- Joined
- Aug 27, 2021
- Messages
- 328
- Reaction score
- 121
- Location
- Williamsburg Virginia area
- My Car
- 1972 H code convert., 351C 2V, FMX, 9in., Ram air, Pwr Steering, Pwr Disc brakes, air-conditioning, 15" sport wheels, Ivy Glo w/white deluxe interior.
Having allowed this project to take on a life of its own, removing far more than intended, like the radiator, there was an issue of tight quarters even before I removed bolt-one on the steering and front suspension systems.
This required some "creative" storage methods so a number of precautions were taken given the number of incidents that were possible, even in a creative sense. So, for my radiator, something that plagued me with my '66, I figured that a 45 yearlong gap between Mustang projects, I might have figured out a couple things that youth will not account for.
Well, after all that, it happened. Something fell from it's perch above the radiator onto the radiator.
This was a secure item to begin with but attributes surrounding the garage, allowed for the shelf to vibrate and so, for two years, that box decided it had enough and leapt. I get the box couldn't find a way to work things out but the innocent bystander, being the radiator, it was an unnecessary level of carnage.
As the box tumbled down, it did a half-gainer and the heavy, hard point of the corner and side crease, fell across the radiator, making a very prominent crease core tubes while flattening several rows of core fins.
After very close examination and attempts at cleaning up the fins some, the crease seems to be cracked in multiple locations.
As with most of us, I've toyed with the thought of upgrading but it's only been a thought, until now. Having stopped playing because of "other" costs we're now faced with. So, past experience would tell me, the easiest thing would probably be to just have it repaired. There is a lesson there too since the last one I did the repair/restore approach, the cost was almost the same as the replacement.
After doing some searching, I'm learning that something that was available in 2013, is rarer 11 years later. This kind of work, especially with the original materials, is becoming a lost art or been heavily controlled from a health standpoint. Meaning, by the time I factor in the travel and everything else involved, it might be more cost effective to replace and upgrade to a 4-row core.
Thoughts? Ideas? Places in the Williamsburg VA area? And lastly, verbal lashings for allowing it to happen?
Seriously, what have some of ya'll found when replacing the most important part of the cooling system.
For what it's worth, the problems associated with my '66 project were really more the fault of the 289 heads modified to fit the '69 Mach 1, 351W I've previously explained buying from a frenemy. He just would not part with those heads yet in hindsight, it really benefited me using the 289 heads I had from the seized motor the car came equipped with.
The biggest issue was, the thing ran so fricking hot plus, we could never seem to get a well repaired replacement core for it. At the time, it never dawned on me to find and modify to fit a larger radiator. More about cash-on-hand than anything else. So, it's déjà vu all over again.
This required some "creative" storage methods so a number of precautions were taken given the number of incidents that were possible, even in a creative sense. So, for my radiator, something that plagued me with my '66, I figured that a 45 yearlong gap between Mustang projects, I might have figured out a couple things that youth will not account for.
Well, after all that, it happened. Something fell from it's perch above the radiator onto the radiator.
This was a secure item to begin with but attributes surrounding the garage, allowed for the shelf to vibrate and so, for two years, that box decided it had enough and leapt. I get the box couldn't find a way to work things out but the innocent bystander, being the radiator, it was an unnecessary level of carnage.
As the box tumbled down, it did a half-gainer and the heavy, hard point of the corner and side crease, fell across the radiator, making a very prominent crease core tubes while flattening several rows of core fins.
After very close examination and attempts at cleaning up the fins some, the crease seems to be cracked in multiple locations.
As with most of us, I've toyed with the thought of upgrading but it's only been a thought, until now. Having stopped playing because of "other" costs we're now faced with. So, past experience would tell me, the easiest thing would probably be to just have it repaired. There is a lesson there too since the last one I did the repair/restore approach, the cost was almost the same as the replacement.
After doing some searching, I'm learning that something that was available in 2013, is rarer 11 years later. This kind of work, especially with the original materials, is becoming a lost art or been heavily controlled from a health standpoint. Meaning, by the time I factor in the travel and everything else involved, it might be more cost effective to replace and upgrade to a 4-row core.
Thoughts? Ideas? Places in the Williamsburg VA area? And lastly, verbal lashings for allowing it to happen?
Seriously, what have some of ya'll found when replacing the most important part of the cooling system.
For what it's worth, the problems associated with my '66 project were really more the fault of the 289 heads modified to fit the '69 Mach 1, 351W I've previously explained buying from a frenemy. He just would not part with those heads yet in hindsight, it really benefited me using the 289 heads I had from the seized motor the car came equipped with.
The biggest issue was, the thing ran so fricking hot plus, we could never seem to get a well repaired replacement core for it. At the time, it never dawned on me to find and modify to fit a larger radiator. More about cash-on-hand than anything else. So, it's déjà vu all over again.
