[xk49]

I bought my car restored I'm still wading through what is what on the car. .I've had some cooling problems so I did some research and asked some questions and came to conclusion to get the missing radiator spacer and clutch fan, which would have been stock on a 327. I got a used spacer recently, but I don't think it will mount to my radiator. My current radiator mounts to the core support in the stock holes.with no modifications. Looks like an old radiator, just restored. It's the three core radiator which my understanding was a HD option. I was just about to undertake the installation of the spacer and clutch fan and realize the radiator won't mount up to spacer as is.

Was there two types of spacers?

I've attached two pictures of radiator supports. You can see one has a recessed mount(first picture) and the other has a flush mount(second picture). The recessed one is the more common one I find pictures of so I'm assuming the stock one? Here's a link to a discussion about the topic

Cold Case Is Here To Help!

64-67 small block radiators did not mount directly to the core support, not sure if the big block ones did. P

www.chevelles.com

My radiator mount would not mount to a recessed spacer, it currently mounts flush to the core support. Do I have a non-64-67 radiator? (my radiator in third picture).

Here's a quote from another thread, as there are some debates of what engine recieved what radiator/spacer:

"Verle is correct. All small block V8 65 Chevelles got the radiator spacer, regardless of whether it was std radiator or HD radiator, regardless of whether it was AC or non-AC, and regardless of whether it was a clutch fan or a fixed-blade fan. So to answer the original question, yes you need the spacer."

I'm assuming 64's are the same?

:



"

 

[mark f]

The spacer you show looks just like the one on my 65.

 

[Malibu ss 64]

Hard to see but I think you have a 66-67 radiator. Afaik 64/65 has the inlet(top tank) on passenger side. 66-67 it was changed to driver side.

 

[Kirk's67SS]

The First Pic looks like my SBC 67 Original 2 Row Core Rad and Spacer

 

[xk49]

I'm going with that I do not have right year 3 core for a 64 chevelle. Though every thing I've read said 64-67 had a spacer for a SBC, I'm not convinced all spacers are the same, as seen from the pictures I first posted. Maybe people are using spacers from other chevy's IE. Bel Air, impalas? All I know at this point is the spacer I have will not fit my radiator as is.

I'm always up for a challenge AND I don't want to invest into a new period correct radiator just to match the spacer I have, I think I'm going to attempt my first metal fab project. Tell me if I'm crazy, but all I'm going to do is remove the half inch protrusion on the radiator spacer so my radiator will sit flush against the spacer. The other alternative is to not modify it but to put some bolt offset spacers between the radiator mount and the radiator spacer, though this would leave a gap around the sides of where the radiator meets the radiator spacer(top and bottom will be flush). This would also allow me to source a year correct radiator in the future without getting a new spacer again. I do like the all stock idea, but I have a feeling I'll be upgrading other stuff anyways(tubular A arms, etc.), so why not just cut it.

I've confirmed the mounting holes on the radiator I have will line up with the spacer.

The red lines in the picture is where I plan on cutting it. Since I'm pretty sure my cutting and grinding skills will be pretty amateurish, I'll dress up the edges with some high temp edge trim, which is a good idea anyways as that will better seal up the two pieces ensuring more air is being pulled through the radiator.

 

[Kirk's67SS]

I'm going with that I do not have right year 3 core for a 64 chevelle. Though every thing I've read said 64-67 had a spacer for a SBC, I'm not convinced all spacers are the same, as seen from the pictures I first posted. Maybe people are using spacers from other chevy's IE. Bel Air, impalas? All I know at this point is the spacer I have will not fit my radiator as is.

I'm always up for a challenge AND I don't want to invest into a new period correct radiator just to match the spacer I have, I think I'm going to attempt my first metal fab project. Tell me if I'm crazy, but all I'm going to do is remove the half inch protrusion on the radiator spacer so my radiator will sit flush against the spacer. The other alternative is to not modify it but to put some bolt offset spacers between the radiator mount and the radiator spacer, though this would leave a gap around the sides of where the radiator meets the radiator spacer(top and bottom will be flush). This would also allow me to source a year correct radiator in the future without getting a new spacer again. I do like the all stock idea, but I have a feeling I'll be upgrading other stuff anyways(tubular A arms, etc.), so why not just cut it.

I've confirmed the mounting holes on the radiator I have will line up with the spacer.

