Alien 57 4dr ht lower air dam

215 Views 14 Replies 8 Participants Last post by Old Buzzard, 1 d ago

Judge Roy

Discussion Starter · 2 d ago

Why? Does the aftermarket and customers accept parts that do not fit?
I have posted radiator concerns. Maybe I'm the idiot, or my 57 is an alien to all others!
Lower airdam is a welded in panel, mine appears stock, from centerline of radiator opening, to centerline of radiator outlet relief in air dam measures @ 7 inches on my car!
Why would cold case and other manufacturers of radiators not adhere to this dimension when building a replacement unit???
Cold Case told me the build of there's measures 7 3/4 inches!! Runs the output right into the body airdam, not acceptable to me! Yet, the manufactures will not even investigate this issue because and I quote, "we haven't received any complaints about fitment. "
So, I take that as my car is an alien or many a 57 owner has cut or bent the air dam to put a hose on a non fitting radiator.
The v8 and i6 outlet are the same dimension from centerline to centerline of outlet or they have 2 part numbers for the airdam? Would like to see that info.
So is direct fit just a "close" fit for cold case and others? They won't even build me a correct one.
Does yours Fit?? Still looking for a radiator i6 that fits!

1 - 15 of 15 Posts

kbuhagiar

· #2 · 2 d ago

Judge,

Is this the norm? Absolutely not.
Is it part of the hobby? Most certainly, yes.

Auto enthusiasts across the board have been dealing with this issue forever. Sometimes, when it's the only game in town, we bite our tongue and accept it, under the pretense that it's better than the other option (i.e. nothing). But in most cases we have the option to investigate, ask around, and make a decision based on the information we have gathered.

Bottom line, don't let it get to you or sour your enthusiasm. Yes, they are wrong, but they are betting that you are desperate enough that you'll accept it. I'm betting there is a supplier out there that will provide a radiator that will fit perfectly (but perhaps at a higher price).
And remember, this forum is an incredible source of knowledge and experience. Feel free to ask around over here for recommendations.

Good luck!

Judge Roy

Discussion Starter · #3 · 2 d ago

kbuhagiar said:
Judge,

Is this the norm? Absolutely not.
Is it part of the hobby? Most certainly, yes.

Auto enthusiasts across the board have been dealing with this issue forever. Sometimes, when it's the only game in town, we bite our tongue and accept it, under the pretense that it's better than the other option (i.e. nothing). But in most cases we have the option to investigate, ask around, and make a decision based on the information we have gathered.

Bottom line, don't let it get to you or sour your enthusiasm. Yes, they are wrong, but they are betting that you are desperate enough that you'll accept it. I'm betting there is a supplier out there that will provide a radiator that will fit perfectly (but perhaps at a higher price).
And remember, this forum is an incredible source of knowledge and experience. Feel free to ask around over here for recommendations.

Good luck!

But why settle, like I said, cold case claims no complaints? That tells me there are a lot, 200 plus 57 chevys that have "altered" their body to install a radiator that was claimed to be a direct fit!
Direct fit is just that, we're not playing horseshoes! 3/4 of an inch?

55wagoncrazy

· #4 · 2 d ago

I have installed 2 of their radiators without issue in the V-8 location. The air dam is ONLY ON V-8 supports where the radiator mounts in the back
of the cross member. The upper lip of the air dam may be close to the radiator, but this can be slightly bent forward to clear.

I have done lots of ORIGINAL RESTORATIONS using OEM V-8 radiators and this was often the same issue.

Mikey

Reactions: 1

Pops @ Tri-5.com

· #5 · 2 d ago

I had an issue with a Cold Case radiator fit on my 55 with the radiator installed in the 6 cylinder position...However, once I communicated with the owner, he was very receptive and handled the issue very promptly.

55wagoncrazy

· #6 · 2 d ago

Still looking for a radiator i6 that fits!

Here in lies your issue. 57's with a I-6 have a one year only radiator top tank. The top hose location is offset from the different from 55-56.
The HOOD air dam is also notched for this. I seriously doubt any radiator maker is going to tool up a special one year and only the I-6 top tank.

