Champion radiator, 1950 Dodge Kingsway Custom

[Kendenup]

Hoping for some advice for those with greater experience than I.

I have a 1950 Dodge Kingsway Custom, which is the same as the Plymouth Special Deluxe. Car is running the original 218 cu.in 6 with a 3 speed on the tree.

Original radiator is leaking like a sieve, so I bought a Champion aluminium radiator to replace it. 
Through shear ignorance I managed to buy one that is the right size, but has the mounting brackets at the back of the radiator, rather than the front, on the original.

Problem is that there doesn’t seem to be a genuine replacement for my radiator (the correct size has the wrong mounting brackets), so I have to find a way to make this one work. 
My issue is that if I mount to the front rail on radiator vertical frame (on the car), then the radiator will be 20-25mm closer to the fan than it would have been, if the mounting brackets on the radiator were in the right place. 
I have room to pull the radiator forward 20-25mm forward to counter this, but this will need modifications to the radiator support rail. 
Is moving the 20-25mm closer to the fan likely to impede how the radiator works ??

Thanks 

[JerseyHarold]

1 hour ago, Kendenup said:

Hoping for some advice for those with greater experience than I.

I have a 1950 Dodge Kingsway Custom, which is the same as the Plymouth Special Deluxe. Car is running the original 218 cu.in 6 with a 3 speed on the tree.

Original radiator is leaking like a sieve, so I bought a Champion aluminium radiator to replace it. 
Through shear ignorance I managed to buy one that is the right size, but has the mounting brackets at the back of the radiator, rather than the front, on the original.

Problem is that there doesn’t seem to be a genuine replacement for my radiator (the correct size has the wrong mounting brackets), so I have to find a way to make this one work. 
My issue is that if I mount to the front rail on radiator vertical frame (on the car), then the radiator will be 20-25mm closer to the fan than it would have been, if the mounting brackets on the radiator were in the right place. 
I have room to pull the radiator forward 20-25mm forward to counter this, but this will need modifications to the radiator support rail. 
Is moving the 20-25mm closer to the fan likely to impede how the radiator works ??

Thanks 

I believe the Canadian Plymouth-based Dodges (sometimes referred-to as "Plodge") have 25"-long engines as opposed to the 23" engines for US Plymouths.  That would account for the mounting issue you're experiencing.  Have you tried to contact Champion directly to see if they catalog a radiator configured to fit your car?  That would probably be the easiest (though not the most inexpensive) way to go.

[D35 Torpedo]

If there is room to move it an inch closer to the fan, then do it. It will be fine. On my car there is not. But it is a 25" block.

[Dan Hiebert]

As long as the fan still clears the radiator, you'll be good.  It stands to reason (somewhat, anyway) that the radiator being closer to the fan may be more efficient. 

[MarcDeSoto]

the fan can also destroy the radiator it is gets too close!  Did you tell Champion that you have a 25" engine and that the mounting brackets are wrong?  

[Kendenup]

8 hours ago, MarcDeSoto said:

the fan can also destroy the radiator it is gets too close!  Did you tell Champion that you have a 25" engine and that the mounting brackets are wrong?  

Yes, but sadly they don’t make the replacement radiator with the brackets in the correct position for my car. 

I’ve decided to move the radiator mounting to the outside (front) of the frame, with some box tube as a spacer, it will give me a better spacing between the radiator and the fan, and by modifying the bottom of the frame the radiator sits in a little, I can drop the height of the radiator and still avoid any problems between the top hose and the fan.