Posted By: John_M
Truck Rad in A-Body - 09/02/11 09:31 PM
I am replacing the /6 with a small block in an A-Body. Will a Dodge truck rad fir in an A-body. Thanks.
Truck Rad in A-Body
Posted By: Supercuda
Re: Truck Rad in A-Body - 09/02/11 10:23 PM
Dodge has been building trucks for almost 90 years.
Not all of them will fit, some of them will and some can be made to fit.
Care to narrow our choices down some?
Not all of them will fit, some of them will and some can be made to fit.
Care to narrow our choices down some?
Posted By: Valiant_Showoff
Re: Truck Rad in A-Body - 09/02/11 10:39 PM
Not sure what A-body you have, but I have an early 90's V-8 Dakota radiator in my 63 Valiant. Works & fits great.
Posted By: RapidRobert
Re: Truck Rad in A-Body - 09/02/11 11:13 PM
Quote:Good 2 hear as I have a 65 dart & need a rad. How many cores is it?
I have an early 90's V-8 Dakota radiator in my 63 Valiant. Works & fits great.
Posted By: John_M
Re: Truck Rad in A-Body - 09/03/11 12:35 PM
Thanks and sorry guys. The A-body I am looking to replace the rad in is a 74 Duster. I can't narrow down the choices in trucks because it just occurred to me that since truck engines, transmissions, and rear-ends often end up in A-bodies that maybe a truck rad could be adapted to fit as well. I guess I was hoping to hear someone's experience similar to Valiant_Showoff's where a certain truck's rad worked in an A-body like mine.
I guess the 74 Duster rad mounting area would be different than a 63 Valiant?
I guess the 74 Duster rad mounting area would be different than a 63 Valiant?
Posted By: 79powerwagon
Re: Truck Rad in A-Body - 09/03/11 12:48 PM
Isn't the only think you need is a tape measure? 
And are you looking at truck rads because you have access to some used ones (always a bad idea if several years old unless you are going to re-core right away), or are you under the impression it will cool better (not always the best assumption)?
And if it's a cooling issue you are trying to resolve, what is your specific troubles?
And are you looking at truck rads because you have access to some used ones (always a bad idea if several years old unless you are going to re-core right away), or are you under the impression it will cool better (not always the best assumption)?
And if it's a cooling issue you are trying to resolve, what is your specific troubles?
Posted By: Valiant_Showoff
Re: Truck Rad in A-Body - 09/03/11 12:54 PM
Quote:Quote:Good 2 hear as I have a 65 dart & need a rad. How many cores is it?
I have an early 90's V-8 Dakota radiator in my 63 Valiant. Works & fits great.
2-row with plastic tanks. inlet on the drivers side / outlet on the passenger side. Nothing fancy as far as a fan. Just a generic 18" flex fan with a junk yard shroud that I customized to fit around the tranny cooler.
I run it a ton on the street and it cools perfectly. 150 when cruising. 180 tops when in stop & go traffic in town.
It mounted very easily. The mounting pegs on the bottom of the radiator sit in 2 1/4
holes drilled into the inner front pan. I used the upper rubber mounts by drilling 1/4" hole in the core support and sleeving a long bolt to the right depth to get the radiator to stand exactly plumb. I opened up the opening of the core support about 3" to take full advantage of the radiator width, but it wouldn't have to be done. The radiator side flanges fit into small slot (1/16" wide) that I made in the folded over seam/lip on the frame rails. I could have ground down the radiator flanges to fit between the frame lips, but the snug notches work great as support points.
Hard to see in pictures with the car being black, but I'll see if I can shoot some for you.
Posted By: gdonovan
Re: Truck Rad in A-Body - 09/03/11 01:42 PM
Quote:
Thanks and sorry guys. The A-body I am looking to replace the rad in is a 74 Duster.
I purchased a 67 Dart and it had a Mopar truck rad from the 80's in it I think, looked stock.
I'll get the part number off it this afternoon.
Posted By: John_M
Re: Truck Rad in A-Body - 09/03/11 01:46 PM
Quote:
Isn't the only think you need is a tape measure?
And are you looking at truck rads because you have access to some used ones (always a bad idea if several years old unless you are going to re-core right away), or are you under the impression it will cool better (not always the best assumption)?
And if it's a cooling issue you are trying to resolve, what is your specific troubles?
Sighhhhh...
I don't have a truck rad to measure and compare.
Used or new rads are not part of the question.
I didn't say I was under any impressions about cooling performance.
I didn't say I was trying to resolve any cooling issues.
I am simply trying to find out if anyone here has experience using a Mopar truck rad in a 70s A-body. If someone has done so, like Valiant_Showoff has with his 63 Valiant, then maybe they would be kind enough to share their experience - good or bad.
