Ginja
Well-Known Member
I'm looking for advice. My radiator has an unrepairable top tank so I've been looking for a new one. The current one is a Chrysler but is non stock, its much taller and the lower hose is on the passenger side. The pipe as been cut for it to fit, along with the lower radiator support flange. I figured I needed new hoses and a new rad to get back to something resembling stock. Then today I realised that the pump housing inlet (the lower one) from the engine is on the passenger side which is contrary to most 383's. The engine is not original to the car, it is a Feb 1966 block in a 1969 Coronet Superbee tribute. It was a 318 with a/c from the factory.
My main question is 'what do I have', i.e. why is the inlet routed differently? Secondly, I'm trying to replace broken stuff with things that are the 'right' parts for its year. Not for originality or value purposes, just so it is easy to identify and replace parts, rather than it being a mongrel built from whatever was lying about.
I'm in the UK so I need to get the right bits first time. I think my options either to replace the pump housing so it routes to the drivers side and therefore get a 'normal' setup, or would I be better simply getting a new top tank built for my existing setup (I've been quoted the same cost as a new imported US Radiator standard BB 26"). Is changing the housing a big job, are there other knock on effects, or is it on the other side for a more fundamental reason?
While the radiator is clearly leaking the only reason I'm really looking to fix it is that the starter motor started eating itself, as it has Hooker headers the coolant came out when removing them to get to the starter. I've also had to replace boots on the pitman arm and tie rod end as the linkage had to be dropped and so I've also taken the opportunity to replace the engine mounts. I also broke a plug wire removing it from the plugs and so they are being changed, along with the plugs themselves. I suspect this isn't the end of my jobs before I get the thing running again! Oh, and I know I need RTV on the bolts to put the headers back, I already have new gaskets but realise the bolts won't hold the coolant on their own.
My main question is 'what do I have', i.e. why is the inlet routed differently? Secondly, I'm trying to replace broken stuff with things that are the 'right' parts for its year. Not for originality or value purposes, just so it is easy to identify and replace parts, rather than it being a mongrel built from whatever was lying about.
I'm in the UK so I need to get the right bits first time. I think my options either to replace the pump housing so it routes to the drivers side and therefore get a 'normal' setup, or would I be better simply getting a new top tank built for my existing setup (I've been quoted the same cost as a new imported US Radiator standard BB 26"). Is changing the housing a big job, are there other knock on effects, or is it on the other side for a more fundamental reason?
While the radiator is clearly leaking the only reason I'm really looking to fix it is that the starter motor started eating itself, as it has Hooker headers the coolant came out when removing them to get to the starter. I've also had to replace boots on the pitman arm and tie rod end as the linkage had to be dropped and so I've also taken the opportunity to replace the engine mounts. I also broke a plug wire removing it from the plugs and so they are being changed, along with the plugs themselves. I suspect this isn't the end of my jobs before I get the thing running again! Oh, and I know I need RTV on the bolts to put the headers back, I already have new gaskets but realise the bolts won't hold the coolant on their own.
