Well I went and plunked down some money to buy an original nos desert cooling option rad from 1966 an apparently rare option that has 3 cores. Said rad was found left for dead in a closed Ford dealer. I'm excited to add it to big red.
My biggest fear: The rad ends up as a religious artifact instead of going in the Shelby and I offer the rad saucers of antifreeze every April 17th as a sacrifice to the Goddess of Antifreeze.
Cool never seen one installed in a Shelby (originally or after by an owner) only a fair number of Mustangs
It should be a conversation piece to say the least since they are so physically different looking
Exciting times await. NO Evans coolant will be used. Going mainstream with a 50/50 mix and maybe an anti corrosive additive.
Wow, Where did you find an NOS radiator, especially that one?
Always amazed Ford didn't use maximum strength radiators for all their HiPo Mustangs. Always seemed to go with the bare minimum to get the job done.
post a picture of that thing
Some pictures of the 66 "desert cooler" radiator
Believe they were all built so they could be used in automatic equipped cars
(http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/10/6-010418010345.jpeg)
Unlike typical San Jose radiators these had markings on the side strap
(http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/10/6-010418010305.jpeg)
And a different style of the top tank stamping
(http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/10/6-010418010248.jpeg)
A NOS "kit" that was offered a while back. Maybe the one deathsled purchased
(http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/10/6-010418010330.jpeg)
Acquired on ebay. I will post when it arrives. There are artifacts out there. As I've said on prior occasions, my car is a day eleventeen car so making it as I want it isn't so tragic. Besides anything I add is mere bolt on, bolt off.
Here it is. Has not arrived yet.
Jeff, any idea as to how many of these made it into production cars ?
WOWSKI!
Quote from: preaction on April 01, 2018, 02:15:34 PM
Jeff, any idea as to how many of these made it into production cars ?
66 Mustangs? Not many since not really needed and of course no records kept of these things. Think I've likely seen a dozen to a dozen and a half San Jose cars with them over 45 years or so . Never one originally in a NJ or Dearborn 66.
Jeff
ive had 2 unrestored cars both San Jose 66 GT coupes, 1 auto 1 manual both with air con and tinted glass options one delivered to Arizona originally and one purchased from Oceanside in California.
both cars had the desert cooler radiator and over the years I have found 2 of these radiators in Australia in junk/spare parts collections and purchased one from a contact in California. not the nicest looking radiator but a lot more effecticent than standard radiators found on shelbys and mustangs from the 66 production year.
pity all my current cars are 66 NJ examples so not really correct application for those mustangs
regards
PHILL BERESFORD
MELBOURNE.
AUSTRALIA.
Quote from: outlawincorporated on April 02, 2018, 12:18:58 AM
Jeff
ive had 2 unrestored cars both San Jose 66 GT coupes, 1 auto 1 manual both with air con and tinted glass options one delivered to Arizona originally and one purchased from Oceanside in California.
Did the one on the manual car have the fittings for the automatic transmission cooler hook up?
Big bad rad has arrived. Very pleased with this fantastic artifact. Like the Arc of the Covenant.
Currently working on an unrestored '66 Mustang convertible with a desert cooler radiator. No fittings for auto trans. Oddly enough, it is in fact a Dearborn car with air and 4-speed. There was some question on the Mustang forum in regards to it being original. The car, however, has a D.S.O of 24, Jacksonville, so perhaps....... I'm not claiming it to be original, but it would be nice to know.
Can post photos if anyone is interested.
Pete.
Quote from: deathsled on April 11, 2018, 10:07:36 PM
Big bad rad has arrived. Very pleased with this fantastic artifact. Like the Arc of the Covenant.
Hello deathsled,
Until Computerworks (Ron) fixes the uploading function for photos, can you (if you haven't already) create a "My Gallery" and post pics of this NOS Desert Cooling Option radiator?
Thanks,
~Earl J
I will do so when I get home this evening.
