marcapra Posted May 25, 2022 Share Posted May 25, 2022 The bolt holes don't line up on my 48 DeSoto because the holes on the radiator support are about an inch wider than the holes in my radiator flange. What am I missing here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted May 25, 2022 Share Posted May 25, 2022 Did you take the radiator from the frame? If not I would suggest that you check to see if you have the correct radiator. Looks like it is the wrong radiator. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted May 25, 2022 Share Posted May 25, 2022 Almost looks as though the radiator support may be spread too far. Are the bottom holes close...? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted May 25, 2022 Share Posted May 25, 2022 9 hours ago, marcapra said: The bolt holes don't line up on my 48 DeSoto because the holes on the radiator support are about an inch wider than the holes in my radiator flange. What am I missing here? As asked: did you remove it from the car originally or did you replace it? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted May 25, 2022 Share Posted May 25, 2022 Looks like you need to lift the radiator up a couple of inches and bend the rad support in a bit. Stick a punch or screwdriver thru the top bolt holes to line everything up while you start the rest of the bolts. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcapra Posted May 25, 2022 Author Share Posted May 25, 2022 The radiator and the radiator support are the exact ones I removed from the car some 40 years ago. Everyone is saying maybe the support spread out a little. Hard to see that happening with a cross support, but that's the best idea I've heard yet, so I will check it out. Also, although I had the radiator boiled out and pressure checked and a new neck soldered on, it is not re-cored. Thanks. Marc. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcapra Posted May 25, 2022 Author Share Posted May 25, 2022 I checked the support and there's no way it could spread out 1 5/8" with that cross bar riveted in place. Here are my measurements. Center hole to center hole on the support at the top is 23 5/8". Center hole to center hole on the radiator flange is 22". That's a 1 5/8" difference! This is a read head scratcher! Maybe there's some kind of missing bracket or something? I might have to resort to making some adapter brackets to put the radiator in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted May 25, 2022 Share Posted May 25, 2022 I can see three possibilities. 1. Your radiator shrunk. 2. Your radiator support grew. 3. Your shop gave you the wrong radiator..................Bob 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryB Posted May 26, 2022 Share Posted May 26, 2022 My parts book shows 46-48 is part number 972210. 49-50 is 1346848. This is from a 1963 Mitchell collision parts book. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted May 26, 2022 Share Posted May 26, 2022 I'm looking at the photos you provide and I don't see any cross bar or plate. Have you tried installing them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldtech Posted May 26, 2022 Share Posted May 26, 2022 I think the radiator bolts to the engine side of the support, not inside the channel as you show, but that won't fix your problem. Being it "is what it is" as they say, I would make an adapter strip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcapra Posted May 26, 2022 Author Share Posted May 26, 2022 5 hours ago, Bhigdog said: I can see three possibilities. 1. Your radiator shrunk. 2. Your radiator support grew. 3. Your shop gave you the wrong radiator..................Bob After much discussion on the P-15-D-24 site, we determined that unfortunately Bob's answer number 3 is right! I gave this radiator to a shop back in 1991 in Bakersfield. They boiled it out and pressure checked it. I gave them the exactly correct 48 DeSoto radiator, but they must have given me back a Plymouth radiator which is an inch and a half narrower. I didn't find out their mistake until now! I know this because the 48 DeSoto radiator is part no. 972210. The radiator I have is 1254623. Does anyone know what car 1254623 fits. I suspect it fits a Plymouth, but not sure of the year or model. If you know please tell me. Thanks. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryB Posted May 26, 2022 Share Posted May 26, 2022 My book does not list 1254623, closest is 1254751 for 46-48 Dodge. A parts book from the 1950s might have more information. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted May 26, 2022 Share Posted May 26, 2022 Long shot here, but is the radiator shop still around? There is some guy out there that is wondering how his radiator grew. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcapra Posted May 27, 2022 Author Share Posted May 27, 2022 My friend Mike said I should try to take it back. I can just picture it. "Uh, about 30 years ago I brought you a DeSoto radiator and I just found out you gave me a Plymouth? radiator. I think this is the same shop. If you don't have my DeSoto radiator, can you give me a thousand dollars so I can try to buy the correct radiator, and I'll give you back your radiator?" 