1963 radiator core

[Frank D.]

I'm almost afraid to ask this one after I went into "information overload" about motor mounts

I'm convinced my '63 non-FI, non-A/C, May 29th car has the original radiator core. It has the
reinforced section on each side that runs down and along the front bottom portion and all the other indicators per the JG.

HOWEVER, (I don't have a picture of MY radiator core support handy) my core support has the oval, stamped hole as shown on this LATER radiator core in the first picture attachment (the yellow circle). (NOT to be mistaken with the LARGE oval hole for an F/I air cleaner).

Apparently this started in '64 and up and is not called out in the JG for '63...that I can find...

None of the repro '63 cores have this hole, not Coffman or LICS. (The second pic is the LICS repro for my car.)
Is this some anomaly in the transition to the '64 configuration, do I have a replacement core (unlikely) or what...?

I did search the archives on this but came up dry BTW...

[Jim L.]

Re: 1963 radiator core

Frank,

That oval hole was added mid-'63 when a transmission oil cooler was included on cars with PowerGlide. AFAIK all cars received core supports with that hole (except maybe FI.... dunno) after the oil cooler was made available. My former 4 speed '63 (RIP), produced in January '63, had a core support with that hole. I don't know when the oil coolers were first installed but my October '62 car does not have one and the core support does not have that hole.

Jim

[Frank D.]

Re: 1963 radiator core

Interesting....this core is off an EARLY, no hit, '63 convertible...it has sat around in pieces locally since the mid-70s and was just 'discovered' again from an estate. Here are the pics I took of that radiator....and the car's VIN is less than 700... And it has that PS stamped oval hole...

[Bob J.]

Re: 1963 radiator core

Interesting....this core is off an EARLY, no hit, '63 convertible...it has sat around in pieces locally since the mid-70s and was just 'discovered' again from an estate. Here are the pics I took of that radiator....and the car's VIN is less than 700... And it has that PS stamped oval hole...

Frank, that's a little hard to believe.
Jim Lockwood gave you correct info that "early" 63 supports had no holes because there was no PG oil cooler lines to need a hole.
63 AIM puts the PG cooler page being released 11-14-62, which is way after vin 700 (or less) was built.
Bob Jorjorian

[Frank D.]

Re: 1963 radiator core

Maybe not so hard to believe Bob, as I said, that 63 convertible has been around a LONG time and was found last month just a few miles from where the dealer (long defunct) first sold the car here in Winter Garden.

Thie project included a lot of pieces purchased apparently separately for the project. There was only one core (the one pictured) so I thought it might have been original. On reflection its probably not...

If we go with the AIM info you provided then I guess the repros are correct for a May car...

[Jon R.]

Re: 1963 radiator core

Frank,

For what it is worth, both of my '63s (one mid-May and the other mid-July) have the oval hole.

Jon

[Frank D.]

Re: 1963 radiator core

Frank,

For what it is worth, both of my '63s (one mid-May and the other mid-July) have the oval hole.

Jon

Its just a bit perplexing that the repro vendors have been so faithful with the F/I air cleaner openings, for the F/I cars, but apparently ignored this hole for the coolant lines which seems to be on a preponderance of original '63s.....I'm not getting it...

[Joe L.]

Re: 1963 radiator core

I'm almost afraid to ask this one after I went into "information overload" about motor mounts

I'm convinced my '63 non-FI, non-A/C, May 29th car has the original radiator core. It has the
reinforced section on each side that runs down and along the front bottom portion and all the other indicators per the JG.

HOWEVER, (I don't have a picture of MY radiator core support handy) my core support has the oval, stamped hole as shown on this LATER radiator core in the first picture attachment (the yellow circle). (NOT to be mistaken with the LARGE oval hole for an F/I air cleaner).

Apparently this started in '64 and up and is not called out in the JG for '63...that I can find...

None of the repro '63 cores have this hole, not Coffman or LICS. (The second pic is the LICS repro for my car.)
Is this some anomaly in the transition to the '64 configuration, do I have a replacement core (unlikely) or what...?

I did search the archives on this but came up dry BTW...

Frank------


For information, the part of which you inquire is not referred to as a "core". It is referred to as a radiator core SUPPORT. The "core" is part of the radiator, itself.

[Bob R.]

Re: 1963 radiator core

I think the vendor making the reproduction core supports will make the hole if it is requested. For what its work my May 63 car has the hole, I'm sure I have an original 63 support due to the rust I found on it but I'm not sure it was original to my car.

[Alan D.]

Re: 1963 radiator core

Jim, FYI
March 64 FI has the hole! Sample of 1.

[Frank D.]

Re: 1963 radiator core

Thanks Joe - a fallback to Internet shorthand....

I, of course, am aware of that...and as one of the most knowledgeable folks around thanks for your "core support"

[Richard M.]

Re: 1963 radiator core

My Feb 27, 1963 PG car(with cooler), obviously had the oval hole, where the 2 hoses pass through.

[Bob W.]

Re: 1963 radiator core

Frank My Jan. 15 car w/PG has the hole.

Bob

[Frank D.]

Re: 1963 radiator core

OK, so now I've yet to hear about a car without the cooling line hose opening...
What are the repro vendors modeling their core supports from I wonder...
And how would a May '63 car fare in judging with one of their repros...??

[Jim L.]

Re: 1963 radiator core

OK, so now I've yet to hear about a car without the cooling line hose opening...

Frank, my PG '63, #3393, does NOT have the opening and, obviously, does NOT have the trans oil cooler.

March 64 FI has the hole! Sample of 1.

Most interesting, Alan. Provision for PG oil cooler on a car for which PG was NOT an option!