The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot '60-'66 Trucks 1963 radiator lower mount location.

I'm restoring a '63, started researching radiators, and have come across conflicting info.

When I disassembled the truck it had a cheap aftermarket aluminum radiator installed. The lower radiator u-shaped saddles were riveted on the lower cross member (shown on the right in the picture). The saddles were bent/beat to accept a thicker radiator and you'll notice also the frame was notched on both sides. This had confused me up until now because when I would look up the stock radiator I often found them too wide to fit between the frame rails. THEN I came across pictures that showed the saddles attached to the UPPER cross member (shown on the left in the picture).

Could it be the two locations were different on 6 cylinders and 8 cylinders? Was the lower location for the 6 (narrower radiator that would fit between the frame rails) and the upper location for the 8 (wider radiator that sat above the frame rails?

Has anyone came across this before?

Thanks!

Well, this AI thing is becoming pretty handy.

It confirmed the radiators are mounted in different locations. The 6 cylinder is lower and further back while the 8 is higher and further forward.

Ya learn something new everyday!

kruuzn - Welcome to the Bolt!

Sorry about not getting a response out to you as we've been dealing with some access issues which our resident "Geek" has gotten us back on line. Glad you were able to find info on your question and look forward to seeing and hearing more about your truck in the future.

I have a 1963 C10 with an inline 230 engine. I also have a 1965 C10 that originally had a 230 engine. Both had lower radiator saddles on the lower flange of the crossmember. The original radiator was tall and narrow if the engine was a a 230 (not sure about the 292). The V8 engine trucks used a wider but less tall radiator with lower saddles on the upper flange. Your frame will have the holes in the upper flange in the right place for the saddles.
I’m happy to report that Champion Radiators sells a pretty much bolt in aluminum tall narrow (6 cylinder/ lower saddle position) radiator that has worked great for me for at least 6 years. No issues and it handles the SC heat with zero problems.
My 1965 C10 now has a 283ci SBC with a wider radiator. It’s less tall than the Champion radiator and won’t fit between the frame rails. The lower saddles are on the upper flange of the crossmember. It uses a different upper radiator hold down bracket than the inline six radiator.

Thank for the responses guys.
At lease now I know the truck was originally a 6 cylinder. Since I bought it with (what appears to be) a healthy 350 I'm going to buy the wider V8 size radiator and use the upper mounts.