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Cocuzza Posted May 27, 2022 Share Posted May 27, 2022 I may have a 6 cyl Chrysler radiator. I will take a look. Joe 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted May 27, 2022 Share Posted May 27, 2022 9 hours ago, marcapra said: My friend Mike said I should try to take it back. I can just picture it. "Uh, about 30 years ago I brought you a DeSoto radiator and I just found out you gave me a Plymouth? radiator. I think this is the same shop. If you don't have my DeSoto radiator, can you give me a thousand dollars so I can try to buy the correct radiator, and I'll give you back your radiator?" Yeah, chances are slim to nil that would work. Your best bet may be to fab a couple of adapter side pieces. The smaller Plymouth radiator will likely have enough cooling capacity. Sorry for your loss...........Bob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcapra Posted May 27, 2022 Author Share Posted May 27, 2022 (edited) 17 hours ago, Joe Cocuzza said: I may have a 6 cyl Chrysler radiator. I will take a look. Joe Hi Joe, yes if you have one let me know quick even if it needs re-coring. The part number is 972210. marcapra@msn.com Marc. Edited May 27, 2022 by marcapra (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcapra Posted May 27, 2022 Author Share Posted May 27, 2022 On 5/26/2022 at 8:16 AM, TerryB said: My book does not list 1254623, closest is 1254751 for 46-48 Dodge. A parts book from the 1950s might have more information. I don't think my current radiator is from the 50s. I think they changed the radiator design around 49 or 50 to have a thinner top. My radiator has the thick top like the 40s cars. I'm finiding out that it's not uncommon to have an odd part number on a radiator. Manufacturers changed numbers over time I guess, so they don't always jive with the Parts Books. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryB Posted May 27, 2022 Share Posted May 27, 2022 (edited) 23 minutes ago, marcapra said: I don't think my current radiator is from the 50s. I think they changed the radiator design around 49 or 50 to have a thinner top. My radiator has the thick top like the 40s cars. I'm finiding out that it's not uncommon to have an odd part number on a radiator. Manufacturers changed numbers over time I guess, so they don't always jive with the Parts Books. They did indeed renumber parts where the new number replaced the old number because they found it fit other newer applications. I checked that part of my parts book with no luck. My book has light truck parts list too and no matchups there either. The other oddity is they sold replacement tanks so that could be part of the issue, to differentiate between a tank and the complete radiator, the tank got its own number. My parts book was prepared by Glenn Mitchell for collision parts ID help. An official MoPar parts book might have more info on your part number. Edited May 27, 2022 by TerryB (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Cocuzza Posted May 28, 2022 Share Posted May 28, 2022 4 hours ago, marcapra said: Hi Joe, yes if you have one let me know quick even if it needs re-coring. The part number is 972210. marcapra@msn.com Marc. I took a quick look today and I found a Plymouth one. I will take another look in my other sheds. I did part out a 47 Chrysler a few years ago and I remember having a radiator. I will let you know ASAP if I come across it. Joe 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcapra Posted May 28, 2022 Author Share Posted May 28, 2022 If the 47 Chrysler is a six cylinder, it would have the right radiator. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcapra Posted May 28, 2022 Author Share Posted May 28, 2022 I'm wondering if a 46-48 Plymouth or Dodge radiator would also fit a pre-war Plymouth or Dodge, say 41-42. I'm trying to figure out what my smaller radiator would fit so I can sell it, since it doesn't fit my DeSoto. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m-mman Posted May 29, 2022 Share Posted May 29, 2022 Hollanders says 48 DeSoto interchangeable with Chrysler six 42-48 De Soto 42-48 Canadian De Soto 42-47 lots of notes during the early 50s about swapping straps to make something fit. including: using 42-48 Chevrolet radiator, cut 2” off the Plymouth straps, solder them to Chevrolet radiator and install in the Plymouth. It seems that they were looking at the basic core size and figuring that swapping the straps was a quick and easy modification. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcapra Posted May 30, 2022 Author Share Posted May 30, 2022 Does Plymouth and Dodge have radiators that could be swapped? I know they have different part numbers, but just checking. No one seems to have the part number that is on my smaller radiator. It just doesn't fit my DeSoto. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m-mman Posted May 30, 2022 Share Posted May 30, 2022 I was looking through the Hollanders in an attempt to find the application for the number on your radiator. It did not appear anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xander Wildeisen Posted May 30, 2022 Share Posted May 30, 2022 If you mount it to a filler strip/flat stock metal. You can bolt it up and use it. You can then mount/ make a fan shroud that has a mounting foot on it that covers and hides the filler strip. I always like a fan shroud on old cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Cocuzza Posted May 31, 2022 Share Posted May 31, 2022 I looked around and did not come up with the Chrysler radiator. I will continue to search for it and if I come up with it I will let you know. I may have sold it but I cannot remember. Joe 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted June 1, 2022 Share Posted June 1, 2022 I was just looking at a couple of radiators that I have. The one I thought might be 48 Chrysler (but apparently not) has the number 1754873 embossed on the top tank.. What say you to this one TerryB ? Its not looking to bad if someone could use it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcapra Posted June 2, 2022 Author Share Posted June 2, 2022 Also I have a 42-48 Dodge or Plymouth radiator which was just tested and rebuilt for sale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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