Hello All, I just put in a new Aluminum Radiator (Frostbite FB188 From Summit) into my 1983 Trans Am Pace Car (LG4 T5) and I was not able to get the upper fan shroud to fit fully. I had to trim the rubber isolators and some of the plastic on the shroud and it still does not fit great. I got three of the 4 body bolts in. I thought this radiator would fit better than it does.

I started looking for some replacement upper shrouds (something in aluminum would be awesome) but nothing has the upper shelf / plate that bolts to the body to secure the radiator from flopping around. All the shrouds I have seen appear to just bolt to the radiator itself.

What do you all do to secure the radiator when going with an aftermarket fan/shroud set up? Also my Frostbite is thicker than the factory radiator so it will need a thicker upper plate I believe to properly fit. I have seen the E-Fan conversions and really don't care to mess with that - and again, I am uncertain how you secure the radiator.


Thanks.

 

The more I am thinking about this - the more this may have to be custom. I have a few ideas below:


OR


https://www.ebay.com/itm/29521751447...Bk9SR7iBqe6tYQ


And then mate it (somehow) to an aluminum radiator shroud.

 

I have the exact same setup and had to make a custom piece. Used a piece of sheet steel and a few minutes with a break to fab up something. Its a tight fit but works.

 

I used this w my 82. It required a little bending for my aluminum radiator but it was minimal. Drilled new holes in the upper support.

I used the black one, the paint is really good.

 

 

Thank you for the feedback and pictures. Nice work you did there thanks for sharing.

 

Awesome. Thanks for sharing.

 

Just adding some more information i found herein:
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/fabr...r-support.html

 

You can make the stock piece fit. You just have to trim it (some) and the rubber isolators not just the top/bottom, but also the ones between the rad/condenser. This is mine with a becool radiator on my 89 vert. Which also required rewelding the top isolator brackets farther back.

Here is the same shroud on my old 84z with a Champion radiator. No mods to radiator required.

 

Great pictures , thanks. I do think i can make it fit with some more trimming - I was kind of liking the idea of sprucing up the engine bay with a aluminum or chrome upper support. I bought a 2nd Gen chrome upper bracket to see if i can get that to work - the trick will be modifying or finding an upper shroud for the mechanical fan.