Had the radiator in the six cylinder position so I had to cut the splash pan,now going back to original location so would this be a problem. I do have the piece I cut out or just wait until I tear apart for final body work.
I think it will; the original has a rubber seal and I would add one even if you need to do it underneath. They really help along with the upper radiator to hood shield with a rubber seal top. Forces all the air thru the radiator when moving and at idle helps the fan pull more thru if you don’t have a shroud..
Trying to find the upper part right now,might have to buy another to find it and trying to figure out how to put that piece back in the splash pan without removing it.
I think I came up with a way to put that piece back in but its going to be a rig,I do have another I will use but that will happen when I install the NOS front fenders.
It's a misconception to think of the air as squirting through the radiator like water from a garden hose. (You probably know all about that, so I'm not pointing fingers at anyone in particular.) Actually, air moves from a high-pressure area to a low-pressure area. It's true in weather (that's what creates the wind) and in opening a carbonated soda bottle, and lots of etceteras. If you have alternate, easier routes for the high-pressure air in front of the radiator to bypass instead of directly through the radiator core, that's less air doing its job. That doesn't mean you won't have enough cooling air transfer in any given situation. I mean, you could try it. But if you don't have enough, it will need to be addressed so you do.
Jeff. I’ll get some butcher paper and copy the upper shield if you want and mail it to you. One would be easy to make from steel or aluminum. They attach with 4 cap screws. I no longer use the stapled rubber seal. I bought a few feet of tube seal from Mc Master Carr that works fine. It helped with my cooling along with the smaller water pump pulley on my Y block.
I have one and trying to find it and looks like I will have to wait until the radiator install is done since I will have to move the car outside to find it.
The upper shield works for both 6 and 8 cylinder radiators, you just need to use the 6 cylinder er radiator brackets.
I modified one to fit when the radiator was in the six position and the piece I cut off should be in the scrap pile but its covered with snow and ice.