Guys and Gals-----I am doing the Radiator which is the last major part of this coversion. Below are pics depicting what I am doing. Criterion--#1 mount the radiator so it does not break up because I am using ridgid motor mounts.#2 set myself an adiquate+ baseline cooling system platform to meet the needs of the Btu output of the motor. In that order.
Because of the anticipated vibration potential I am not really mounting the radiator in the common sence of the word but am positioning it securly in a non-vibratory isolated manner. A fancy term for rubber grommets. But in this case silicone molding. By using this technique I am assured exact mating of the surface to be positioned and the surface it will be positioned to. Did I say exact? I ment absolute. This is only the top pad for now but I am going for the push forward/ lift out removal. My radiator cap is just right.
High_Horse
More pics............
Pic...........By the way I refer to this technique as Zooping..............................NOT!!!!!!!
(http://www.fordpinto.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=2575.0;attach=2705;image)
What is the copper tubing? Or is that on the floor of the garage?
I was going to mention this Glassman but you beat me to the punch. What you see there is a hand made custom fit transmissin cooler. It is mounted to a 1/2 inch length of copper tubing that is flattened at both ends and secured to the two front bumper mounts. It lays against what I am using for a front lower spoiler. The spoiler is off of a 89 chevy celebrity (hope no zoop for that) that my buddy was towing off when I saw it. The louvers on this spoiler are an almost indistinguishable match to the radiator louvers on the 77 grill and slant back at the same angle. Here are some pics. I could not get a better shot because I could not get far enough back. For now.
Pics of front spoiler...................
Well I continue to push forward. This silicone molding process can be painstakingly slow and tedious. The top channel inner mold was fairly simple but did require two coats to compensate for me never doing this before and not tucking my ceran wrap in adequatly enough. The bottom has had three coats so far because I am constructing an enveloping mold and it will require some more. By the by...It takes about three days+ for the mold to harden. Additional coats harden in one day enough to pull the wrap away to expose it to air. Ok........The Pics below show my bottom mold after the third coat and I just removed the radiator and peeled back the wrap. It has not been trimmed yet. The two black rectangles are the rubber supports I used for vertical positioning. Also, Is a pick of the lower water spout change that I did. This is a stock v6 radiator.
Pic of the lower radiator spout change..........
And finally the upper radiator spout.....I am getting closer and closer to startup.
Hey High Horse,
It is hard to see in the photo.
What exactly are you molding with the silicone???
The Rad. looks R.A.D.!!!!!!!
From Pintony
I am actually molding upper and lower radiator mounts. The lower looks kind of rough cause it is not trimmed but the upper is proving to be primo. Look at the pics at the top again. There is a white thing laying across the top frame channel and then the second pic shows it in the channel. The third pic shows the silicone mold between the radiator and channel. It is an excellant way of getting an exact mount positioning grommet without superglueing layers of rubber together.
I got the radiator in and mounted and the cooling fans mounted. This radiator is bedded into two silicone molds. Top and bottom. Although there is only about 3/8th of an inch between the core and the pulley bolt haeds I can still pull it out from the top by removing the two retainer bolts on either side of the top tank. Shown as well is the bottom mount. It is a slip fit.
Core/Pulley clearence........
THAT"S JUST TOO CLOSE!!!!
Did you use solid motor mounts??? ;D
From Pintony
Yes, it is close. I am using solid mounts. They are pictured in "Projects". I realize that rigid mounts will make more vibration. But, Concidering the spacing I was given I did not want this engine moving at all till I have a chance to see where it wants to go. I am really looking forward to compareing notes with other v8 installers to see what they did now that I have experienced it.