CHAMPION CC4749 Aluminum Radiator in P15 Coupe ??

[3046moparcoupe]

Champion Radiators seems to be building one of (if not the best value), in Aluminum Radiators on the market. Lifetime Warranty/billet fittings/brass petcock valve/etc...their CC4749 radiator looks like a duplicate to my original radiator in this 47 P15 2 door Coupe, except from what I can tell in eyeballing pictures, one detail.....the upper 1 3/4 inch port, located in the center of the top tank, appears to extend outward at a straight 90 degree angle and then downward at another 90 degree angle ? The original radiators have this same port extending from the center of the top tank down towards the thermostat housing at about a 30 degree angle. This distance between the radiator outlet and the thermostat housing is short (as far as most radiator hoses go), maybe 5-6 inches....so doesn't look to me like there would be any way to use an oem radiator hose,...one would have to try and either use a flexible universal or dig through the stock and the parts store looking for something that might work....maybe no big deal, and certainly part of the fun and pride in building these old rides is oversoming the challenges, but I thought I might just send this post out, and maybe someone has dealt with this already...yesterday I sent Champion some pics and a drwg with angle measurements of my oem radiator - as their customer service rep said they might be able to make me one with the angles I'm seeing on my orginal radiator..no reply back yet...as without knowing the actual dimensions of their radiator at key locations (the exact angle of the vertical side radiator to core support brkts, the clocking angle of the upper tank, which I would expect on their unit is a straight 90 degree angle - but on this oem rafiator is off 90 by about 10-15 degrees),..things that all in turn, together effect the angle of that top outlet once the radiator is in place....as you all know that upper hose is thick and stiff, and it's not gonna flex much if any...certainly there's gonna be room to be off a little, but things need to be close.....any help would be appreciated.

 

Steve

[Don Coatney]

Follow this link

 

http://p15-d24.com/topic/36259-champion-aluminum-radiator/?hl=champion

[1941Rick]

Not a big deal. Just cut off the 90 and use a formed hose. Lots at your local auto parts stores.

[3046moparcoupe]

Don and Rick, thank you both for your reply's.

 

Don I SURE APPRECIATE the link to your previous endeavors associated with this same radiator...I enjoyed viewing all 6 pages ofthe topic...this is my 1st time to be around a flathead engine, and now that I think of it, I believe you said you had a Desoto flathead in your Plymouth, anyway - maybe thats the reason for the difference,..I kept seeing pics of a thermostat housing that extended straight upwards. My thermostat housing extends upwards towards the radiator at a fairly steep angle...say 30-40 degrees or so...I'm gonna try attaching a picture, looks like the system is gonna let me attach the pic,. well see ..anyway - even with the angle, If I cut the upper outlet port as Don did - I would expect I could find a hose that would work. I'm good with my local Oreilley's Auto Parts, they'll let me look through their inventory, and most are hanging in the open in the storeroom. Sure like the looks of the clean, new aluminum radiators,..really was wanting the lifetime warranty as well, I'm sure cutting the neck off probably eliminates the warranty ?? Don, by chance did you happen to cross that bridge with Champion when you were speaking with them ? will they still warranty a radiator that's had the output port cut down/off ? (even though it shouldn't affect the working integrity of the radiator, but typically any modification results in a loss of warranty )...thanks again Guys....Steve.

[3046moparcoupe]

Try #2, picture attached time I do believe.....S.

[mrwrstory]

If you're sure about the radiator modification, sounds simple enough, why not ask Champion to do it?

[Don Coatney]

If you're sure about the radiator modification, sounds simple enough, why not ask Champion to do it?

Good suggestion. Had I not already purchased my radiator I would have done so. I have had phone conversations with Champion and found them to be extremely helpful with great customer service. 

[3046moparcoupe]

That was my 1st thought, (as mentioned in the original post), I contacted Jeff at Champion - sent him some pics and a drwg with some angle dimensions via email, and he's supposed to get back with me. Seemed a bit odd to me - that they would go to the trouble to make a radiator the correct size, shape, with the pit cock in the right place, with the outlets in the right place, with the mtg brkts and holes drilled in the right places, and then drop the ball on the angle of the top outlet tube - so  I thought they might have some notes on file about their reasoning, maybe a recommended hose retrofit, etc...anyway - at least Jeff was honest, kinda funny - his intial response was that it was easier to build at a 90 degree angle ...anyway - still waiting on a response from them to see what they'd charge to build one with the angled port, as it's only been 2 days..(his initial guesstimate was that it might cost an extra $20 or so)....thanks again guys for your comments and direction....after studying this a bit more, sorta seems to my eye that my angled thermostat tube would make it easier to possible find a hose that would make the necessary single angle bend to connect into the radiator the way Champion now has it made, versus what Don was dealing with on his....I would just need a hose with a single 130 degree or so bend in it, kinda like a spread L shape, Don would have needed something with two 90 degree bends....I appreciate the forum much. Don you have already helped me out more than once.....thank-you Sir.  Steve.

[mrwrstory]

Another thought/question.  There are a number of thermostat housing out there.  An old style parts store would have a catalog.  You might even score via an online search.  A bolt pattern and thermostat  were used on many cars.  Why not a housing with an angle that is more friendly to your objective?  I did that for an engine I am building.  It became a no-brainer and was quite cost effective. 

[3046moparcoupe]

Went down to Oreilley's this morning and found a half dozen 1 3/4 inch hoses that looked like good candidates to make the connection between my angled thermostat housing and the straight down port on the Champion Radiator,.....some had longer straight sections than others and all these hoses had the slight upward bend required..(so there was actually a bit of variety in dimensions as well),...course can't tell for sure until everythings in place and in hand....found an internet seller who'll do a complete refund return within 60 days if not satisfied or any fitment problems, so I'm gonna order from them and give this a shot.....just gonna confirm with Don again, that his radiator fit in all other aspects, except for the out port he had to cut.....thank-you Don, Rick and Mrwrstory for your efforts to help...S.