1966 radiator removal & installation

[glock 19]

Hello I’m new hear tring to find out best replacement radiator for a 390 v8 engine with air conditioning and how to remove and replace instruction

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[biddle]

Thread 'Ford Thunderbird Aluminum Radiators 1955-2005'

May 28, 2020

Ford Thunderbird Full Aluminum Performance Cooling Radiators. Please double check that the part fits your model/engine. Feel free to post replies with your installation photos/instructions below.

1955-1956-1957 Ford Thunderbird Y-Block Aluminum 3 Row Performance Cooling Radiator- Ebay Link



1958-1959 Ford Thunderbird Frostbite Aircraft Aluminum Radiator 3 Row- Ebay Link


1960-1961-1962 Ford Thunderbird Ebay Link
(please reply below if you find others)


1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 Ford Thunderbird- Ebay Link
Note...

• biddle
• aluminum radiator radiator
• Replies: 7
• Forum: 1955 - 2005 Parts Discussion & for Sale/Wanted

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[glock 19]

Ok radiator removal and installation procedures and how to advise for a 1966 thunderbird not a model T Radiator. I can’t find any videos on u tube that give a good ideal if I can do it myself or not, so ok there’s a top cover over radiator got it, under this cover is 2 brackets securing the ac condenser, but it appears these need to be bent upward out of the way so as I can remove radiator. Of course remove trans cooler line/ not sure the nut size thu ( or if nut sizes are different size on a new one ) remove radiator hoses, the bigger questions are 1 how does the bottom of radiator come out, is it bolted in from underneath the car, or I have also seen slide in type attachments at bottom of new radiator ( and I don’t want to redo bottom attachments to make it fit ). Also removal of fan should is that easier to do space looks tight, also I want to buy a perfect fitting radiator that needs not electric fans nor any other adjustments just drop in and put back together types, also I see 17 inch radiators and 19 inch radiators and I’m not sure which size this one is I think I measured 17 3/4 last I measured , it said 19 inch was for California type cars, also how many rolls of tubes 2,3 4 roles thanks Glock 19 USArmy SFC Retired

 

[jtkse]

There are two bolts at the bottom of the radiator that need to loosened also,not removed. The radiator bracket is slotted so they slide out. Remove the fan and shroud.The radiator will now tilt back and you can lift it out. Now is the time to change water pump, fan clutch if equipped and all hoses and thermostat. Take the radiator to a trusted shop and have them either clean it or install a new copper core. Aluminum radiators will crack over time and don’t cool as well at idle speeds.

 

[glock 19]

Thank you but can I do it without removing fan and if not is that so I can remove the should, any proper way to remove fan, I’m sure the fan will spin when I try removing bolts, also should I but a new fan blade and getting radiator recoiled may not be a option, that’s kinda of a thing of the past, also I’m sure I have to jack the front of car up a little maybe, also do we no the correct transmission screw inlet outlet siezes. I’ve seen new copper radiator for 750 bucks where aluminum run about 250 to 460 thank

 

[jtkse]

You can do it without removing the fan but you stand a chance of scraping the blades on the radiator. Fan comes off easy just don’t loose the belts and it will not spin. Unless you are real small I would lift the front end for the bottom bolts. The transmission lines are either 1/2”,9/16 or 5/8” open end wrenches. You might have to hold the fitting in the radiator so you can loosen the lines. You don’t need a fan blade but if you have a fan clutch you need to change it while the radiator is out. The price of the copper radiator is what I paid for mine. Money well spent.

 

[glock 19]

Ok thanks for all great info if I may ask where you bought your radiator from, I was on one site it said like a 4 week build time, I’m not sure if Organal is 3 or 4 row, the bird doesn’t much and if I take it to mechanic I’ll have to explain everything to him and will have to purchase the radiator my self I just want to be 100% sure I get right radiator but then again I may do it myself, anther thought the ac condenser in front of radiator has to brackets going straight over top of radiator, the only u tube vidio I could find had them bent upward to so the radiator can be lifted upward does that sound about right? Anther question I think I do have fan clutch why does that need to be replaced thanks for all your help

 

[jtkse]

I bought mine locally from a radiator shop. If you take the fan off you will be able to tilt the radiator towards the engine so you may have to bend the ac brackets very little because they can crack. They were 3 rows from factory. You don’t need anymore than that. If you change the water pump then you need to change the clutch fan. If not don’t worry about it.

 

[glock 19]

Ok thanks again I’m just a person with a lot of mind power but little get up and do person, is this a one man job or does it take 2 ppl, my son in law pretty lazy if I needed there help, ya and watched that guy that fit up his 66 t bird to take his dad down Route 66 e did a lot timing chains water pump theremoste, ect but I don’t drive it much several time a year never in the rain never in the snow and ac not working nor the heater so hot weather not to good nor cold weather