• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Looking to replace my radiator

Napoleon1991

Well-Known Member
Local time
7:53 AM
Joined
Sep 4, 2016
Messages
164
Reaction score
108
Location
illinois
I need some help with my cooling system. Im looking for a 22" radiator that will cool the 440 in my 65 coronet. I currently have a 7 blade flex fan and a 3 row summit aluminum rad that just isnt cutting it at idle or slow speeds. Im looking to switch to a stock style clutch fan and shroud and a better radiator. Ive done alot of searching, but most of the radiator suppliers list their products as fitting 66 and up cars. Is there a reason that some of these radiators wont fit a 65? Some of the brands im looking at are OER, Griffin & Wizard.
 
1226191356.jpg
Call Bob Schirmer, at Glen-ray Radiators. Never Worry Again. They will give you a Correct look unit, that will out-perform any other...
 
I need some help with my cooling system. Im looking for a 22" radiator that will cool the 440 in my 65 coronet. I currently have a 7 blade flex fan and a 3 row summit aluminum rad that just isnt cutting it at idle or slow speeds. Im looking to switch to a stock style clutch fan and shroud and a better radiator. Ive done alot of searching, but most of the radiator suppliers list their products as fitting 66 and up cars. Is there a reason that some of these radiators wont fit a 65? Some of the brands im looking at are OER, Griffin & Wizard.

Does your next radiator "have" to be a 22"?
What size is your Summit radiator?
What pump are you using?
Stock (crank) pulleys?
I believe the '66-up listings are due to whether the flanges will line up with your core support and bolt up.
I will never forget the time (years ago) I saw a '64 Belvedere at the track with a 440, and when I talked to the owner, he said he ran a Ford radiator. It looked like a 26-ish-sized unit and probably from a full-sized Ford car. He probably had to drill his core support & make that happen. He spoke of it like he solved temp issues, but I digress...
In my '65 Belvedere (avatar), I found a universal replacement Northern radiator, and set up dual SPAL electric fans. It would still get elevated temps in a CA summer traffic jam (215*), but nothing that made me pull over. Cruising temps were around 180-195*.

Are you trying to make it look original? Is this a priority?

I have a feeling you may be able to do something with the radiator you have. Show us some photos of the underhood of your Coronet!
 
I just got a 26 inch Glenn-ray radiator for my 440 Charger and I could not be any happier. I put in a Milodon high volume water pump and a 180 degree thermostat and instead of cringing when I look at my temp gauge I look forward to watching what it is reading. I am in south Florida and it can get hot here and traffic can be brutal. The truth is I would have paid more just to enjoy the peace of mind I have now.
 
Last edited:
Does your next radiator "have" to be a 22"?
What size is your Summit radiator?
What pump are you using?
Stock (crank) pulleys?
I believe the '66-up listings are due to whether the flanges will line up with your core support and bolt up.
I will never forget the time (years ago) I saw a '64 Belvedere at the track with a 440, and when I talked to the owner, he said he ran a Ford radiator. It looked like a 26-ish-sized unit and probably from a full-sized Ford car. He probably had to drill his core support & make that happen. He spoke of it like he solved temp issues, but I digress...
In my '65 Belvedere (avatar), I found a universal replacement Northern radiator, and set up dual SPAL electric fans. It would still get elevated temps in a CA summer traffic jam (215*), but nothing that made me pull over. Cruising temps were around 180-195*.

Are you trying to make it look original? Is this a priority?

I have a feeling you may be able to do something with the radiator you have. Show us some photos of the underhood of your Coronet!
I dont care if it looks original or not. It needs to be a 22" because it cant see how a 26" would fit between the horns and the battery tray.
 
I dont care if it looks original or not. It needs to be a 22" because it cant see how a 26" would fit between the horns and the battery tray.
You have valid points here.....

On my Belvedere, I did have to cut a notch out of my battery tray to clear the left side tank of that Northern Radiator. And I did have to relocate the horns.

This is from A Bodies and just thought I would share it:
https://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/threads/cordoba-radiator-in-72-duster.438916/

And I wanted to share this because I did something very similar to my 383 '68 Dart, but I used a late '80's B250 van radiator with dual electric fans from a modern Charger/Challenger. I spent the time on this one by notching the battery tray, moving the horns and cutting/modifying the mounting brackets to the radiator. Also drilled new holes in the core support, and set-up the electric fans to fit this radiator. I realize this is all probably going in a direction you may not care to pursue, but I'll post pictures if you want to know more. It DID work, and the car runs at normal temperatures in LA traffic in August!

