During the past couple of weeks I've been rebuilding my 326 poly in my '59 dodge since the right parts finally came in. Back in December when I initially was planning on doing the rebuild, I discovered my crank was toast and I found my cow magnet in the oil pan was covered with shavings. Luckily a 318 crank that had been turned under .010 happened to be on ebay at the time... I had decided that the old shunt oil filter system really sucks so while I was at it, I got a spin-on conversion kit and made it fit my engine. Turns out the crank fits perfectly so four-thirteen came over with his hoist and we put the motor in this weekend. Today I found time to hook up all the wires and hoses...even got the heater to work, but the story doesn't end just yet... I discovered that I have a new leak in my radiator. Guess it's finally time to cave in an get a new one. Anyone know where to buy a reasonably priced radiator??? ~Melissa old crank
The spin-on filter conversion kit was for a 70's Ford Truck... it's a little bigger than my stock system, so I filed the lip to ensure it was level and groud out a small portion on the motor mount to allow the plate to sit flat.
I thought I had a better pic of that oil fiter adaptor, but I guess not. If anyone is interested in seeing it closer up, I'll take a better pic.
And my darned radiator... if I find a new one and don't have to make due, I think this one's going to get the crap beat out of it for all the problems I've had with it.
I would say the best thing to do is get it re-cored. Find a good radiator shop, I'm sure they could do it for less than $200, maybe even cheaper. Look for a place that just does radiators, they'll have it done for you in 1-2 days too. If you find some older guys, and tell 'em what it's for, they'll get excited and maybe even give you a better deal! Anyway.. good luck w/it. Better sitting in your garage than when your 200 miles from home.
She cooks, she cleans, she's a pretty, tall blonde with a sunny disposition and she can not only rebuild her own MoPar motor, she can even adapt Ford parts to it!!! Mel, where does it end!? Congrats on the engine rebuild and I hope ya find a good radiator. The last time I couldn't find the exact radiator I wanted, my radiator shop sent my old one to Denver for a recore job...cost was a little over 2 hundred dollars. I realize you don't have an extra 2 hunnert bucks for a radiator and hope you find a better used one. Don't be afraid to measure other car brands and adapt to your car. The ford-to-MoPar spin on filter transplant tells me you're not afraid to swap parts. Good luck to ya..
Yep don't worry it will get better.Oh yes and i still love ya. I got my radiator fixed at Hastings Radiator in hastings he was reasanable.
Without being there to take actual measurments or check the positioning of the upper and lower hose outlets, it looks like a typical 70s Ford pickup radiator might fit int there with a little work. Just eye-balling it from your photos, I'd say it'd be a fairly easy swap, and shouldn't be expensive, either! The Ford radiator will have the trans cooling lines at the bottom like yours, and it's really not a big deal to move the hose outlets around if you can solder. (When helping a buddy build his V8 Pinto in the 80s we had to move a hose outlet from one side of the top tank to the other...we simply cut the hose outlet off and used a hole saw to make way for it on the other side. A circular piece of steel was cut and soldered over the hole where the outlet had been, and the outlet was soldered into it's new location. Sure it's extra work...but it didn't cost us anything...and it worked fine!)
Well, that is a sweet car, and you are alomost there! I am sure you will find an inexpensive way to get it back on the road. Once you get that core redone- it will be good to go for another 50 years. Good Luck! Jay
Good job Mel, I'm proud of ya. I don't think a recore is in the plan because the top radiator tank is cracked too. It sprung a leak at BTT50's last summer. We repaired it by soldering some copper sheet over it, and it's not that pretty any more. -Jeff
Mel, Send me a better pic of the radiator, and some dimensions. I'll start scrounging down here. We can find something that'll work for ya and won't even look half bad. Hack's probably right about the Ford unit. That being the case I think I can probably put my hands on one pretty cheap. The PknBner
Mel, call CTI radiator in Eau Claire. Gary is a great guy & very reasonable. PS, I just talked to Bugman & he wants you to stop by my shop today & pick up some tranny videos. Dave
when my radiater sarted leaking, we just gave the thin area where the hole was a good coating of solder. hasn't given me another problem yet.
Thanks for all the kinds words of encouragement! I'm not mad, just setback... bound to happen sooner or later. Rocky- there is no end... Bugman mentioned that the janitors at his school have this stuff that they swear by and seeing as it can't get any worse, we're gonna give it a go this weekend and see what happens. I'm still in the market for a replacement of sorts since I know with the top being all soldered up, I'm only going to have more problems down the road. You can only beat a dead horse for so long anyway. Shifts- I'll stop by on my way to Evansville today to pick up those videos for Bugman... should be around 4:30 before I make it though. I'll post a pic with measurements when I get the chance this weekend so you guys can see what I'm dealing with. Any clues to what would fit is wonderful! Sooner or later, I'll have the cash to buy a new one... guess the paint and exhaust project will have to be on hold until more important issues are resolved. Thanks again guys ~Melissa
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