The red lines in the picture is where I plan on cutting it. Since I'm pretty sure my cutting and grinding skills will be pretty amateurish, I'll dress up the edges with some high temp edge trim, which is a good idea anyways as that will better seal up the two pieces ensuring more air is being pulled through the radiator. View attachment 722204

What I see in your # 1 and # 2 Pics and # 3 Pic in Post # 1 is ;
# 1 Pic has the 2 Row Stock Style Rad for a SBC that has the Slanted / Angled Bracket Welded
to the Side of the Rad Top Tank and the Spacer Panel Lip near the Rad Core is Bent more Upwards
# 2 Pic has the 2 Row Stock Style Rad for a SBC that has a Flat / L shaped Bracket Welded
to the Side of the Rad Top Tank and the Spacer Panel Lip near the Rad Core is Bent more Upwards
# 3 Pic has a different Wider Style Rad that has a Flat / L shaped Bracket Welded to the side of the Rad Top Tank
with NO Spacer between the Rad and the Support Panel
# 4 Pic shows a Spacer that has the Rad Side of the Top of the Spacer that could be longer/Wider than
the part that would be against the Support Panel
or where you have put the top Red Line it is just not Bent Up towards the Front of the car/Grill as much
I would just try Bending the Top Part of the Spacer up at your Top Red Line first
and also the Bottom Red Line Bend it down towards the Front of the car/Bumper/Grill

Does your newish Rad have the Slanted / Angled Bracket Welded to the Top Rad Tank ?
or
does it have the Flat / L shaped Bracket Welded to the Side of the Rad Top Tank ??

 

[xk49]

Does your newish Rad have the Slanted / Angled Bracket Welded to the Top Rad Tank ?
or
does it have the Flat / L shaped Bracket Welded to the Side of the Rad Top Tank ??

It has the flat/L shaped bracket.

 

[Kirk's67SS]

So that means the Rad sits closer to the Support Panel than the Slanted / Angle one would
as the Slanted / Angled one makes the Rad sit further away from the Support Panel

this is/was done due to the Thickness of the Rad eg. 2 Row Core vs a 3/4 Row Core
see your First Pic VS your 2nd Pic

and therefore the Grayish Spacer would need some tweaking
by either Bending up the Edges that goes against the Rad Top/Bottom
or by cutting/triming Off what you have measured it needs

so your current Rad with the Flat / L shaped Bracket on the Top Tank & Lower
so it will ALL fit into the Engine Bay in Front of the Engine with the right sized Mech Fan
being 1/2 IN &1/2 OUT of the Shroud Hole/Opening
of a good Plastic/Fibre Glass Shroud that covers the Whole Rad Core

 

[rortwein]

The rad spacers are the same from 64-67. I have had 64s, 65s, and 67s that I have either restored or parted out. There was only one spacer. The above is correct in 64 the inlet and outlet are on the same side of the radiator. So you have a later radiator in the car.

A 67 had to option for a larger shroud. It was approx twice the thickness of the 64-65 ones. Those radiators were 3 and 4 core IIRC and bolted directly to the radiator support. 67 L79 car is an example.

Your fan is way to far away from the radiator assuming yours is the non stock fan picture. No way that will cool. The fan should be inside the shroud.

If it were mine I would get a good fan and fan clutch for it. Bolt that on and see if it brings the fan into the shroud. There are also different length spacers that go between the hub on the fan clutch and the waters pump. In essence run a 67 setup on the 64. Not sure if they reproduce the wider metal shrouds or not but if they do I would consider picking one up. Be careful on used there I've seen a lot of impala ones marketed as Chevelle over the years. The impala are way wider. You can eyeball the difference if it if are observant.

My opinion is if you have to cut stock GM parts you don't have the correct parts or there is a problem. Stock should bolt together w/o any issues.

Honestly I run a 67 L79 setup in my 64 327/365hp car (not original and no claim to be) and it cools just fine w/ all GM parts. So I wouldn't over complicate it.

 

[Pete 67]

The rad spacers are the same from 64-67. I have had 64s, 65s, and 67s that I have either restored or parted out. There was only one spacer.

Sorry I know I'm late to reply, but this is incorrect. I learned the hard way that the spacer for '64 is NOT the same as '65. It's a little shorter & a has a tiny raised V in the center of it. The holes on the '65 spacer will barely line up to mount to a '64 radiator support, but it won't be right. It will stand about 3/4 inch or so higher & lower than radiator support.

A friend of mine that I met when acquiring wagon parts has a mother lode of '64 & '65 cars & parts in So Cal. Luckily for me he had the correct '64 spacer & was kind enough to swap me for the '65 spacer I previously bought. He knew right away they were different when I phoned him perplexed.

I'm too lazy to go out & take a pic of my car, but here's a pic of the engine compartment of Allen Petroskeys '64 2 door wagon. You can see the tiny raised V in the spacer. 65-67 doesn't have that.