Radiator Install Tips - Anyone have some good ideas for mounting FFR rad?

[Gumball]

I have the FFR (ADCO) aluminum radiator and a Breeze fan shroud. I already have the Breeze upper and lower mounting kits, but was wondering if anyone has any tips or tricks to avoid putting stress on the delicate aluminum tanks and tubes. What do you think of the Breeze upper kit with the piano hinge? With this radiator, should I cut-off the two 3" 3/4" tube extensions and mount the radiator flange or the Breeze hinge directly to the full 3/4" cross tube? Will mounting the Breeze hinge to the two 3" stubs cause the bottom of the radiator to hang too low? I would like to use an oil cooler, too, so space may be a consideration.

Thoughts, comments, and sharing of experiences is highly encouraged.

[3kcarbon]

I did a home brew version of the Breeze mount system. The Radiator will hang lower but not enough to be a problem. You could cut off the 3/4 stubs and gain a little but only about 3/4. You will have to change the sheet metal cowl shroud I did my own version of Mike Eversons one piece metal. You may also want to fab up a radiator screen to protect it while you are in the area working.

[Bob Russel]

I went with one of these (in case the url doesn't show, it is breeze part #70551, lower radiator support kit).

http://www.breezeautomotive.com/details.php?prod_id=494

[Pierre B]

As someone who did a radiator installation on the bare chassis first, then replaced the original radiator with body-on, I have a tip that served me well both times. Since I was working alone, I needed help positioning the radiator initially, so I could then secure the anchor points at the top of the unit. I used two mounting straps of the sort that holds my kayak on to my cartop rack. Those are 1-inch or so wide canvas-type straps with a cam buckle at one end. I used two of those to hang the radiator from the top 3/4-inch square horizontal tube on the chassis. Snugging up the belts pulled the radiator into position and held it there.
That same technique worked well in reverse to lower my radiator down and out through the bottom of the chassis at replacement time. (Note: I had used the donor radiator, but it started leaking in fairly short order.) Who would have thought a pair of straps could be a useful building tool?

[webscott]

As someone who did a radiator installation on the bare chassis first, then replaced the original radiator with body-on, I have a tip that served me well both times. Since I was working alone, I needed help positioning the radiator initially, so I could then secure the anchor points at the top of the unit. I used two mounting straps of the sort that holds my kayak on to my cartop rack. Those are 1-inch or so wide canvas-type straps with a cam buckle at one end. I used two of those to hang the radiator from the top 3/4-inch square horizontal tube on the chassis. Snugging up the belts pulled the radiator into position and held it there.
That same technique worked well in reverse to lower my radiator down and out through the bottom of the chassis at replacement time. (Note: I had used the donor radiator, but it started leaking in fairly short order.) Who would have thought a pair of straps could be a useful building tool?

A couple more build uses for my 1" orange HF ratchet straps:
* Roll bar installation and removal, when you need to massage the curve to seat/release them from frame supports.
* Gas tank - strap on each end to pull/hold it up in place for mounting/fitting; really useful when doing drop trunk mods.
* Adjusting the front 3/4" frame outriggers for body alignment (hook to eye on front of round tube and loop around front body mount plate of the side you want to move - ratchet-click precision)

[cgundermann]

Just finished mounting mine and I used Breeze's upper/lower mounts and fan shroud. I did remove the original mounting tabs and Rusteolium Black matches FFR's powder coat. You want to make sure you have sufficient offset/clearance for clamping the top coolant tube (used Gates thermoplastic couplers since it was tight). I have my bottom mounts clamped so when I mount the body I can adjust to perfect degree (Breeze calls for 51 degrees, but you can still adjust).