It seems that I am missing a part and cannot identify it. I need a name for the part. Also, I think I need the part if anyone out there has one.
Thanks to everyone for the help in identifying and finding the part I needed. After further investigation I think that my "core support" is there, but was cut off near the top of the fender wells. Can you guys tell me if that looks to be the truth? Also if there is a radiator cover out there that I can cover that ugly thing, please let me know!!
The core support is THE piece that holds the whole front structure together. The lower center bolts to the front crossmember, the fenders bolt to the sides and the radiator bolts to the back side. With the top cut off it will allow the front end to shift around quite a bit and there will be squeaks from metel to metal contact.
The front sheet metal on the 41 is supported only by the center of the core support. To stabalize the front sheet metal, Chevy put a "V" shaped rod ***embly running from the firewall (circles) to the top of the core support. Your holes have been filled. There is also supposed to be a tube shaped sheet metal piece about where I have drawn the other circle. It may be lower and just cut off of your photo. Without the "V" rod, your sheetmetal is much freer to rock side to side, twisting the sheetmetal and possibly damaging it and/or the paint. Without the tube shaped piece, the fenders are relying on the radiator to keep them from drooping away from each other. If the tube shaped piece is truly missing, I would replace it. Regardless of what else you do, you need to tie the right and left fenders together at the top. IMHO. Instead of putting a top back on your core support, drilling the filled holes in the fire wall back out, and putting in the rod ***embly, there may be another way of stabalizing the front sheetmetal. You could put "L" shaped brackets down low on the outside of the core supports and bolt them to the frame rails using rubber bushings. This would give the core support a broad base of support and should stabalize it.
Either paint the radiator or exchange it for aluminum since it is aftermarket already.In the picture looks like you really have no clearance at on the firewall for engine.
why would he want an aluminum radiator? specially since it doesnt sound like he is having any cooling issues. The front end needs the v bars your front clip is only support by the rubber mount on the bottom of the core support right now
Because he wants to go for looks if you read the post,did you notice the get rid of the ugly thing comment?Nobody said he needed a aluminum rad. just a suggestion,dang.
Thanks redsdad, you gave me some great information. I looked underneath this morning and there has been some similar work done to what you mentioned, but I am going to add the connecting rod, it seems like an easy thing to do. Also There are some fender supports that don't look stock that come off the frame. The car has been on the road this way for years, but I was never finished so I would hate to damage the paint that I am preparing to put on it. brad, I would like to have an aluminum radiator for looks, but this one functions great. What I don't like is there is some patch work done to it and it is just not nice looking. When the rest of the engine compartment was black, it didn't seem so bad , now that I painted everything orange it just stands out. Painting it would only "polish the turd". I thought maybe somone made a chrome cover or somehting to slide over it, I can make one. Don't argue about it guys. You are both right, drawing the line between looks and functionality can be tough. Reality is I don't NEED the rod at all, but I don't want to risk it. Thank you both for your input! Thank you all fo the help so far!
I have an uncut '41 core support if it's needed, let me know. Sounds like having one that's cut off is bad news.
Oh, yeah. Brad, the picture is deceiving, there is plenty of clearance between the engine and firewall. It does look close in the picture though.
Improving the appearance without popping for a new radiator. Depending on your skills: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=533852&highlight=beater+48 This guy does nice work.
Entry 181, photo on the right, shows the stock core support on the right and the one I modified for a larger radiator on the left. You can clearly see the tie "tube" about 2/3 way up. http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/journal.php?action=view&journalid=22619&page=34&perpage=5&reverse=
Yeah he does. My sheet metal work is only marginal. Fibergl*** is my only chance at something coming out nice. Years of boat work. As long as it can take the heat, may also insulate too much. Have to think on that.
My 41 chevy is similiar to yours. The top has been cutoff. Although my 41 has a straight axle under the front, so it probably isn't an issue. (Been that way since 1967.) Anyway, depending on what front end you have, it seems like you could do something else to brace it. Maybe a decorative piece across the front of the radiator where tank meets the core to tie the sides together.
This weekend I installed an all-thread (threaded rod) across the side supports of the core support to hold that together. I have a decorative piece that I built that will go between the radiator and hood latch plate to cover that large hole and the new rod. I won't have a v-rod for front to back support, but there has been extra work to support the front of the clip to the frame, so it won't be a problem. Front end is the standard Mustang II. Thanks, Charlie
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