I am getting close to driving my 54 chevy 3100 for the first time. One of the last missing parts I need to find is a radiator and support. The junk yard has a radiator and support sitting in a mid 50's GMC truck. Does anyone know if these would fit my 54 Chevy? Does anyone have a picture of how the support is suppose to fit? I see when you buy a reproduction support it comes with the main support but also two boomerang shaped pieces. I can't quite piece together how the boomerang pieces fit. Anyone ever have any issues with the reproduction aluminum radiators? By the time I buy the junkyard radiator and pay to have it cleaned and resealed it may be cheaper to go with a new aluminum radiator.
Can't help with the support question but I am pleased with my repro aluminum radiator in my '48 Suburban Streetrod.ðŸ›
Martin '62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress) '47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project) ‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily) ‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence) “I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one! Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop! USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
GMC's have the radiator partway through the core support because the engine is slightly longer, I wouldn't fool with a GMC one, wait and get the correct one. I have a Chevy one with radiator off the truck if you would like px.
Ed
'37 GMC T-18 w/ DD 4-53T, RTO-610, 6231 aux., '95 GMC running gear, full disc brakes, power steering, 22.5 wheels and tires. '47 GMC 1 ton w/ 302, NP-540, 4wd, full width Blazer front axle. '54 GMC 630 w/ 503 gasser, 5 speed, ex fire truck, shortened WB 4', install 8' bed. '55 GMC 370 w/270, 420 4 speed, grain, dump bed truck from ND. Works OK.
Jonald, The supports are similar but not identical. the gmc has a bracket that bolts to the top that goes overtop of the radiator as mentioned above. It is removable. The Chevrolet has two cross braces that run in an "X" in front of the radiator. I'm not 100% sure of their function (perhaps because of the Chevrolets different grill mounting). I can take a look at my trucks as I have both gmc and Chevy clips sitting off their trucks and confirm. You can make the gmc work I'm thinking. For my GMC's mock up I used a Chevrolet support (had to remove the top bracket- but it is easily tack welded back on) because my GMC one was shiny and painted already. So I know it works in reverse.
WARNING!!!! CANDIAN GMC's used a Chevrolet engine. If it is in fact a GMC engine in there, then my information is NOT applicable to US GMC's. As Ed said the gmc mounts the rad further forward. Not sure if the US gmc radiator is different, or if the gmc CORE is different than the Chevrolet. WARNING!!!
The two "boomerangs" I'm suspecting are your front fender braces. They mount to the side of the core support (inside the front fender and outside of the inner fender) and bolt to the front fender on the inside of the outside lip. Look at the pictures in this tech tip:
1970 Chevrolet C10 Grandpa's -- My first truck -- In progress to shiny Follow the build in the Project Journal 1950 Chevrolet 1-Ton Dually "Ole Red Girl" In the Stovebolt Gallery More pictures here 1951 GMC 9430 1 ton dually--Shiny! | 1972 Chevrolet C20- Rusty- the puzzle box lid for the C10 | 1962 AMC Rambler American- my wife's Parts trucks- 1951 GMC 9300 | 1951-GMC 9430 | 1951- Chevrolet 1300
Jonald, my radiator was ordered off of Amazon. I think they probably all come from the same manufacturer. Welds were good and finish was good. Mounting and fitting was a 20 minute job and back on the road.
Martin '62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress) '47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project) ‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily) ‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence) “I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one! Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop! USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
The GMC radiator support will not work on a Chevy frame. The GMC mount sits lower in the frame than a Chevy one does so the mount is taller. It is also held on by one U-bolt with two springs between the nuts and the frame so the portion that sits on the cross member is wider on a Chevy than a GMC.
Tony, That's a great picture. I can now definitively say that my Canadian GMC is sporting a Chevrolet support in disguise. My apologies Jonald.
Last edited by Fox; 09/22/20174:42 AM.
1970 Chevrolet C10 Grandpa's -- My first truck -- In progress to shiny Follow the build in the Project Journal 1950 Chevrolet 1-Ton Dually "Ole Red Girl" In the Stovebolt Gallery More pictures here 1951 GMC 9430 1 ton dually--Shiny! | 1972 Chevrolet C20- Rusty- the puzzle box lid for the C10 | 1962 AMC Rambler American- my wife's Parts trucks- 1951 GMC 9300 | 1951-GMC 9430 | 1951- Chevrolet 1300
Neat. You learn something new everyday. I knew that they were different, but because of my Canadian version I didn't suspect it was that pronounced. I wonder why Canadian gmc's used Chevrolet frames and engines then? And why then American ones didn't. I do know that The big GMCs up here used gmc engines but not the little trucks (1 ton and down).
1970 Chevrolet C10 Grandpa's -- My first truck -- In progress to shiny Follow the build in the Project Journal 1950 Chevrolet 1-Ton Dually "Ole Red Girl" In the Stovebolt Gallery More pictures here 1951 GMC 9430 1 ton dually--Shiny! | 1972 Chevrolet C20- Rusty- the puzzle box lid for the C10 | 1962 AMC Rambler American- my wife's Parts trucks- 1951 GMC 9300 | 1951-GMC 9430 | 1951- Chevrolet 1300
Thanks for the help guys that answers some questions. I will stay away from the GMC radiator support. My junk yard also has support from a 53 or so 3900 Chevy. Anyone know if the support from an older truck would fit. It looks like it may but it wouldn't surprise me if it didn't because of the major body differences up front.
