The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Radiator Support Pad

I think 3/16" no more than 1/4".

I cut 2 pieces of roofing tar that comes in a roll at Home Depot. It is 1/8" and easy to vulcanize the two pieces together.

I cut up one of my old tyres and used a piece of sidewall,worked for me and my panel gaps aren't too bad if I say so myself....

just finished parting a '58 apache last weekend, I recall the rubber pad being a tad over 1/4" thick (going from memory though).

Tractor Supply sells a pad for cattle to stand on , comes in 2 sizes 1/4 and 3/16 its 3 ft. wide and you can buy it by the foot under $10. I have used it for body pads on my 1950 Ford coupe , works great, going on my 55 for Rad. pads...and pads on the bed....

Just looked it up ...3/8 " hole 2x2 x 1/4
Sec 11 Sheet 2.11

Were there shims under your radiator mounting pads? These were used to help in the alignment of front sheet metal.

I don't believe the width and length is at all important, just the 1/4" thickness of the pad.

I don't think that's the correct cushion. The one I found is this one, 3684763 lists the pad as 2 1/4" x 1 1/4" but no thickness is mentioned. I'm pretty sure 1/4" is probably correct.

The #is 378516 on sect.11 sheet 2.11 ( I Googled that # Thats where I got the rubber 2x2 x1/4 ) either size would pro. work...
also couldn't find #3692225 body shim , { I figured it is metal looks the same size ..I would like to know...the #3684763 you found is for models 3800-4000-5000-6000 sect. 11 sheet 2.12...

See step 7 in "alignment" Your sheet metal alignment must have been good without use of shims? I have found at least one shim on all A-D trucks I have taken apart (they are mentioned in earlier A-D Shop Manuals, too).

It would be my guess that many radiators were removed for some purpose, and like many mechanics have been known to do, the radiators were reinstalled without the shims.

Jim, the shims and the rubber cushion aren't under the radiator,
they're under the core support and don't need to be touched
once the alignment is finished. As Tim pointed out that
adjustment is used when aligning the front clip.
If nothing has been bent out of shape from an accident if you
follow that hood alignment procedure as outlined it makes short
work out of aligning the back of the hood, which has given many
the 'Bolter a headache.
Oh, and a several of the guys have posted, the 1/4"
reinforced belting at the farm supply makes an
excellent starting point for the alignment.

Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

You're right Denny. It's been 5 years and and a few fleeting brain cells. lol

Bruce,

I believe you.

I have found three styles under the radiator support. One type is a body shim incorrectly used.

The ones that look correct are ones that are the same areal dimensions as the rubber pad, and they are very thin. I have found as many as four of these shins under a radiator.

Here are some examples, ignore the non-radiator shims:
https://www.chevsofthe40s.com/shop/...p;dept=Truck&searchtype=FT&Go=Go

Ok, I dug into the gravel and found one where I'd parted that 58 apache, the thickness is .345. I incorrectly guessed at 1/4". They are NOT rubber (I was surprised), they are hard black plastic. There is a metal collar in the middle for the bolt to go through, that hole is roughly 1/2". I didn't measure the outer diamter of this little pad, I'd guess around 2.5". it goes UNDER the radiator support frame and the bolt goes downward through it and the bolt screws into the metal pad welded to the frame, now this is on '58, have no clue about your year. Hope that helps, lefty1

lefty, the TF series is much different than any AD ... and the rubber pieces are both sides of the core support with the 'metal collar' going thru both

Bill