1950s 1957 Radiator Support

[Kurt Kjelgaard]

Hi,
The radiator support on the 57 Cad is "standing" on a carriage bolt/pad system mounted on a forward projecting "shelf" on the center of the front cross member.
Does anyone have a drawing or similar for the correct assembly sequence of pads, shims, washers etc.?
The parts manual(s) are not very helpful to say the least
Thanks

[59-in-pieces]

Kurt,

Since I have both a 57 and 59 EB, I have used these 2 attached diagrams for the respective radiator core supports assemblies.

The diagrams seem quite straight forward on how to assemble/stack the parts, but I'm not sure what your questioning.
Maybe by comparing the 57 with the 59 diagram it may help.

The problem I ran into was finding the exact replacement part for the compound shaped rubber components.
So I combined/stacked, a separate square and a separate round rubber component (glued them together) to make a replacement for the single part.

I did try to obtain the rubber parts from parts cars, but they were as deteriorated as my own.

I also looked at aftermarket parts from Chevrolets, which are similar (GM) but couldn't rely on an exact fit.

I hope the diagrams help you.

Have fun,
Steve B.

[Clewisiii]

For my 61 that Radiator core support uses the same part as the rubber body mounts.

[Kurt Kjelgaard]

Thanks for the inputs.
Thanks, Steve, good diagram for the 1957, but it seems to be for the EB with the battery across and in front of the support. The other 57 models have the battery longitudinal and "through" the support.
The 59 diagram looks more like what I have - with an extra square spacer betwen the rubber parts.
I will post a couple of pictures of what I pulled off the car. I am not sure it was correctly fitted previously.
Simple thing - does the bolt go in from the top or from the bottom? Mine was fitted with the bolt in from the bottom, nut on top.
Thanks, Clewisiii, the aftermarket pads are similar, but thinner than the originals - already got those.
As mentioned, will bring a few pics when I get to it

[Kurt Kjelgaard]

Just looked in my parts manual and realised that the diagram posted here as 1957 actually is for the 1958 - which is quite different from the 57.....

Anyway, a few pictures as promised:

First picture show the complete mount as removed from my car in the shown order
Had to cut the nut to dismantle.
The washer to the right of the square rubber pad was originally embedded in the pad, but had become loose.

Second picture: An original 57 radiator support pad on the right, I guess aftermarket or body mount pad on the left.

The original radiator support pads I have are definitely different from the body mount pads - they are thicker and the steel tube is approx. 1 1/16" outer diameter vs. 15/16" on the body mount pads.

Third picture is showing the lower edge of the radiator support frame, where the mount is fitted. I don't know what the purpose of the litlle tab above the mounting hole is. My guess is that it prevents the bolt from jumping out if for some reason the nut should come off - that is if the bolt is fitted from the top. As I mentioned earlier, on my car the bolt was fitted from the bottom.

So, I am sitting here with two different sized square rubber pads.

For 1959 to 65 the carriage bolt used acc. to the parts manual is 1/2" x 2 1/2", not 5/8" x 2 1/2" as used on the 57 and 58's. This can explain the smaller diameter of the steel tube in the pad to the left in the second picture, as this pad probably is for the later cars.
I suspect that body mount pads are sold as radiator mount pads - can be used, but not correct. And they will need more shims as they are thinner than the originals.

I do hope all of this makes sense - sometimes I can even confuse myself

[Roger Zimmermann]

Thanks, Steve, good diagram for the 1957, but it seems to be for the EB with the battery across and in front of the support.

The Brougham's battery is located into the trunk.

[Kurt Kjelgaard]

Hi Roger,
Yes, I was just assuming and not thinking - which can be a dangerous thing to do 😁