Posted By: gdonovan
Re: Truck Rad in A-Body - 09/03/11 01:56 PM
Quote:
I am simply trying to find out if anyone here has experience using a Mopar truck rad in a 70s A-body. If someone has done so, like Valiant_Showoff has with his 63 Valiant, then maybe they would be kind enough to share their experience - good or bad.
Here is a picture of mine, 74 has the same bay as my 67.
Posted By: RapidRobert
Re: Truck Rad in A-Body - 09/03/11 02:21 PM
Quote:Your descrip ans my Q's. Thanks bro
Hard to see in pictures with the car being black, but I'll see if I can shoot some for you.
Posted By: 79powerwagon
Re: Truck Rad in A-Body - 09/03/11 02:31 PM
Quote:
Sighhhhh...
So, your question is simply intellectual pursuit, then. OK.
Yes, any radiator will fit into any car, no matter of when they were manufactured, or who manufactured them. The question then becomes "How much work do you want to do to get it accomplished?".
Posted By: JohnRR
Re: Truck Rad in A-Body - 09/03/11 02:46 PM
Quote:Quote:
Sighhhhh...
So, your question is simply intellectual pursuit, then. OK.
Yes, any radiator will fit into any car, no matter of when they were manufactured, or who manufactured them. The question then becomes "How much work do you want to do to get it accomplished?".
Posted By: gdonovan
Re: Truck Rad in A-Body - 09/03/11 02:48 PM
The one from my dart is 4140645 which fits a number of Dodge trucks over the years. Doing a quick look about the 'net shows interchange from 1976-1990
Looked to be pretty much a drop in with only 2 bolts moved to different spots.
Looked to be pretty much a drop in with only 2 bolts moved to different spots.
Posted By: JohnRR
Re: Truck Rad in A-Body - 09/03/11 02:49 PM
Quote:
The one from my dart is 4140645 which fits a number of Dodge trucks over the years. Doing a quick look about the 'net shows interchange from 1976-1990
Was it a BOLT IN ??? I have a feeling this is what he is after ...
Posted By: gdonovan
Re: Truck Rad in A-Body - 09/03/11 02:54 PM
Quote:Quote:
The one from my dart is 4140645 which fits a number of Dodge trucks over the years. Doing a quick look about the 'net shows interchange from 1976-1990
Was it a BOLT IN ??? I have a feeling this is what he is after ...
The poster does use the word adapted in later post.
About as close to a bolt in as you are going to get, hoses are even in the right spot (73+ water pump of course)
Posted By: Supercuda
Re: Truck Rad in A-Body - 09/03/11 02:55 PM
When I was looking for a radiator for my 87 Diplomat I looked thru the radiator manufacturer's online catalogs that gave pictures and dimensions.
That allowed me to run an 87 truck rad in the Diploma, bigger core, my shroud bolted right up.
That allowed me to run an 87 truck rad in the Diploma, bigger core, my shroud bolted right up.
Posted By: John_M
Re: Truck Rad in A-Body - 09/03/11 03:25 PM
Quote:Quote:
Sighhhhh...
So, your question is simply intellectual pursuit, then. OK.
You have to be kidding me right? Intellectual puruit?
Try reading my statements again:
"Will a Dodge truck rad fit in an A-body?"
"I was hoping to hear someone's experience similar to Valiant_Showoff's where a certain truck's rad worked in an A-body like mine."
"I am simply trying to find out if anyone here has experience using a Mopar truck rad in a 70s A-body. If someone has done so, like Valiant_Showoff has with his 63 Valiant, then maybe they would be kind enough to share their experience - good or bad."
Quote:
Yes, any radiator will fit into any car, no matter of when they were manufactured, or who manufactured them. The question then becomes "How much work do you want to do to get it accomplished?".
Yes you can fit any wheel, any driveshaft, any hood, any steering wheel, any transmission, any engine, just about any damn thing at at all into any car as long as you work at it! What is your point? Is this your attempt at "intellectual" condescension?
Like I said, I am hoping for those who have had experience with this to share that experience. Obviously you have nothing to share.
Posted By: John_M
Re: Truck Rad in A-Body - 09/03/11 03:32 PM
Quote:
The one from my dart is 4140645 which fits a number of Dodge trucks over the years. Doing a quick look about the 'net shows interchange from 1976-1990
Looked to be pretty much a drop in with only 2 bolts moved to different spots.
Thank you very much for taking the time GD. Very much appreciated!
Posted By: gdonovan
Re: Truck Rad in A-Body - 09/03/11 03:43 PM
Quote:Quote:
The one from my dart is 4140645 which fits a number of Dodge trucks over the years. Doing a quick look about the 'net shows interchange from 1976-1990
Looked to be pretty much a drop in with only 2 bolts moved to different spots.
