Re: Resurrecting my 56’ Patrician

Posted by Marvin On 2023/7/2 16:53:51

I decided to buy a new aluminum radiator for a 1956 F-100, from Summit Racing. Very happy when it arrived and had great plans for the holiday weekend. Purchased high temp paint to blacken out the areas visible, cut a radiator hose into ¾” diameter rubber washers for insulators, and cut ¼” long segments of brake line for spacers. Thought it would be simple. Made custom brackets out of aluminum. Ended up taking the radiator in and out nine times. First road bump was the lower radiator outlet was very close to the outlet of the transmission cooler and 3” off center. Finally had to give up; because the bend was too severe. So, in my infinite wisdom I choose to utilize the transmission cooler that is built into the new radiator and plumb the coolant lines to the new radiator. Getting a pipe bender in there and being able to straighten / bend the coolant lines was fun. Then to locate a new 1.75 ID radiator hose for my setup. I used #6 copper grounded wire (I am an electrician) to mocked it up to the shape required and went to the store. Tried to install the radiator with the fan already installed, but the fittings were not allowing it and it was easier to connect the hose and coolant lines without the fan. Got it all back together, spun the fan before I tighten the generator belt to check for clearances and free spinning. All was great! Filled it full of water, and started.
In the many in and outs, mocking things up and test fitting, I forgot one thing at the end. Just a minor thing really. I did not install the lower bolts of the bracket for the radiator. The fan did what it does so well, it sucked air in and the radiator. This lesson only required 3 seconds. I immediately closed the hood to the Packard and walked away. Even the cat left me alone for three hours. Now seeing the photo, I just took, I noted that I bent my fan as well. I am not sure what kind of advice I can give, but I now know how to ruin a brand-new radiator.

Attach file:

---

  20230702_171419.jpg (494.56 KB)


  bent fan.jpg (373.66 KB)