Uploaded three pics in Gallery with stamped numbers. I hate to strip the whole thing out of the cocooned plastic wrap but if more pictures are desired, please advise and I'll strip her down. No outlets for auto trans on this one. It was purported to be a desert cooling radiator optioned for 1966. Anyone see any deficiencies or discrepancies with this assertion, please let me know. I was only three years old when this thing was made so what do I know.
Quote from: deathsled on April 12, 2018, 11:47:24 PM
Uploaded three pics in Gallery with stamped numbers. I hate to strip the whole thing out of the cocooned plastic wrap but if more pictures are desired, please advise and I'll strip her down. No outlets for auto trans on this one. It was purported to be a desert cooling radiator optioned for 1966. Anyone see any deficiencies or discrepancies with this assertion, please let me know. I was only three years old when this thing was made so what do I know.
It was not a available option on the GT350.
Quote from: Bob Gaines on April 13, 2018, 12:12:44 AM
Quote from: deathsled on April 12, 2018, 11:47:24 PM
Uploaded three pics in Gallery with stamped numbers. I hate to strip the whole thing out of the cocooned plastic wrap but if more pictures are desired, please advise and I'll strip her down. No outlets for auto trans on this one. It was purported to be a desert cooling radiator optioned for 1966. Anyone see any deficiencies or discrepancies with this assertion, please let me know. I was only three years old when this thing was made so what do I know.
It was not a available option on the GT350.
Well deathsled did say somewhat jokingly his car is a "day eleventeen car so making the car the way he wants it isn't so tragic" as the item is a "bolt on".
~E
I would use that radiator in a heartbeat for a driver's car.
Quote from: SFM5S000 on April 13, 2018, 12:31:06 AM
Quote from: Bob Gaines on April 13, 2018, 12:12:44 AM
Quote from: deathsled on April 12, 2018, 11:47:24 PM
Uploaded three pics in Gallery with stamped numbers. I hate to strip the whole thing out of the cocooned plastic wrap but if more pictures are desired, please advise and I'll strip her down. No outlets for auto trans on this one. It was purported to be a desert cooling radiator optioned for 1966. , please let me know. I was only three years old when this thing was made so what do I know.
It was not a available option on the GT350.
Well deathsled did say somewhat jokingly his car is a "day eleventeen car so making the car the way he wants it isn't so tragic" as the item is a "bolt on".
~E
Earl,of course that is his prerogative to make his car the way he wants. That intent was not expressed in his post and I was responding to Deathsleds direct question of if anyone see's any deficiencies or discrepancies with the assertion that the radiator in question was a option . In the context of on a Shelby forum and in the forum category of 1966 GT350/GT350H the assertion that it was a option does not apply to GT350 . I wanted to assure you that I was not imposing my will by steering him away from anything. I didn't want others who may read this later to get the wrong idea that it was some kind of factory option for a GT350 which it is not. It is all is good . ;D
I agree with Bob. My sentence was poorly worded and the record has to be kept straight on all of these cars and life in general. Bob is our court reporter to all things Shelby and we need him and men like him to keep the record accurate. There is an aftermarket rad in the car now. That's getting shelfed. My interest was to verify that this is an original desert cooling rad optioned for 1966 that did not include Shelbys of course.
Or better: Is this a desert cooling rad or a mirage? Lol!
Bob, my mistake. I didn't read well enough through deathsled's reply. I shall now bow out gracefully and not push the issue further. You are correct.
Cheers,
~Earl J
Quote from: SFM5S000 on April 13, 2018, 03:38:59 PM
Bob, my mistake. I didn't read well enough through deathsled's reply. I shall now bow out gracefully and not push the issue further. You are correct.
