Hey y'all,
Well, the SPAL fans and AlumRad brackets are here for our cars, and I'm getting started on seeing how they fit. I don't think Dad's 427 car is going to be a problem, as he still has the older Griffin radiator. However, I'm running into problems with the new radiator in our 289 car.
The new radiator core is only marginally thicker than the older Griffins. However, the aluminum C-channel that runs between the tanks on top and bottom to hold the whole radiator together is MUCH wider. On the engine side of the assembly, the C-channel sticks out a full 5/8" beyond the face of the radiator core itself.
So, has anyone installed the 16" SPAL on a 289 with one of the post-Griffin radiators? (These are the units that do NOT have epoxy bedding sealing the core to the tanks.) I'm dying for a look at some photos of how someone did this.
Here are the big things I can see while somewhat mocking the fan up:
1) I'm probably going to have to have a new upper bracket made without the cutouts found in the AlumRad piece. I thought that the upper bracket would be a slam dunk - bend it to match what Rick used on Juan's car. But, if I bend it at that point, it looks like the fan will hang down a long way below the radiator. So, it looks like I need a bracket with the bend immediately on top of the fan - and will need the extra material to provide mounting holes to bolt to the fiberglass. I can't figure this issue out, as the old & new radiators are identical in height???
2) On the bottom, the fan will overhang the bottom C-channel to some degree no matter what. So, it looks like I'm going to need to cut a section of the C-channel out to let the fan snuggle back in close to the radiator core. Anybody done this? Anybody have alternative ideas???
Alan, have y'all installed a SPAL on any of the cars with the new radiators?
Sorry for sounding desperate with this, but I've been through the archives a dozen times, printing out photos and writeups of various SPAL fan installs. I made cardboard templates up, and was ready to go on this when the fans finally arrived today. Then I got in from work, put the fan in the car for a trial fit, and suddenly NOTHING fit or worked.
Any help you can provide will be greatly, greatly appreciated!
Thanks!!!
One more question I thought of: How is everyone attaching the top bracket to the fiberglass radiator/hood hinge support block? Are you drilling, then using some sort of self-tapping screws???