Radiator core support assembly

[Tom R.]

Was the radiator core support installed during body build but prior to blackout in the late 1970 period? I've removed the radiator and have loosened the radiator core support and now that I'm underneath and a couple of the dust shields removed, I can see blackout where a dust shield once was.

Afterward...I recalled John Hinckley had posted the C2 assembly and so I check it. He wrote

Front Clip including radiator support and headlight buckets,

Grille brackets, wiring clips, A/C horn bracket, F.I. air cleaner

mounting plate, washer bottle or bag bracket, rubber splash
seals, expansion tank bracket, header bar reinforcement, cut

opening for A/C battery access panel in LH inner fender, etc.

Granted this is for C2 but suspect the radiator support was still part of the front clip sub-assembly.

More. Having read thru Hinkley's narrative, it occurred to me that the rad support was also subject to black-out, especially on the inboard side. Once front clip sub-assembly was bonded and glued, and entire assembly was painted and baked than blackout with mask applied to protect fenders and hood edge.

Anyone address this aspect as well.

[John H.]

Re: Radiator core support assembly

Was the radiator core support installed during body build but prior to blackout in the late 1970 period? I've removed the radiator and have loosened the radiator core support and now that I'm underneath and a couple of the dust shields removed, I can see blackout where a dust shield once was.

Afterward...I recalled John Hinckley had posted the C2 assembly and so I check it. He wrote

Granted this is for C2 but suspect the radiator support was still part of the front clip sub-assembly.

More. Having read thru Hinkley's narrative, it occurred to me that the rad support was also subject to black-out, especially on the inboard side. Once front clip sub-assembly was bonded and glued, and entire assembly was painted and baked than blackout with mask applied to protect fenders and hood edge.

Anyone address this aspect as well.

Tom -

The radiator support is what held the entire front clip in position from its initial installation through the entire rest of the process. In the Paint Shop photo below, note the two pedestals on the front of the body truck, supporting the bottom of the radiator support.

[Tom R.]

Re: Radiator core support assembly

Thanks John

So it probably did get some blackout overspray but I'm sure with no apparent deliberate pattern.

[Michael D.]

Re: Radiator core support assembly

Pics in Birthplace of Legends by Peter LiCastro show the front clip in the jig being assembled. Radiator support is already in place and is already semi-flat black. This series of assembly line photos were taken in October of 77, if memory serves.

[Tom R.]

Re: Radiator core support assembly

Pics in Birthplace of Legends by Peter LiCastro show the front clip in the jig being assembled. Radiator support is already in place and is already semi-flat black. This series of assembly line photos were taken in October of 77, if memory serves.

Ironically, page 78. Nice find and thx for passing along. Yeah...looks semi-flat in comparison to some of the other black and whites. Actually, these are pretty good quality B/Ws.