Mikey

Bowers

· #7 · 2 d ago

Judge Roy said:
Why? Does the aftermarket and customers accept parts that do not fit?
I have posted radiator concerns. Maybe I'm the idiot, or my 57 is an alien to all others!
Lower airdam is a welded in panel, mine appears stock, from centerline of radiator opening, to centerline of radiator outlet relief in air dam measures @ 7 inches on my car!
Why would cold case and other manufacturers of radiators not adhere to this dimension when building a replacement unit???
Cold Case told me the build of there's measures 7 3/4 inches!! Runs the output right into the body airdam, not acceptable to me! Yet, the manufactures will not even investigate this issue because and I quote, "we haven't received any complaints about fitment. "
So, I take that as my car is an alien or many a 57 owner has cut or bent the air dam to put a hose on a non fitting radiator.
The v8 and i6 outlet are the same dimension from centerline to centerline of outlet or they have 2 part numbers for the airdam? Would like to see that info.
So is direct fit just a "close" fit for cold case and others? They won't even build me a correct one.
Does yours Fit?? Still looking for a radiator i6 that fits!

I feel your pain, guess I'll just undo the bottom hose when I need to drain it..

See less See more

55wagoncrazy

· #8 · 2 d ago

Bowers said:
I feel your pain, guess I'll just undo the bottom hose when I need to drain it..
View attachment 398008

Not trying to take the thread sideways, however the petcock you have should have an extension on it for a rubber hose. This is then pushed through
the smaller of the 2 holes in the valance for proper draining.

Mikey

Reactions: 1

Judge Roy

Discussion Starter · #9 · 2 d ago

55wagoncrazy said:
Still looking for a radiator i6 that fits!

Here in lies your issue. 57's with a I-6 have a one year only radiator top tank. The top hose location is offset from the different from 55-56.
The HOOD air dam is also notched for this. I seriously doubt any radiator maker is going to tool up a special one year and only the I-6 top tank.

Mikey

Sorry you didn't read the post "outlet"

Bowers

· #10 · 2 d ago

55wagoncrazy said:
Not trying to take the thread sideways, however the petcock you have should have an extension on it for a rubber hose. This is then pushed through
the smaller of the 2 holes in the valance for proper draining.

Mikey

If you notice, it can't actually turn it a full rotation so it wouldn't matter.

Reactions: 1

angs1957

· #11 · 2 d ago

I do agree with you when any manufacture claims that the part you are replacing is a direct replacement, meaning straight swap, no altering or modifications to be done, the problem I see is that instead of raising the issue and not being accepting of the part we tend to try and make things work to get the job done instead of all of the hassle to return and wait even longer.

55wagoncrazy

· #12 · 2 d ago

Judge Roy said:
Sorry you didn't read the post "outlet"

Sorry, I'm out of here. Your description is just to confusing for some one with over 100 restorations of 55-57 Chevy and 55 years of involvment
with them. 43 of which have been full time .......

Shadetree55

· #13 · 2 d ago

Judge Roy said:
Sorry you didn't read the post "outlet"

you start out using the word air dam---that's at the top--has nothing to do with the outlet. that area is either a splash pan or valance. I bought an engineered cooling radiator and had to slightly enlarge the hole in the "valance" for the drain plug to fit but didn't gripe about it. Just one of the hazards of the job.

Judge Roy

Discussion Starter · #14 · 1 d ago

Well, I didn't come to argue who knows what off the top of their head.
Or what sheet metal pieces are called.
The assembly manual says all models, sect.13 sht 3, for core support and shows the front of the support only, with the l6 radiator and forward mounts. My understanding is the 57 difference is the air dam at the bottom of core support, and the mounts are towards the rear for the v8!
now we know that both l6 and v8s are available, did they weld an air dam on "every" support prior to setting the uprights for the radiator placement? Forward or rearward! This would not interfere with a l6 installation.
The bottom line here is the radiator dimensions of the "outlet" of the v8 compared to the l6. If someone has that info. It would tell the truth about the clearance issues with outlet location when setting up a 57 v8 with l6 radiator mounted in front of core
Looking for factory radiator specs. not the aftermarket build dimensions.

Old Buzzard

· #15 · 1 d ago

Judge Roy said:
Well, I didn't come to argue who knows what off the top of their head.

Sometimes, it's amazing at how useful a pic of the issue is.
Maybe try it in this instance?

Reactions: 2

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