universal aluminum radiator install

[travisc454]

first i made these

then i cut the stock brackets

after that drill a couple holes at the bottom of the core support

then some on the top.
i also trimmed the lip off the top.

then some underneath to get to the nuts

some lock-tite and DONE! very snug.

 

[travisc454]

oh yeah. the radiator was SUM-380331 $159.99
i was going to get a stock four row but i couldn't
find anyone that sells them anymore. the people
at radiators.com said they only make them now
aluminum with plastic tanks. does anyone know
why or if its even true?

 

[NEK5]

awesome! What are the pieces made out of? I`m working on mounting mine, but I spaced it up with square tube, now I need to more on the top mounts

 

[travisc454]

its rubber i molded around metal. then i tapped out for a 1/4 bolt. like this.

 

[ryoken]

nicely done...

Can't help ya on the plastic question, prolly costs..


I run the same summit rad.. I've been very pleased with the quality and performance of the piece..




my mounting had to be a bit different due to my custom shroud.. I spaced mine up to the upper lip, to engage my shroud, by running a gasketed 2 x 2 square tube at the bottom... fits perfect between the rad lips... I also lucked out in that the inherent design of my shroud also locks it in on the sides too..

 

[NEK5]

Awesome Paul, as always.


Mine`s spaced up just like his, except it is away a 1/2inch lower. I`m still working on the top mounts now though. Hopefully it`s easy enough. So what did you do....dip them? Wonder if derilin (plastic material) would work...get a nice 1/2 inch chunk.., don`t need to worry about metal on metal....

 

[travisc454]

i've always liked yours ryoken but theres no way i could build a shroud that bad a$$.

its rubber that i poured into a mold incapsulating the metal(1/2 x 1/8 flat bent into a "c") so the majority of it is rubber. took me a long time to make the molds but only about two hours to install.

 

[ryoken]

its rubber that i poured into a mold incapsulating the metal(1/2 x 1/8 flat bent into a "c") so the majority of it is rubber. took me a long time to make the molds but only about two hours to install.

thats some tech there... can't say I remember anyone here doing that before, props...

at first it looked like cutting board type material, like starboard, etc..

I'm actually changing mine a tad before it comes back out of the garage... gonna enclose the top 2 corners to square it off for a cleaner look, then just have the hoses sticking out...

 

[NEK5]

thats some tech there... can't say I remember anyone here doing that before, props...

at first it looked like cutting board type material, like starboard, etc..

I'm actually changing mine a tad before it comes back out of the garage... gonna enclose the top 2 corners to square it off for a cleaner look, then just have the hoses sticking out...

will that cutting board material work? It`s very similar to derlin....

 

[travisc454]

thanks! i'm wondering if theres a market for them. "if" we can't get the copper brass ones anymore then the summit universal is the only cheap option we have. it would also be nice to atleast get the money back a have into molds(which wasn't alot i had most of the supplies left over from my job) .

 

[ryoken]

how did you mount the bottom? the stock rubbers?

Ben, not sure the temp range on that type stuff, I'd have to look it up.. lots of different space age plastics and composites out there tho...

 

[travisc454]

the bottoms are identical to the tops.

 

[ryoken]

my bad, missed that...

 

[mosesburb]

I like the plastic blocks. I dread adapting the inverted channel to a stock type setup, but your setup makes it look simple--nice work!! What keeps the radiator from shifting side to side?? Are the blocks close to the radiator headers??

 

[travisc454]

just the clamping force. i can grab it and try to pull it side to side and it just rocks the truck.

 

[NEK5]

Hmm. Going to have to see if there`s another material I can use to make something incase my mounts don`t work. I know delrin would be strong enough, but like Paul said, I`m not sure of the heat range. Awesome work!

 

[travisc454]

nek5 how serious are you about getting this done. i have some extra rubber and if your willing to be a test subject i'll pour you a set.

 

[NEK5]

nek5 how serious are you about getting this done. i have some extra rubber and if your willing to be a test subject i'll pour you a set.

I`d love to be the test subject, but I don`t think I`ll have the time to wait for them. That and my summit rad is slightly different, IE i got the one with the tranny cooler built in, and the flanges on the top and bottom aren`t as tall.

 

[travisc454]

oh. i thought you had the same one. im thinking about ordering one of those and making a mold of them too. cool thing about them is i think by swapping the top brackets and a little trimming you could use a stock shroud that would fit perfectly(accept for some minimal trimming for the radiator hoses). i was this close to sending mine back for that one.

 

[Kenny78]

Pretty damn slick I assume that you are going to use electric fans right?