorry you're going through all this. Unfortunately, pretty much none of the mounts are made for these uber thick aluminum radiators.
These are old designs, around for 30 years or more, based on 4-core copper/brass replacement radiators. And even those are no longer all the same, like they used to be.

The old top strap bulges that these clamps fit over, were much smaller. And consistently spaced across manufacturers too from what I remember.
Most of the heavy duty radiators made from welded aluminum don't seem to be able to keep things to a minimum anymore. Seems the tanks are welded right at the same point that the clamps cross over the top and bottom. Those welds are wide and thick, and totally interfere.
Not sure if this is what you're dealing with, but I've seen it enough I thought you might be, so mentioned it.
By the way... Got pics of this area of your radiator?

Yyou'd think they could make a core that was either 1/2" wider or narrower so the tanks were not welded right at the mounts! But this seems to be the main issue. Whereas the older copper/brass radiators were not that much wider between a 3-core and a 4-core version. Wide enough to require a different mount, but not so wide you could not make most of them work with the existing "wide" versions of the mounts.
With dozens of manufacturers and dozens of countries of origin involved now, someone has to come up with a third iteration and help the rest of us out.
That, or we're all going to have to go to the super skinny 2-core Explorer radiators and make our own mounts!

But that's basically why your "4-core" mounts don't fit a "2-core" radiator.

Yeah, more whining from me about how things "aren't what they used to be" but I tell 'ya, they aren't!

Paul

 

[ba123]

Sorry you're going through all this. Unfortunately, pretty much none of the mounts are made for these uber thick aluminum radiators.
These are old designs, around for 30 years or more, based on 4-core copper/brass replacement radiators. And even those are no longer all the same, like they used to be.

The old top strap bulges that these clamps fit over, were much smaller. And consistently spaced across manufacturers too from what I remember.
Most of the heavy duty radiators made from welded aluminum don't seem to be able to keep things to a minimum anymore. Seems the tanks are welded right at the same point that the clamps cross over the top and bottom. Those welds are wide and thick, and totally interfere.
Not sure if this is what you're dealing with, but I've seen it enough I thought you might be, so mentioned it.
By the way... Got pics of this area of your radiator?

Yyou'd think they could make a core that was either 1/2" wider or narrower so the tanks were not welded right at the mounts! But this seems to be the main issue. Whereas the older copper/brass radiators were not that much wider between a 3-core and a 4-core version. Wide enough to require a different mount, but not so wide you could not make most of them work with the existing "wide" versions of the mounts.
With dozens of manufacturers and dozens of countries of origin involved now, someone has to come up with a third iteration and help the rest of us out.
That, or we're all going to have to go to the super skinny 2-core Explorer radiators and make our own mounts!

But that's basically why your "4-core" mounts don't fit a "2-core" radiator.

Yeah, more whining from me about how things "aren't what they used to be" but I tell 'ya, they aren't!

Paul

Thanks Paul, it been a struggle. I’m betting your right as to why they don’t fit but they really should change them.I saw some on eBay that are right, but they aren’t as pretty.

I honestly didn’t expect this radiator for be as large/thick as it is. It’s described as a 2-core radiator with larger cores and cools better than a 4-core. It’s really nice and really pretty, but it is big. Also very misleading that the JBG site says it uses “modified stock mounts and it’s not clear at all that it’s you that needs to severely chop them up to make them work. I read it as, it our stock type modified mounts for this radiator. And they were of zero help once they finally responded. I kinda wish I’d gone another way, especially for what I paid for this radiator!



Here’s a shot of the radiator bottom and what I’ve done to the bottom mount. I could certainly take some more off but it’s my understanding that these aluminum radiators need to be insulated from vibration as much as possible, so cut too much and that isn’t good either. Maybe I have no choice. Either cut more or get not as nice mounts from eBay.

Anyone else sell larger mounts that look nice?

 

[ba123]

And then there’s this other problem o forgot about, which is what I started this post with. No matter how much I modify these mounts,

The grooves do not line up with the mounts. Maybe that’s what you were referring to?

If one mount is in there, the other cannot go in.

 

[DirtDonk]

Yeah, I remember that post. I haven’t actually measured mine and I was hoping somebody would respond to say that theirs were exactly the same distance apart or not.
Seems like they should be equal distance apart whether top or bottom.
But you’re saying your mounts on the radiator core support are different widths across the vehicle?
If so, we definitely need to compare to some others, because I’ve always assumed they were equal top and bottom.

And it looks like the construction of your radiator is a little different than I’m used to seeing on the big fabricated aluminum ones.
I have a super slick looking aluminum radiator with all stampings and welding’s. It looks like it was made by a major manufacturer.
But it’s so thick that nothing on the market even comes close to holding it in place without modifying.
Kind of like what you’re dealing with.
Which is why I have not mounted it yet.

 

[ba123]

you’re saying your mounts on the radiator core support are different widths across the vehicle?
If so, we definitely need to compare to some others, because I’ve always assumed they were equal top and bottom.

And it looks like the construction of your radiator is a little different than I’m used to seeing on the big fabricated aluminum ones.
I have a super slick looking aluminum radiator with all stampings and welding’s. It looks like it was made by a major manufacturer.
But it’s so thick that nothing on the market even comes close to holding it in place without modifying.
Kind of like what you’re dealing with.
Which is why I have not mounted it yet.

Yes, exactly what I’m saying. And the tabs are offset from the tanks and maybe the radiator is correct and my lower is not somehow? I’ve had this bronco for 25 years and pretty sure nothing ever done to the core support. I had the stock radiator in it that I modified and re-used, briefly.

I can either try to send them this radiator back, but it’s nice and bought a while ago even though never run, or I can get the brackets from eBay and hope they work. I looked again and seems like I can just use the bottom ones and modify the Drake top ones I have and that’ll look nicer.

Still though, would be great if someone could measure so I know if it’s just mine or not.

 

[ba123]

And maybe the other issue is that these welded aluminum tabs are just huge whereas the stock ones are just a thin strip.

 

[DirtDonk]

Perhaps it wasn’t just cost, but also packaging size that drove the oh O.E’s to the crimped plastic tanks to a thin aluminum core.
But yes, two core, three core, four core, or any number you care to state, aluminum radiators are a completely different beast than traditional copper/brass.
Add to that fabrication methods probably vary, so sizes might vary at the same time.

 

[EPB72]

19 1/2 inches top and bottom, original from 72 , recored in early 90's

 

[ba123]

Ok, I cut a bunch more, including the sides of the rubber but also had to remove my #8 Vintage Air line that was keeping it from moving more towards the steering box. I’ll have to make another hard line to reroute it.

19 1/2 inches top and bottom, original from 72 , recored in early 90's

Thanks for that. Top is right, but bottom must be slightly off just like every Bronco is slightly different. It’s not by much, but it’s slightly more inside of that and again, with a stock type mounting radiator, it wouldn’t even matter since there is room inside the mount. But with these big ass tabs, they are 19 3/4” end to end and it does matter.

 

[EPB72]

And maybe the other issue is that these welded aluminum tabs are just huge whereas the stock ones are just a thin strip.

possibly find some one near you that can cut the tabs off clean it up,, make tabs that fit your mounts and weld on in correct measuments
..

 

[ba123]

It’s gonna be fine after the further mods I did to the brackets and removing the ac line. Gonna add some time redoing all that, but glad it’s going to work out.

Thanks for the help!