Thread: 1937 Dodge pickup using 1966 Mustang rad

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Hoping someone could help me out,,,,I read a post from back in 2004 about installing a 66 Mustang rad in a 1937 dodge pickup and was hoping someone may have some details on just how this was done,,,,,,,Thanks!

Mike just did this, but he used a modern aluminum mustang radiator I think. He will chime in soon...

Yeah, Mike P has a build thread on his '37 Dodge PU, and you might find what you're looking for there - Build thread 37 Dodge PU

Thanks all for your help!! it is greatly appreciated.

Thanks for posting the link Roger. It's been pretty hectic since I got back from vacation.

Redwood if you have any specific questions about the install just post them to this thread and I'll to answer them.

Would love to see some pictures of your project.



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Hi Mike,
Thanks for the reply.....I'm looking to see just how you installed the new rad inside the rad support. It looks like a nice tight fit, but can't see from your pics just how you accomplished it.

I'm just about to put my 40 Buick Special in storage and start back on the 37. Once I have it moved back to the main garage I will get some pics together and post the progress.

Thanks

I had to set my radiator in fairly far forward in order to get the required fan to radiator clearance. As the grill shell tapers the deeper I went the more had to be trimmed off the radiator mounting flange. If you don’t have to set the radiator in as deep as I did there will be less trimming required on the mounting flange.

It was easiest to do the major fitting with the grill shell off the car. Once the radiator sat in deep enough I remounted the shell (after removing the grill)and bolted the shell back on and put the radiator in (with a thick piece of cardboard taped to the front and back sides to protect the core). That way I could set the height of the radiator and shroud and center it on the fan. With the radiator set in I tack welded a piece of ½” angle iron to each side of the grill shell using the thick reinforcing brackets for the center brace and headlights as the weld points. Then I drilled the holes in the radiator mounting flanges and angle Iron brackets (one top and bottom on each side). I tack welded the nuts to back side of the angle iron brackets so if I have to pull the radiator I don’t have to worry about having to hold the nuts while I start the bolts (I used captive nut clips on the fan shroud flange). Then it was take the grill shell off again remount the grill and put it all back together.

Unfortunately without taking the radiator or grill out I can’t get in there to get a picture of the brackets I welded in….sorry.

As the horn originally mounted on the engine and there really wasn’t a good place for it anymore, I mounted that to the reinforcing bar in the grill shell ahead of the radiator. I also added an aftermarket trans cooler instead of using the built in cooler as I didn’t think it would be up to the job of cooling the 46RH transmission I’m using.

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