Thank you very much for taking the time GD. Very much appreciated!
No problem, if you need I can take a picture of the front with width & height along with the bolt locations.
I'm keeping it in the car when it goes back together, call me silly but I like the Mopar part number and pentastar in the upper tank.. The whole car will have parts from various Mopars ranging from '66 all the way to '98!
Posted By: John_M
Re: Truck Rad in A-Body - 09/03/11 03:48 PM
Quote:Quote:
Thank you very much for taking the time GD. Very much appreciated!
No problem, if you need I can take a picture of the front with width & height along with the bolt locations.
I'm keeping it in the car when it goes back together, call me silly but I like the Mopar part number and pentastar in the upper tank.. The whole car will have parts from various Mopars ranging from '66 all the way to '98!
I'd appreciate you taking that picture because I am sure there are others who may also be interested.
And I think its great that you are able to use parts from various Mopars. Very cool. Thanks again.
Posted By: John_M
Re: Truck Rad in A-Body - 09/03/11 04:18 PM
Quote:
When I was looking for a radiator for my 87 Diplomat I looked thru the radiator manufacturer's online catalogs that gave pictures and dimensions.
That allowed me to run an 87 truck rad in the Diploma, bigger core, my shroud bolted right up.
Thanks Supercuda, that's being resourceful.
Posted By: gdonovan
Re: Truck Rad in A-Body - 09/03/11 04:25 PM
Quote:
I'd appreciate you taking that picture because I am sure there are others who may also be interested.
Far as I'm concerned the best use of the internet is so people can share information, mistakes and successes.
I'd much rather learn from other people mistakes than make my own 8-p
BTW- This was in a Dart with a 360LA heads, headers and a fairly lumpy cam with a clutch fan and had no overheating issues.
Posted By: John_M
Re: Truck Rad in A-Body - 09/03/11 04:34 PM
That's a great picture GD. I see front flange to back of core is 2.25". Do you estimate the core itself to be about 2" thick. Thanks.
Posted By: Valiant_Showoff
Re: Truck Rad in A-Body - 09/03/11 04:38 PM
Quote:Quote:Your descrip ans my Q's. Thanks bro
Hard to see in pictures with the car being black, but I'll see if I can shoot some for you.
Glad to help.
Posted By: gdonovan
Re: Truck Rad in A-Body - 09/03/11 04:42 PM
Quote:
That's a great picture GD. I see front flange to back of core is 2.25". Do you estimate the core itself to be about 2" thick. Thanks.
That would be about right.
Posted By: KnuckleDuster
Re: Truck Rad in A-Body - 01/09/12 11:43 PM
Saw this thread and I just replaced the 4140645 in my truck with a CU959 from rock auto (plastic tanks - yuck,but lighter and functional,and it is not a show truck,so in it went)...
...anyway I had the OE laying in my shop and I picked up a shroud out a Ramcharger on my last junkyard run (p/n 4089574).They both dropped right in,but just barely.Looks like the only issues are that you will have to drill two holes in the driver's side bracket on the radiator and two in your core support on the passenger side,trans lines are 14" apart instead of 10",and the bracket may interfere with some factory accesories mounted to the passenger side core support.I don't have my horn mounted yet and have a non-factory overflow bottle so you will need to check.
I measured an overall height of 22 5/8" without the neck or cap (vs 22 1/4" on my 22" radiator),I didn't have any hood clearance issues,and width from the edges of the brackets was 30 1/2"
Just thought I'd share the info.
I'm looking to run a 26" core in my Duster because I want to use my clutch fan and a shroud.
I'm also considering ordering a Champion CC374 3 row from member Craig but the information I have so far is that it's an inch too tall.He has been extremely helpful and I'm hoping he might be able bend an ear at Champion and get them to make them more of a bolt in deal for a bodies.
...anyway I had the OE laying in my shop and I picked up a shroud out a Ramcharger on my last junkyard run (p/n 4089574).They both dropped right in,but just barely.Looks like the only issues are that you will have to drill two holes in the driver's side bracket on the radiator and two in your core support on the passenger side,trans lines are 14" apart instead of 10",and the bracket may interfere with some factory accesories mounted to the passenger side core support.I don't have my horn mounted yet and have a non-factory overflow bottle so you will need to check.
I measured an overall height of 22 5/8" without the neck or cap (vs 22 1/4" on my 22" radiator),I didn't have any hood clearance issues,and width from the edges of the brackets was 30 1/2"
Just thought I'd share the info.
I'm looking to run a 26" core in my Duster because I want to use my clutch fan and a shroud.
I'm also considering ordering a Champion CC374 3 row from member Craig but the information I have so far is that it's an inch too tall.He has been extremely helpful and I'm hoping he might be able bend an ear at Champion and get them to make them more of a bolt in deal for a bodies.