26" 054 Radiators?

[694spdRT]

Thanks Gene

Not sure I want to pull the radiator though. I am checking it out tonight.

Ty

[694spdRT]

Blowing the dust off this thread.

Galen Govier stopped by our shop today as he was passing through town and we talked about the radiator. My radiator has a March 1969 build date so he thought that would be a little early for July built car. 

He also helped out by pointing out a few other details I can correct if I want to. 

[hemigeno]

I don't know about that date code advice you got there from Galen, Ty...

My Daytona's radiator is original to the car, and it is dated February 27th (58th day of 1969).  While the build date on my car is "technically" June 9th, several of us have surmised that the car could have been built the third (or even the fourth) week of June.  In other words, not too long before your car's scheduled build date.

Based on that spacing, your March radiator is spot-on.

Date codes are not an exact science, that's for sure.  At least you got to talk to "the man, the myth, the legend" himself!!  So what other "details" did he point out needed work?  Gotta be small details, as nice as your car is...

[694spdRT]

To tell you the truth I was actually happy it was March after reading your previous post.  He had told me prior to finding the March date code that only Super Trac Pak cars got the 054 radiator so it was an uphill battle from the start. 

I guess the front bumperettes are supposed to be the taller ones that wrap above the bumper too. Never paid any attention to that before so I need to check my originals. Also my pie tin should be red, the ground strap is on the wrong bolt, and the radiator coolant sticker changed in mid '69 from reading Chrysler to something else. 

[694spdRT]

Gene

I checked what #'s I think Galen read off my radiator and they are on the passenger side of the radiator right where the horns are located. You can read the numbers 1029 very clearly with the radiator in the car. However, they do NOT look like the same font as your's, they appear to be in a different place, and there is no "-" at all seperating the digits.

Are these correct #'s. It would put the date code at April 12th(which was a Saturday) and that doesn't explain why Galen said March either unless he just added wrong.

Thanks

[gtx6970]

Just in case it hasen't been answered already 054 is 3 row - 055 is a 2 row. Otherwise no difference.
054 is for axle pkg or max cooling car.

example
1969 GTX 440 4 spd 3.54 dana ( standard driveline on a 69 GTX ) . With out disc brakes or other driveline upgrades = 055 ( I had one )
Add the track pak pkg (which upgrades to the disc brakes for the ft gets you the 054

A12 car as an example is an axle pkg (4.10 but ft drum brakes ) car - so it gets the 054

Make sense ?

[694spdRT]

Just in case it hasen't been answered already 054 is 3 row - 055 is a 2 row. Otherwise no difference.
054 is for axle pkg or max cooling car.

example
1969 GTX 440 4 spd 3.54 dana ( standard driveline on a 69 GTX ) . With out disc brakes or other driveline upgrades = 055 ( I had one )
Add the track pak pkg (which upgrades to the disc brakes for the ft gets you the 054

A12 car as an example is an axle pkg (4.10 but ft drum brakes ) car - so it gets the 054

Make sense ?

This has been discussed at length. The question some of us have is whether A33 Trac Pak cars could have came down the line with 054 radiator's even though 055 is on the broadcast sheet.  

[69CoronetRT]

Let's see if this matrix works:


                  440       440       426
                 no AC     AC       Hemi
Auto
3.23            053      055        054
3.55           055?     054?       054
4.10            054      054        054

Manual
3.54           055       XXX        054
4.10           054       XXX        054


Does this look right?  The only ones I'm not fairly confident of are the 3.55 gears on a 440 car...  Input?

It depends....throw the Towing package into the mix too. LOL (054 standard with A35)

I have a Daytona 440/auto with 3.55 gears BS that codes 054. I'll see what else I can find later.

[hemigeno]

The latest &update to the "matrix"  (thanks again, Doug!):

                 440       440       426
                 no AC     AC       Hemi
Auto
3.23            053*    055        054
3.55            054      054        054
4.10            054      XXX        054

Manual
3.54           055       XXX        054
4.10           054       XXX        054

*054 if equipped with the A35 Trailer Tow Package

That should cover all the bases I can think of (for an R/T anyway). 

[hemi68charger]

Hey, sorry to bring this thread back from the grave, but...... What's the difference between the large font versus small font 054's? I have a choice in radiators with the '69 Charger 500 A32 car I'm getting.....

Troy

[maxwellwedge]

Hey, sorry to bring this thread back from the grave, but...... What's the difference between the large font versus small font 054's? I have a choice in radiators with the '69 Charger 500 A32 car I'm getting.....

Troy

The general consensus is the large font was early and later cars like Daytona's and A12's had the small font.

[hemi68charger]

Hey, sorry to bring this thread back from the grave, but...... What's the difference between the large font versus small font 054's? I have a choice in radiators with the '69 Charger 500 A32 car I'm getting.....

Troy

The general consensus is the large font was early and later cars like Daytona's and A12's had the small font.

Ahhh, Ok Jim.. Then I guess I need to make sure I get the large font with the C500...

[maxwellwedge]

The best bet, if you can, go by the date code regardless of font size.  

Added - They used both font sizes early (different vendors) but the predominant font on the late rads was the smaller type. So, again, pick a date that works for your 500.

[hemi68charger]

The best bet, if you can, go by the date code regardless of font size.  

Added - They used both font sizes early (different vendors) but the predominant font on the late rads was the smaller type. So, again, pick a date that works for your 500.

You are correct Jim.. I'll reference Geno's pictures and see where the date code is again.... I'll have Pete check it for me......   

[maxwellwedge]

The best bet, if you can, go by the date code regardless of font size.  

Added - They used both font sizes early (different vendors) but the predominant font on the late rads was the smaller type. So, again, pick a date that works for your 500.

You are correct Jim.. I'll reference Geno's pictures and see where the date code is again.... I'll have Pete check it for me......   

AB - Usually on the side bracket, passenger side - can be seen from the engine compartment if you don't need glasses (like me). 

Have you figured out "AB" yet? 

[69_500]

Hey Troy, does he have 2 of the 054 radiators? I need one too. My 500 was missing its when I bought it. I looked at a nice NOS one a few weeks ago but couldn't bring myself to spend $2,200 for one even though it was dated for October 1968.

[hemigeno]

Resurrecting an old thread here, I know - but a separate discussion about the meaning of Build Code N51 "Max Cooling" prompted me to generate a more comprehensive matrix showing radiator, fan and spacer combinations for 1969 440 & Hemi B-bodies.  Once again, expert research assistance provided by Doug (69CoronetRT)