65 Chevelle Heavy Duty radiator Spacer [Archive] - Chevelle Tech

: 65 Chevelle Heavy Duty radiator Spacer


WThanel
Jun 9th, 00, 8:59 AM
This is the rest of the 65 Chevelle Heavy Duty radiator Spacer.

I got my original 65 Chevelle Heavy Duty radiator as used in the air car back from the radiator shop yesterday.
After closer examination of the radiator to spacer fit problem I discovered the extra v8 spacer I had laying around was slightly bent, causing the problem.
Lessons Learned:

1) The 65 Chevelle air and non air small block v8 cars require a radiator spacer, if you use the factory style radiator.

2) The radiator spacer is the same for air and non air cars or cars using the Factory Heavy Duty radiator.

3) Mattsons Radiator shop in Stanton CA does really nice work. I would recommend them for any custom or Radiator rebuilding.
Very prompt and fair prices too. Plus they power coat the radiator when finished.

4) If you use the 66 Big Block plastic/fiberglass fan shroud with the 65 small block heavy duty radiator a little work/fabrication is required to make it work. But this makes for a really nice small block setup when finished.

5) Moving the upper Hose nipple from the passenger side to the drivers side helps the cooling of the radiator especially at idle. According to Mattsons Chevy found this out and did this on later models. Although not original I did this to my radiator and used the aftermarket swivel type hose fitting on the intake manifold with a trimmed 66 BB upper hose. This seemed to work fairly well and looks clean.

Bill

Philip
Jun 9th, 00, 8:50 PM
Bill thanks for the info on this. I have 3 of these spacers and wondered about them being the same for AC & non AC cars. I also had my radiator converted to the drivers side upper connection. I didn't realize it would cool better, it just fit with the long water pump set up I am going to use when the 406 goes in.

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Philip Valentine
Gold Member #42
Under Construction Car & Page (http://www.citlink.net/~bowtie)