Aluminum Direct fit is in. *play by play of my install*

[Khyron]

Whelp. I promised an Update on the Summit Direct Fit radiator, SO here goes. I’ll add some pictures when I get done to show what I’m explaining.

First I removed the original radiator, Fan, and battery tray. To ensure I had enough room to work, and boy did I.

I held up the radiator against the brace. The bottom existing holes were able to work, however. I had to drill new holes for the upper. After mounting the radiator. I had to relocate, Cut, and get some trannie lines. The original mount to the bottom as you know. However, the cross flow radiator has the trannie lines on the driver’s side. So I bent some new line down, and connected to some existing line with some trannie hose. Seems to be working fine. I may invest in a second trannie cooler to make sure.

The only problem that was a pain in the arse was the battery tray. The tray wouldn’t bolt down correct. It was coming in contact with the radiator. I reversed the Top bar that bolts to the fender wall. Basically mounted it to the inside of the tray and not the outside bent it in a slight bit and reversed the bolt. It then mounted up fine.

The bottom radiator hose needed to be reversed for some reason the water pump side to the radiator and the old radiator side on the water pump. It works. So I’m not going to complain.

The only problem I have left is the top hose. Because this is a small block and the hose used to go to the upper drivers side, it now goes to the upper passenger side. I’ll have to go hunting for a hose that works.

Basically. In a nut shell. It wasn’t too bad. Including removing the fan, taping it off and painting, the whole process took about 2  ½ hours. Not too shabby.

Only thing I don’t like… Big bright aluminum radiator in there now. And you can see it through the grill very nicely

[Khyron]

ohh BTW: the car was having the heating issues in part because the original radiator WAS bad, there were quite a few tubes in the core that where cut and soddered  :?

[BrianShaughnessy]

    Cool...  but i think the shiny aluminum radiator thru the grill looks cool.   

Does your thermostat housing just go striaght up or is it angled off to one side like a chebbie?   

[Khyron]

    Cool...   but i think the shiny aluminum radiator thru the grill looks cool.     

Does your thermostat housing just go striaght up or is it angled off to one side like a chebbie?     

it goes striaght up. I bought a generic flex hose and it was too shore.... buy like 5 inches 

[ChargerRob]

Interesting 

[CB]

mmm, don't see any pics 

oeps, it looks like you're not done yet..Sorry 

[Khyron]

I tryed a few when I was done last night. But it was dark and they look like poop. I'm going to get a few good ones tonight. I'll make sure I get the trannie lines, Battery bracket, and some odds and ends. Only thing i'm having a hard time with is figureing out were to put the catch bottle I got. Don't want to pee antifreeze on th eground.

[BigBlockSam]

it might not look stock but all your overheating issues should go away. its alot more fun to drive your charger when you don't have to keep one eye on the temp gauge.  Rene

[Wakko]

You can probably paint the front of the radiator with radiator black paint.

[Charger_Fan]

it might not look stock but all your overheating issues should go away. its alot more fun to drive your charger when you don't have to keep one eye on the temp gauge.   Rene

It'll be great for the peace of mind!

[Silver R/T]

any pics of the setup. i would've relocated battery to the trunk, clean up engine bay a little

[Khyron]

any pics of the setup. i would've relocated battery to the trunk, clean up engine bay a little

I'll try to get some pics tonight or early tommorow. I only had to move it a half an inch, nothing drastic.

[CB]

Any pics yet?
thx 

[Khyron]

heheh sorry, been working on the boat

here are the pics of the radiator. Trannie lines, and battery tray.

I still have some cleanup work to do, ignore the dirty engine

[Khyron]

battery tray.

one mor ething, if you have a small bloack, and use this radiator, your hose will not work and the hose for a big block is too short. I used a flex hose with a turn in it. here is the part number and how it looks in there. hope it helps someone.

[Khyron]

and not sure if I like the radiator through the grill. may have to grow on me bacuase I don't want to paint it.

[BrianShaughnessy]

Woot!   

[Wakko]

So you're not going to use a shroud?  I'd paint it black if it were me, but you gotta use radiator paint.

[Khyron]

I'm planning on useing a shroud. I just never had one to reuse. gotta find one now that will work on it the fan is a bit off center. are the big block shouds off center?

[Wakko]

No, not really.  Here's out of the YO catalog:



And for the 22" radiator



Oddly, I have a small radiator in my car but have the shroud on the top attached to it.  It looks factory. 

[Khyron]

that bottem one looks like it may be the ticket.

[Wakko]

What's the width on the radiator?

[CB]

looks like a nice job.thanks for the pics. I wouldn't mind the aluminum look.

Yesterday I took out the Charger for the last time before the radiator complete broke down.
In a few days it will be rebuild (to factory look but with modern cores) with new hoses. So it's just a 'real' bolt in. 

[Khyron]

What's the width on the radiator?

it's a 22 inch radiation.

Radiator Style: Crossflow
Row Quantity: Dual-row
Radiator Finish: Natural
Radiator Material: Aluminum
Transmission Cooler: Yes
Tube Size: 1 in.
Core Height (in): 17.375
Core Width (in): 22.375
Core Thickness (in): 2.25
Fan Included: No
Notes: Inlet is driver side, outlet is passenger side.

[BigBlackDodge]

How about just painting the area that shows through the grill black and leave the engine bay side alum.......................too ghetto?

BBD