Cheers,
~Earl J
I sure wish I could get the same comment out of Special Ed ;D ;D
Reviving an old post, I spotted another Mustang with the desert radiator (no it wasn't a Shelby and no representation express or implied is to be inferred that I ever thought or believed this radiator to ever have come on a factory Shelby), but an earlier post had intimated that my desert rad might have been a kit, however there is yet another Mustang I just spotted online with the desert cooling option and the stamping on mine mirrors the stamping on this convertible. The letters are much crisper and defined than in the earlier posting on what was contended to be an NOS kit. Here is the photo of the other radiator compared to mine. And the site where I found it. As an addendum to Herr Speegle's earlier post, the lettering and numbers on that rad are indented with a negative space whereas the numbers on these two in this post are raised.
(https://i.imgur.com/KrC3gdR.jpg?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/aOBBkjk.jpg?1)
The site: http://www.forristalls.com/1966%20Emberglo%20Convertible/1966_ford_mustang_emberglo_conve.html
The problem I have now is that if, in fact, this is THE rare factory desert radiator, do I put it on big red and enjoy a cooler driving engine that is gradually using up this radiator or do I put this radiator under glass and pray to it periodically as a a rare artifact bestowed upon me as a divine piece of automotive history. (Partly kidding of course, but scarily partly serious).
Richard,
You could install it, go for a drive in the desert (none very close to IL, however) and let us know if it's better than the aftermarket rad. 8) ;D
That sounds like a good option. Trailer 843 over to Needles, CA and drive on.
Quote from: deathsled on June 09, 2021, 09:11:59 PM
........... As an addendum to Herr Speegle's earlier post, the lettering and numbers on that rad are indented with a negative space whereas the numbers on these two in this post are raised.
Could you help me find where I posted that the markings on the top or side strap were indented?
Thanks - If I did write that it needed to be corrected and not how the examples I posted were, marked
Thanks for adding another example of this fairly rare (not very popular) option for Mustangs to the thread. Think this is the first time I've seen one on a Dearborn built early Mustang
Quote from: J_Speegle on June 10, 2021, 01:24:12 AM
Quote from: deathsled on June 09, 2021, 09:11:59 PM
........... As an addendum to Herr Speegle's earlier post, the lettering and numbers on that rad are indented with a negative space whereas the numbers on these two in this post are raised.
Could you help me find where I posted that the markings on the top or side strap were indented?
Thanks - If I did write that it needed to be corrected and not how the examples I posted were, marked
Thanks for adding another example of this fairly rare (not very popular) option for Mustangs to the thread. Think this is the first time I've seen one on a Dearborn built early Mustang
You didn't write that they were indented. Only looked so from one of the photos. Either way, unpopular or not, my question pends in my mind: How effective were they?
Screw it. I am going to install the thing. What am I saving it for? The afterlife? It will likely end up on the rubbish heap somewhere, unappreciated. So I will use it up. Rads can be rebuilt anyway, right? It will outlast me I am sure, given the number of miles I drive the red and gold one.
Quote from: 2112 on April 01, 2018, 12:00:48 AMAlways amazed Ford didn't use maximum strength radiators for all their HiPo Mustangs. Always seemed to go with the bare minimum to get the job done.
Today Ford breaks down parts prices to a 1/100 of a cent. When you build a million of something it adds up so you are right they use the minimum to get the job done. We spoke to a Ford engineer one time an he said material costs averaged $1.00 per pound. Steel was cheap, aluminum, glass, plastics, leather higher. He said it cost about a million to re-engineer a part, material or process to take 1 pound out of a car. The weight penalty for the CAFE is big enough that cutting weight is a priority.
When they developed the 05 Mustang there was a big meeting on the oil gauge. Most of the gauges in new cars operate like idiot lights even though they have a needle and scale. To have an actual analog gauge rather than just an on/off switch cost 2 cents more per car. The real gauge finally won out due to Mustang being a "drivers car". That took $20,000 off the profit sheet for the first million D2C Mustangs. Doesn't sound like much in the overall picture but it all adds up to money for the stockholder.
BTW: There are already some F150 prototypes doing durability tests with unibody construction - like the new Maverick.