Heads-up on Vick's new radiator - fitment issue on early cars

[tdskip]

Here is what I posted on the vendor forum;

Hi, have had a good experience with you but wanted to report an issue with your Radiator NEW 1968-73, Fiat 124 - (SKU 11-2316). The mounting brackets are flush with the radiator core whereas the original has brackets that extend 1/2+ inch deeper to where they meet the body of the car.

You cannot mount this radiator, at least in a 1968 without cutting the body or cutting and welding the radiator as it ships.

No idea if there is a problem on later years, but it is a show stopper on a 1968.

Kind of a bummer as this was the final bit of buttoning the car back up to drive today, probably have to get the original radiator re-cored now which is going to take a week. Frustrating...

[aj81spider]

I had a similar problem on my '74 (it was a transition year between the 1800 and the 2000).

It might be quicker and cheaper to cut off the old ears and weld new ones on. That way you can still use the new radiator. That's what I did. I don't weld, so I had to take it to a local shop, but it was only a few dollars and 10 minutes of work.

[tdskip]

Good morning. So this is a known problem and they are still selling them?

[MattVAS]

The 1968 problem is the first I've personally heard of in my 11 years here. And in those 11 years we've only sold this 1 style radiator which has never looked any different. I'm sorry yours isn't fitting the way one would want. As always our parts are returnable.

The 1973-74 transition is not a radiator issue but a lack of units issue. This happens on mostly on 1974 year models and it is that the radiator may be more 1968-73 or may be more 1974-78. We have no way of telling which the car will have unless we own it or see pictures with measurements. The reason that the transition radiator isn't made is that it would basically be just this super low numbers 1974-ish radiator which would fit no other years.

[tdskip]

Hi Matt - good morning and thanks for following up.

I have pictures I am happy to share, let me get them on an imaging sharing site so you can see the issue.

[MattVAS]

Please simply email them to us at info@vickauto.com
We're happy to take a look.

[tdskip]

Pictures sent, thanks Matt.

[aj81spider]

Just for the record I didn't get my radiator from Vicks.

[tdskip]

Just drilled out the mounting brackets that were spot welded to the original radiator. Have then soaking in phosphoric acid and then will weld them up to the new radiator tomorrow.

Matt was very prompt in responding to my email with pictures.

[tdskip]

Just a quick follow up to give credit where due – it looks like the listing on their website has been updated based on this discussion.

Wanted to make sure I pointed that out, thanks again for a professional experience Matt. More orders coming, in the brake caliper kit I got from you guys yesterday looks very nicely done .

[tdskip]

Got the mounting tabs from the original one moved over. Turns out VHT Rollbar & Chassis paint is very-very close the color the new radiator ship with, just a FYI.

[tdskip]

Sigh - found three more issues.

1) the shape of the radiator core is different so if you match the depth of the mounting tabs from the old one and apply that to the new one you will be 1/4-1/2 inch off too far spaced out away from the body.

2) the overflow spout under the radiator cap on the original one comes out at an angle, the new one from Vicks is straight down. I was able to bent it to the side but it started to kink (and obviously isn't good for longevity).

3) the hose lengths and shapes are wrong and will foul the battery tray (rubbing, will accelerate failure of the hose) and would make contact with the alternator

Unless there is really a serious issue with the thermostat in the heads design I would NOT recommend this conversion.

[18Fiatsandcounting]

I'm sorry this hasn't gone smoothly. Some comments on each of your 3 points:

1) I'm not sure I can picture what you're describing. Is the radiator core now closer to the front of the engine, or is there now an air gap between the radiator and the body opening where it mounts, or ?

2) I've seen this before, but usually there is enough flexibility in the overflow hose to connect at pretty much any angle. Or are you using the old hose which is so old that it doesn't bend anymore? If so, try a new hose that is more flexible. There is no pressure on this overflow hose, so it doesn't have to be as thick-walled as the other radiator hoses. It should be appropriate for use with hot coolant of course.

3) Yes, this is an issue on both my '69 (in head thermostat) and my '71 (external 3-neck thermostat). Both have the battery tray in the front, and in both cases, it is very tricky to get the lower radiator hose to clear both the alternator pulley and the lower lip of the battery tray. I just had to keep maneuvering the hose around at different angles, rotations, length of hose overlapping the radiator lower outlet, etc. In one severe case I had to take a 4" piece of old radiator hose, cut a slit lengthwise, and put this over the radiator hose as a protective covering against abrasion from the tray. Used a hose clap or two to hold it in place. Not pretty, but it did work.

-Bryan

[tdskip]

Thanks Bryan;

1) There are subtle differences in the shape of the original OEM radiator versus a replacement one from Vick’s. if you assume, as I did, that the shapes are the same the mounting bracket that comes off the radiator in fits over the stud on the body will locate the radiator too far out.

2) I am using the new hoses that I sourced from Vick as part of this, they are the wrong shape.

3). Any kinks or point of abrasion makes me really nervous in any hoes, on the race cars and off-road endurance stuff that I’ve built that’s always been a major no-no. That said your solution for a low stress street car is obviously fine but I haven’t had to resort to this on any of the other vintage cars that I’ve brought back to life.

I’d be way less annoyed right now if the guidance I got was more along the lines of “it’s possible and has some advantages but it’s going to take a couple hours of custom fitment to make it work and our standard hoses and radiator will need to be modified “ .

That was not, as you probably already suspect, the conversation I had with them.

Ironically this is proving to be more of a hassle than the Lotus Elan I am lightly upgrading and putting back together. Never thought I’d write those words...

[tdskip]

Spent 30 minutes in the back stock room of Autozone and found two hoses that will work.

Dayco #70687 and Dayco 70815 allowed me to locate the hoses away from rubbing, sorry for not making a note on which goes where but one is an s-shape that goes from the thermostat assembly to the passenger side top tee.