Radiator Support & Flex Question (1 Viewer)

[middlecalf]

I've now got my second leak in as many replacement aluminum radiators, so I'm trying to figure out what might be going on. Is it possible that the aluminum radiators can't stand any flex from the support bracket and end up with a fatigue failure over (short) time? Leaking appears to occur somewhere where the vertical tubes meet the base (which is a tranny coolor but I don't use that). My radiator mount is stock and the replacement radiators bolt right up. I'm not rock crawling or doing anything that's flexing the vehicle much, just dirt roads and bumpy field/pastures. The original radiator didn't have any sort of bushing mount to allow for flexing, and not sure if there is even any/much that can happen. Any thoughts appreciated.

 

[fieldsken1]

lets see a couple of pictures

 

[atazman]

Aluminum Radiators

Likewise!! Failed two $500 aluminum radiators where the sides weld to the lower tank. These failures caused the tubes to fail as well. Went back to copper/brass radiator.

My thought is that the aluminum fatigues too easily. That, and the side panels were much too thin.

 

[shelfboy1]

i used an aluminum rad from summit .it was for stock car racing i mounted it with rubber bushings so far so good .

 

[77TPIFJ]

x2 on the pics .. i am gonna use a alum rad also , this would help me for mounting..
thanks

 

[middlecalf]

lets see a couple of pictures

Well I got one, hopefully you can see the green stuff along the bottom of the tubes on the driver's side. The wet in the channel is water from rinsing the whole radiator off so I could see where the leak might be coming from, but it's not obvious.

 

[middlecalf]

i used an aluminum rad from summit .it was for stock car racing i mounted it with rubber bushings so far so good .

Where'd you get the bushings, anything special needed?

 

[Slowerthanu]

Modern aluminum radiators use plastic end tanks for a reason.

You need to completely isolate the radiator from flex and vibration

In my g8, it's on rubber donuts and uses u shaped rubber tops to cradle it.

 

[middlecalf]

Radiator support rod(s)

It looks like '71+ fj40s have radiator support rods on boths sides of radiator (112-81 and 112-82 on SOR). My '65 only has the right (passenger) side rod. The left (driver) side of the support flexes as much as a 1/4" at the top (without radiator installed), and this is the side where I've had both aluminum radiators fail (somewhere within the left side structure). I'm wondering if I should get another rod and install in on the left side, I have room with my SBC. Also mount the replacement aluminum radiator with isolator bushings of some sort. Thoughts?

 

[middlecalf]

Well, now that I think about it more, it would seem the fixed side would fatigue out which would be the right side, and that ain't happenin'. So I guess I should just focus on isolation. My searches seem to show that most of the aluminum radiator installs are pretty custom and don't use the original bracket or mount. Anyone install using the original radiator support bracket (112-80 on SOR)? There was no isolation in the original install.

 

[middlecalf]

Hey, looks like I'm talking to myself! After scanning as many of the radiator install threads that I could find, it looks like the newer (at least '71+) rigs have isolated radiator support rods that angle down to the frame on each side of the radiator channel (112-81 & 82 in pic). The isolation comes from rubber grommets at the point where the rods connect to the channel (-85 in pic). My earlier rig ('65) only has a single rod that goes to the firewall and has no rubber grommet isolation at either attachment end. Does anyone know if the later radiator channel is isolated at the bottom mounts? Maybe 112-90 shim in the pic? I can isolate my rod if necessary but not sure if the channel needs isolating. It may be possible to isolate at the attachment points where the radiator itself mounts to the channel.

second guessing this aluminum radiator thing...

 

[chicago]

When ipulled mine, there was the cloth type stuff between the rad. Support and the mount. I'll pot pic later when I get home of how I set it up. I stole an idea from Frankenstein (sp?) and used Heims from the rad support I built to the fenders. It's also isolated by rubber bushings all around the rad. In the support.

Haven't run it yet as I'm still building, but theoretically it should do very well as far as vibration dampening.

 

[1Fine40]

Hey, looks like I'm talking to myself! After scanning as many of the radiator install threads that I could find, it looks like the newer (at least '71+) rigs have isolated radiator support rods that angle down to the frame on each side of the radiator channel (112-81 & 82 in pic). The isolation comes from rubber grommets at the point where the rods connect to the channel (-85 in pic). My earlier rig ('65) only has a single rod that goes to the firewall and has no rubber grommet isolation at either attachment end. Does anyone know if the later radiator channel is isolated at the bottom mounts? Maybe 112-90 shim in the pic? I can isolate my rod if necessary but not sure if the channel needs isolating. It may be possible to isolate at the attachment points where the radiator itself mounts to the channel.

second guessing this aluminum radiator thing...

I've got the aluminum in the stock U-Channel. It has isolation at the support rods on both sides, and the U-Channel sits on 3/8" rubber pads. The alu. radiator mounts in the U-channel just like the stocker...knock on wood, it has been a few years and no problems...I think you are on the right track with the isolation idea. My rad. is from Custom Aluminum Radiators out of Kingman AZ. Not cheap, but very well built...

Cheers!