WOW! I was beginning to feel like the red headed step child, and now an outpouring of support! BAMM! The other place across the hall seems to be stuck between 2nd and 3rd gear. A ripe opportunity to throw a rod! I have met some really good guys over there, but almost anyone that contributes to my thred(s) provides more criticism than help. The biggest offender(s) over there have ALL the answers yet can only copy and paste results. Ill admit to C&Ping myself when the situation warrants it as a link. Sometimes I dont feel like typing 12 pages of droll with two fingers. I still dont use the opposed thumbs for typing (!). I learned to type on an IBM Selectric; the one with the ball(s) for different fonts. Even had a modular ribbon cassette with a red and black siamesed ribbon. The "offenders" over there probably get a weekly manicure to go with the spotless white shirts. Hell, I only dress in grunge. Thats my story and I am sticking to it.
I must admit I like the rubber mat thing from Lowes. A bit pricey at 35.00 but I did look at the other stuff on that link. Theres a 2x3 foot job for 11.00 and i can always use some extras. I worked in a coal fired power plant for 30 years and really miss hacking up a chunk of old conveyor belting from the scrap pile. That stuff would be a little to hard on the delicacies of an aluminum radiator anyway. Some one else mentioned using a piece of used serpentine belt, but thats not enough. The Lowes deal looks like a happy medium. Pretty high tech in appearance too.
After work today, I sat and pondered the cooling job. I agree 100% that a simple pad on the lower mount and the upper too will be fine. The bottom is now plenty wide but the top is lacking a bit on the one side as per Walts pics. Thats where I was considering sectioning the top plate to make it wider. Id rather support the weight on the tanks 100% rather than the core, even tho that is on the top.
I spoke with my Champion Rad. guy today and he's gonna price this unit out for me in a 3 row unit. He concurred with me that I really dont need to go with 4 for the extra $$$. This will fit the width and the height, and even the thickness. He seemed to think about 160-170.00
https://www.championradiators.com/3-row-Buick-Skylark-radiator-20-1967-1969Theres that C&P thing again LOL. After playing with this stuff for almost 55 years, I felt a bit overwhelmed without having a tangible part in my hand. A tape measure is only as good as the person reading it, and the chinaman can not read a tape measure.
I tried to post the instructions mid parse, but the big dummy cant figger that out. Read it below. I did using Wun Fun Tungs' suction thang and got the brakes 90% bled. The hose AND wrench wont fit the bleeder nipple, so I used the bench bleeder tapered nipples into the bleeder which helped. Pat showed up to stomp on the pedal a few times and its now 100% BAMM! It took about 1/3 quart to fill and flush the entire new system until clean fluid came out.
Spent some time on electrical plugs on the front light harness. Got my turn signal plugs from ebay *(Thanks loren for the link), and they look good. I pulled every pin out of every plug and wired brushed them all with a SS toothbrush. S-O-P. They look like new, with a film of dielectric grease on each. I am almost ready to mount the grill and headlight buckets, but want to get the cooler in place first, just in case of any trimming on the mounts.
Bored yet? NEVER... Pulled the back window trim off to address the leaking rear window. Not news to me, but there is some rot under the trim. Cut all the previous attempts at caulking out down to clean steel. Im not gonna pull the glass for this rodeo; maybe when the patina gets removed next year. The leaks also exacerbated the rusty trunk floor. That'll be a fun project for me. I hope the gas tank is intact. Its bone dry right now. Well maybe a gallon in there. I blew the line back with air and heard a slight gurgle.
I want to thank everyone again for the input! Keep the dialogue rolling. Post pics of your projects. I enjoy offering advice where I can too. I was a breech delivery with a 3/4" combination wrench sideways in my hand. Mom said it was "painful"... Have a great day. Pics after dinner. Bill
