'62 C10: Couple of questions

[Middleagecrisis]

First of all, I'm new to the board. This place looks like a great place to gain knowledge specific to my truck. I picked up a 1962 C10 shortbed/fleetside about a year ago that had a worn out 350/TH350 in it and I'm in the process of slowly getting it in running shape. I'm getting ready to drop in a fresh .060 over 327 and am a little worried about the stock radiator and the ability to keep it cool here in central Texas (105 high today, ugh!). The truck did not have a fan shroud when I bought it, so I bought a full shroud yesterday from my local Pick-n-Pull that fits great except for a little rubbing on the battery box. Is anyone running a later model style radiator that fits with minimum mods? I also am going to install a short tailshaft TH400 and wondering if the stock crossmember will accept the TH400? This is my weekend toy that may get a small shot of nitrous, so I'm keeping the TH400 for reliability purposes. Thanks!

[markeb01]

Can't answer your questions, but welcome to the forum. Post some pics when you get a chance, everybody here loves photos.

[Johnny Too Bad]

Welcome to the forum from a fellow Texan now living in Colorado. I'm running the same setup (350/TH350) in my '64. Mine also came without a shroud and got warm on me in traffic last summer. I recently pulled the shroud off my parts truck ('77 chevy sbc 350) and had to make some mods in order for it to fit the '64. You can see the notching I had to do in order for it to fit around the radiator hose, the tranny cooling line, the inner fenderwells and the battery tray. I also had to fab some mounting brackets, but it made a huge difference. Ran it this past weekend when it was 104 degrees in Denver and it never got over 180.

[Middleagecrisis]

Thanks for the welcome and the pics. I can post some pics up, but be warned, I'm very space limited in my garage! I got my 2-piece shroud out of an early 80's mid-size Chevy car. The shroud measured ~24" wide, so I'm sure I can modify the shroud to fit with minimal cutting. How well does the factory V-8 radiator cool? My worn out 350 never overheated, but my 327 is a little more robust in build.

[CRGRS 66]

Welcome aboard as well. I have what I believe is the original 283, and original fan shroud. I recently had my original rad re-cored, and it works like a charm. Hard to tell the actual temperature on the factory temp gauge, but it is well to the left of center which makes me feel good!
As a word of caution, I had purchased an American Eagle replacement rad, but it did not fit in the stock cradles. I didn't want to start cutting and modifying the cradles to accommodate what was supposed to fit, so I sent it back. Thought I would save a few dollars, but in the end I am happy that I re-cored the original.
Not sure if this is of any benefit to you, if not sorry to take up your time, if so, glad to help.

[losthope]

In my old 65 I had the 350/350 combo and old used stock radiator with no shroud and it ran around 200-220 and i didnt like that to much so I ordered a shroud from LMC and it fit perfect and dropped the temp down to 180 -190 in traffic in the summer high 90's shroud is the way to go..

in my new 66 I have a brand new stock radiator replacement and 350/350 combo with no shroud and so far is staying around 190 never higher, but it is also still pretty cool here lately, I will be putting a shroud in as soon as i can come across one..

from my experiances having a proper working stock radiator and a shroud with the fan placed in the right spot in the shroud will work just fine at cooling a v8

[Middleagecrisis]

Originally Posted by markeb01

Can't answer your questions, but welcome to the forum. Post some pics when you get a chance, everybody here loves photos.

Here's some pics, one of the interior and an exterior shot with my fresh 327 waiting to go in. I've got some late model Silverado buckets with the built-in seat belts to replace the current bench seat. Did I mention I'm space limited?

[McCoyAZ]

@ LostHope

re: "from my experiances having a proper working stock radiator and a shroud with the fan placed in the right spot in the shroud will work just fine at cooling a v8"

So where is the right spot?

How far should the fan be from the actual radiator and how far should the shroud cover the fan?

I ask because I have to install a new radiator in my 64. We took the straight 6 out and dropped a 283 in place.

[CRGRS 66]

Originally Posted by McCoyAZ

@ LostHope

re: "from my experiances having a proper working stock radiator and a shroud with the fan placed in the right spot in the shroud will work just fine at cooling a v8"

So where is the right spot?

How far should the fan be from the actual radiator and how far should the shroud cover the fan?

I ask because I have to install a new radiator in my 64. We took the straight 6 out and dropped a 283 in place.

in addition to my response to your PM, I will measure the distance from rad to fan, and where the fan is in relation to the shroud. I will also include some pictures. Mine is all factory original, and is a 283.

[Middleagecrisis]

Originally Posted by CRGRS 66

in addition to my response to your PM, I will measure the distance from rad to fan, and where the fan is in relation to the shroud. I will also include some pictures. Mine is all factory original, and is a 283.

That would be appreciated, thanks!

[CRGRS 66]

okay, overall rad dimensions, 25.5" wide, approx 22 or 23" high, the core is 1-1/4" to 1-1/2" deep at the most (had it re-cored this spring). The distance between the rad and the fan is about 7-1/2", and the shroud extends about another 1/2" as you can see in the second picture. The shroud, rad, and engine are original as best as I can tell. The VIN code verifies that it should be a 283. I would think that you could have your rad re-cored, and add more passes. My tanks are over 3" deep, and my core is like I said 1.5", so if I needed to I could get a much higher capacity core installed in there if I need. My personal opinion is that it is wise to keep things as original as is feasible. I had bought a china aluminum rad, and would have had to start cutting and grinding to get it to fit, so I sent it back, and got mine re-cored. I am VERY, VERY happy that I did that.
Hope this helps.

[CRGRS 66]

Not sure if you can really see it or not, but the core is no where near as deep as the tanks are. I would highly recommend taking your query to a rad shop. Shouldn't be too hard to figure out if they know what they are doing. I went to a local rad shop and there was a 64 Falcon in the shop with 289 in it, and the guy I dealt with was pretty keen to have me come back and show him my truck, so I kind of got a good feeling right off that bat.

[McCoyAZ]

Thanks for the pictures and the information.

Junk yard called me today and they have the original V8 mounting brackets so I'll have those.

I'm sure I can scare up a shroud someplace.

What about one of those electric fans? It isn't unusual to be 110 degrees where I live.

[CRGRS 66]

I don't have any experience with using an electric fan on these old trucks, but I believe that many would tell you that would be a superior setup. You can also pick up a couple of horsepower removing the stock fan.

Apologies to middleagecrisis for hijacking his thread a bit, but I think this is info that he was looking for anyway... I hope

[Middleagecrisis]

Originally Posted by CRGRS 66

I don't have any experience with using an electric fan on these old trucks, but I believe that many would tell you that would be a superior setup. You can also pick up a couple of horsepower removing the stock fan.

Apologies to middleagecrisis for hijacking his thread a bit, but I think this is info that he was looking for anyway... I hope

This is the kind of info I'm looking for, so no worries. Keep the info coming and thanks for the pics!

[CRGRS 66]

Originally Posted by Middleagecrisis

This is the kind of info I'm looking for, so no worries. Keep the info coming and thanks for the pics!

NP, I would recommend that you put up a new post on the board regarding the cross member question.

[Middleagecrisis]

Originally Posted by CRGRS 66

NP, I would recommend that you put up a new post on the board regarding the cross member question.

Yea, I was thinking the same thing. Gonna be out of town for about a week, so I'll wait until I get back.