Re: Custom Radiator Mount

[Joseph S Dufresne <josad@domain.elided>]

Tom,

I heard once about a system, that used springs to mount the radiator,
allowed it to flex seperate from the frame, I belive it was in a
pre-runner.

Joe

On Tue, 08 Jun 1999 12:01:40 -0600 Tom Mandera <tsm1@domain.elided> writes:
> OK, imagine for a minute your truck has NO front clip.  How would you 
> go
> about securing the radiator?
> 
> Prev owner welded some tabs the frame rail, shoved the GM Diesel
> radiator in place with rubber strips jammed in there, and then used 
> some
> small strap from the top of the radiator to the top of the firewall 
> to
> keep the top secured.
> 
> I'm using a stock 3-row Scout radiator.
> 
> right now, I'm making my shopping list for the steel shop.  My idea 
> is
> thus:
> 
> About 4' of 3.5" C-channel.  Mount it "open face up".  Drill the 
> ends
> and use the stock front body mounts to secure it to the frame.  
> Radiator
> is 2.75" wide on the bottom.  3" C-channel is just over 2.5"
> internally.  So 3.5" should be about 3" internal, give or take.  
> I'll
> use some rubber pads to take up the gap, and provide a little more
> cushion.
> 
> 2' per side of 1.5x1.5x1/8" angle.  Stock flange is 1.5" wide.  I'll 
> run
> 'em flush with the stock mounting flange, with the "angle" going 
> towards
> the front of the truck.  Bolt the radiator to this, and weld this to 
> the
> C-channel at the bottom.
> 
> Now the fun part is getting the top secured when you don't have a 
> real
> core support.
> 
> One thought is a piece of 1"x1/8" thick strap, bolted to the top of 
> the
> angle on the side of the radiator, run it down at an angle to a
> convenient spot on the frame.  Bolt to another short piece of angle,
> which I then bolt to the frame using an existing hole, thus making a
> triangle of sorts.
> 
> *OR* I just run the 1"x1/8" strap all the way to the firewall and 
> bolt
> it there.  It might get in the way at times tho'.
> 
> The idea is to make this *removeable* with as little "pain" as
> possible.  
> 
> I also need to figure out how I'll go about securing the A/T cooler 
> to
> the front of the radiator in this scenario.. I'm really not fond of 
> the
> "zip-tie-to-radiator" approach after having to change a radiator out
> already (on my '77 w/ an A/T cooler for the p/steering).
> 
> I guess I could use C-channel on the sides, or another piece of 
> angle to
> bring a "flange" forward of the radiator, then weld or bolt some 
> steel
> strap from one "core support" to the other, and secure the cooler to
> that.. might be the best route.  Now to figure out what I need for 
> THAT
> part of this..
> 
> I think I've decided to use some 4" wide by 1/4" thick strap for the
> seat mount.  Drill 3 holes on one "side" of the strap and secure the
> seat to it.  Do the same for a second piece and the other side of 
> the
> seat.   I'm using the wider strap so I can U-bolt it to the
> cross-tubes/seat mount of the rollcage and get access to the bolts.  
> The
> seat doesn't *quite* fit between the two rails, and I don't want the
> U-bolt bolts to be UNDER the seat where I can't get to 'em. ;-)
> 
> Sub strap goes to the front seat bar, lap belts to the rear seat 
> bar,
> and shoulder harness to the back bar, which is just a little below 
> my
> shoulders, but a few inches back from the back of the seat.
> 
> Cage is in, needs bolted.  Almost finished the front 4.88s last 
> night. 
> Tonight it gets a column, TC bolted up, maybe the brake booster & 
> m/c,
> and then I head out to put the gears in the front axle.. and if that
> goes well enough, I reinforce the spring perch on it (ground a 
> little
> much) and then install the bare housing..
> 
> -Tom Mandera, Helena MT
> http://www.tmcom.com/~tsm1/scout
> 

Joe Dufresne email (normal) Josad@domain.elided email (with attachments)
josad76@domain.elided, ICQ #25751950, homepage
http://www.geocities.com/Baja/Trails/6536/index.html, Scout Page
http://www.geocities.com/Baja/Trails/6536/scoutf.html PGP public key
avadiable upon request

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