Radiator support aftermarket. Quality

[fordpoor]

New to the forum thought i would give it a try, I am looking at getting and aftermarket radiator support for my 72 short bed, does anybody recommend a company or should i just look for a nice original. I have a garage full of parts but need the rad support. Any help will do thanks in advance Mike

[AlleyCat]

Hi fordpoor and welcome. Unless you are going for an absolutely correct restoration you might want to consider using a rad support from a 73-79 truck.Keith wrote a good technical paper on the swap that you can find on the homepage.Good 73-79 supports are easy to find and a lot less expensive than a repop.

Enjoy the site.

[fordpoor]

Thanks for the post, i read the paper on replacing my 72 with a 73-79 and was looking into it. I thought i had a good support on one of my parts trucks but it was rusted at the bottom where it had a nest in it. I will keep looking. Thanks Mike

72 shortbed 302 4 on the floor
71 longbed parts
90 mustang GT
65 Pro street mustang coupe

[FORDification]

I don't have any personal experience with aftermarket radiator supports, but as for most of the other aftermarket sheetmetal, they're just not as good a quality product as OEM, mainly thinner steel. I'd just keep your eyes open for a good used OEM piece and clean it up. I'm using a '79 support on my '67, and it only required drilling a few extra holes to use, and the supports from the '73-'79 era are much easier to find in good condition than the earlier ones. Just my

[FORDification]

Here's a bumpside-era radiator support on E-bay...one tiny bit of rust under the battery tray.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-Pic ... enameZWDVW