Trying to determine correct washers that hold the top radiator brackets in place. AIM page F373 UPC L72 item 14 says part # 3688003 "P. Washer". I'd like to verify original washer specs. There are 6 bolts accross the top of the radiator - 2 left bracket, 2 center and 2 right bracket. Do you have an original Bowtie car ? What is the original thickeness and diameter of the washers you have in evidence ? My car has 4 thin (on the left and right brackets approx 2/16th" thick) while my centers are thick- appox 3/16th" X 1 1/4" diameter. Any authorative guidance is greatly appreciated.
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Re: 66 BB Radiator Original Washer Detail
Hi Peter, sorry about my lack of response to your recent email - I just saw it. This is a can of worms and I have posted about this several times in the past. I need to search the archives because it has been quite some time. I recall at a National, a group of us started walking around looking at every '66 and '67 big block car there, and we saw many configurations. Out of all the L72 cars I have owned, two are in my opinion the most untouched (one is a 5 star Bowtie car), with one of them a very early car and the other a very late car. They were configured differently as far as where or if thick washers were present, and I will have to look up my own records and search the archives before I post, becuase surely I will remember incorrectly. I will get back to you... -
Re: 66 BB Radiator Original Washer Detail
Here is my earlier post from the archives;
"I have two 66 big blocks, but can only look at one right now b/c the other is in a remote location. The one I looked at just now has the thick washers in the two center locations, in addition to the thin flat washers and the lock washers. All four outer bolts have the thin flat washers and lock washers.
The car I can't examine right now is a Bowtie car, and I don't recall the configuration - I will have to check it out and report later. I do recall looking at lots of '66 and '67 big block cars at the Sun Valley National meet, b/c there was lots of discussion about the many configurations encountered (thin washers only, thick washers, lock washers only, and all these variations were observed in all bolt positions - there was very little consistency). Maybe additional owners can contribute."
I no longer own either car referenced above, but the one mentioned as having thick washers, thin washers, and lock washers in the two center locations was my red 450HP convertible - not the Bowtie car, but a very untouched car. I always felt that configuration was likely valid for early cars. My Bowtie car was a late car (5/31/66), and it did not have thick washers - it had thin large diameter washers and lock washers in all locations. I feel this configuration may be likely for late cars. Cars built for the first 5 months might be what I call the early config vs the rest of production. I always wondered if the washer variations had anything to do with the changes to the radiator support (another can of worms as it changed at least 2, if not 3 times) - late radiator supports have crush sleeves and early ones DO NOT! I hope this helps a little, but it may have confused the issue, which is one that I was never able to completely bottom out on in my own mind.Comment
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Re: 66 BB Radiator Original Washer Detail
Peter, Everett,
Here's a pic of one of the OUTER brackets on my November 65 build 66 car. This is exactly the way it was when I bought the car and when I rebuilt the engine in 1983, I reinstalled everything exactly the same way it was removed. The other side is the same. The large diameter thick washer first, then the large dia thin washer with no lock washer.
The center bracket has only the large diameter thin washer and a lock washer. No large dia thick washer.
If I remember correctly, there was a clearance issue between the end of the bolt and the radiator side tank. Without the thick washers on the two outer radiator mounting brackets, this diminsion was less than acceptable so the thick spacers were added to increase this dim.
I'm not saying that this is absolutely the only correct configuration but this is a logical arrangement and I've recorded a lot of very original cars over the years that looked to be assembled this way.
Michael
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Re: 66 BB Radiator Original Washer Detail
Makes sense to me Michael. Now that I think more about it, I remember looking into that very same issue as well when I realized that without the thick washers there, the bolt length looked like it could cause clearance issues. My early car only had two thick washers and they were in the center location, and I always wondered if someone had lost two, and ended up putting the remaining two in the center by mistake. I think later cars may have received shorter bolts, eliminating the need for thick washers.Comment
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Thanks Guys !
Based on all your input - I checked the clearance on the outboard bolt to radiator tank and sure enough - it was scarey close ! I moved the thick washers to those two locations and it now makes sense - perfect clearance. Thanks for your help !Comment
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