David
 
Sounds like your radiator is good if it maintains temp of 185 while your moving, if your not concerned about stock appearance add a shrouded electric fan for slow moving traffic situations
 
When I had overheating issues on my ’63 Ply, after some motor performance upgrades, I installed a 7 blade fan and OEM shroud. Researching shrouds, found that some of the after-market, just might create more of an issue with cooling – air flow. As such, I decided to locate an OEM for my car. Got a tip to install a top seal over the radiator (it was optional on my car so put this on). I was close to buying a new rad; but doing more reading and some tips, learned that the ratio of anti-freeze to water influences engine temp. A 50/50 mix, normal of course. I reduced the mix to around 25-30% and added a product called ‘water-wetter’. Also more sifting, found that the viscosity of oil impacts engine temp. I was running 20/50 racing oil and my oil pressure was always way high. I changed it out to 10/30 hi-zinc (have solid lifters). All this done I got real nice operating temps all the way around. While I live in WI, the lower anti-freeze ratio didn’t matter since my ride sits in a heated garage and never sees daylight in the cold. As for the oil, an interesting read as some oil guru’s say high-visc racing oil isn’t suggested for street driving – it’s for ‘racing’. There can be exceptions; but the heavier oil retains heat more than does lower visc. Anyway, my oil pressure came down where it should be, and significantly reduced motor temp…so nixed getting a new rad.
 
Sounds like your radiator is good if it maintains temp of 185 while your moving, if your not concerned about stock appearance add a shrouded electric fan for slow moving traffic situations
I have tried different fans both mechanical and electric, shrouded and unshrouded but still have issues sitting in traffic. I would prefer to use a mechanical fan as im not crazy about how noisy the electric ones are.
 
You have valid points here.....

On my Belvedere, I did have to cut a notch out of my battery tray to clear the left side tank of that Northern Radiator. And I did have to relocate the horns.

This is from A Bodies and just thought I would share it:
https://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/threads/cordoba-radiator-in-72-duster.438916/

And I wanted to share this because I did something very similar to my 383 '68 Dart, but I used a late '80's B250 van radiator with dual electric fans from a modern Charger/Challenger. I spent the time on this one by notching the battery tray, moving the horns and cutting/modifying the mounting brackets to the radiator. Also drilled new holes in the core support, and set-up the electric fans to fit this radiator. I realize this is all probably going in a direction you may not care to pursue, but I'll post pictures if you want to know more. It DID work, and the car runs at normal temperatures in LA traffic in August!

David
Thanks for the link. Sounds like its effective. I may have to go that route if nothing else works. I would prefer to use a 22" rad for simplicity but im second guessing the quality of my summit aluminum rad.
 
your fan needs to be a 1/3 out of the shroud for it to work properly.
 
I need some help with my cooling system. Im looking for a 22" radiator that will cool the 440 in my 65 coronet. I currently have a 7 blade flex fan and a 3 row summit aluminum rad that just isnt cutting it at idle or slow speeds. Im looking to switch to a stock style clutch fan and shroud and a better radiator. Ive done alot of searching, but most of the radiator suppliers list their products as fitting 66 and up cars. Is there a reason that some of these radiators wont fit a 65? Some of the brands im looking at are OER, Griffin & Wizard.

With that 3 core radiator if your running 180 - 190 on the road when its hot out I think a fan swap to a oem style clutch or 7 blade fixed plus adding a shroud should cool it down at slow speed and idle. Make sure your hood to rad support seal is good and back of hood to cowl seal also.
make sure you have a good 180 thermostat.
Also do not waste your $ on one of those chrome universal shrouds use a oem style do some measuring and hit the web sights or swap meets.
 
For what it's worth I don't think a new radiator will solve your issues. Definitely sounds like a lack of airflow once the vehicle stops moving. On my big block I'm running a factory 7 blade fan, heavy duty fan clutch from napa for a 1970 hemi coronet, factory style shroud. Fan blades are half in/half out of the shroud. It pulls plenty of air across the radiator and has zero cooling issues at idle. Typically a "lack of radiator" will show up at cruising speed when you know airflow is not the issue....unless your water pump isn't doing its job! ....which could also give you issues at idle too
..
 
Auto Transport Service
Back
Top