I'm looking to get the best cooling radiator for my 74 F100 4X4, it's got a 428 with 9.5 - 1 compression comp cams XE 262 cam, A/C, P/S and a C6 trans. I found a 2 row aluminum radiator, but am worried about it being only two rows. I'm in southern Utah where it gets really hot, the climate is like Las Vegas NV or Phoenix Az. The truck needs to have a really good cooling system because of the heat and what it will be used for; hill climbing, sand dune running etc. high loads, slow speeds.

Is this two row aluminum radiator good enough or do I need to look for something with more rows?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280281116252&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT&viewitem=>

Thanks!

Kerry

The stock original radiator that came in my 76 F150 with a 360 and AC is HUGE. Have you looked at one of those?

and the truck used to have overheating problems. The cooling system is one of the things I want to improve on. My truck is a 74, F100, so it may not has as big a radiator as your 76, F150.

In any case, from what I've learned, the aluminum radiators are much more efficient than the stock brass ones, but I'm just wondering if a 2 row is enough. 

Kerry

You may want to call and ask them about the size of the rows. Most new aluminum radiators use rows that are about double the size they used to be. About 1/2" wide compared to about 1/4" wide. I ran into this with an aluminum radiator before when i called to order it i told them i wanted a 4 row and they told me about it. Have had no issues with it. been a couple years now.

Bill Holm
www.billscustomauto.net
72 F100 410 cu in
67 Fastback to be determinned (wifes car)

Thanks for the tip, I just emailed the vendor to find out how wide the rows are.

Kerry

I got an email back from the radiator company saying it has two 3/8" rows. I sure wish I knew if that's enough.

Kerry

Usually, stock uses 3/8 rows and most modern alum ones use 1 inch or 1.25 inch tubes. If thats 3/8 tubes it wont do anymore than any other new clean stock radiator would

I'd just go stock replacement 3 or 4 core with the biggest engine driven fan you can fit, or if aftermarket, look for at least 2 one inch cores, but 1.25 is common on the better ones. Those monster ones stock ones work real well.

I dont think that will cut it for waht you want


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- 70 Fastback Mustang, 489 cid FE, TKO-600 5 speed, 3.70 9 inch
- 71 F100 shortbed 4x4, 397 cid FE, headers, Street Dominator, 280H, 5 lug Dana 60, 4 speed

I was starting to get the same idea. I have a big tall radiator out of a 77 F250 Camper Special 460 that I can recore and use.

Kerry

Especially if you have the stock shroud.

Just make sure it'll bolt to your current radiator support, there were lots of variations in the radiator support itself in the 60's and 70's


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- 70 Fastback Mustang, 489 cid FE, TKO-600 5 speed, 3.70 9 inch
- 71 F100 shortbed 4x4, 397 cid FE, headers, Street Dominator, 280H, 5 lug Dana 60, 4 speed

...I believe all the F-series radiator saddles from 1973-1979 are the same, except some original openings were smaller. In any case, the opening can be cutout/enlarged to match any stock type radiator.

As an owner of a 71, the 67-72 seemed to have a different rad support for every day of the week.


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- 70 Fastback Mustang, 489 cid FE, TKO-600 5 speed, 3.70 9 inch
- 71 F100 shortbed 4x4, 397 cid FE, headers, Street Dominator, 280H, 5 lug Dana 60, 4 speed

n/m

I have three different versions on three different trucks.

Two have varying depths of integral "stands" that the radiator recesses into, and then there is a surface mount style radiator as well.

Radiators are not interchangeable between them

The site below says 4x4 versus 4x2, but I have seen the same, plus differences in the big rad plus heavy duty cooling in 2WD.

http://www.fordification.com/interchange_body.htm

I had a 71 2WD 302 Heavy-duty special that had the stands welded to the rad support like a 4x4, my 71 360 4x4 had the stands as well and a similar radiator as the HD special.

However my parts truck, 72 SWB 2WD 302/C-4, had a surface mount radiator (bolted directly to the rad support, no stands) and my 70 F250 360, 4x4, long bed, had a huge 5 inch (guessing) thick top tank, that used a deeper set of "stands". I had planned to use that radiator in my 1/2 ton, but my 71 rad support was in better shape, so I left it. It never got hot anyway, so the swap was just busy work if I were to change the perches.

Ironically, last year, I went to buy a new radiator for my 71, and its the one that nobody lists, go figure, I picked the oddball way back when.

I ended up having it repaired, but sooner or later I'll have to come up with something


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- 70 Fastback Mustang, 489 cid FE, TKO-600 5 speed, 3.70 9 inch
- 71 F100 shortbed 4x4, 397 cid FE, headers, Street Dominator, 280H, 5 lug Dana 60, 4 speed

A heavy duty cooling pkg radiator that came from a 1977 in my 72 crew.
It has a 4 inch wide tank on top. It is a very big (tall and wide) radiator.
It is about as much fun to work with as an iron fe intake.
I can't imagine you would need anything more than that.

Tim



1970 Boss 302
1972 F250 Crew Cab (powered by 66 Super Marauder 428)

but it's not like what my truck came with. If I have to I will use the big radiator like you're talking about, but I'm hoping to find a radiator that's about same size as the original; but with better cooling. That's why I'm looking at aluminum radiators; I've heard they are much more efficient than the stock brass radiators.

Kerry

in my Mustang and it seems to cool well with a very small fan, and no shroud. I am of the impression that the typical two row aluminum radiator cools better than a 4 row brass based on what I have read, but I have not compared the two in one vehicle. This may have more to do with the architecture of fewer larger tubes and different fin density, than actual heat transfer of the material. I've also read (perhaps from Royce)that brass has better heat transfer coefficient, but I suspect that is overruled by the configuration of aluminum radiators.

Gary B

Look one up for a stock 77 F150 460 with max cooling. Your FE Ain't gonna overheat with that one.

250-350.00 max. Direct bolt in for your truck too. 73-79 all interchange

and I am using the stock FE radiator with never a problem . .never. Doesn't matter if it is summer, 100 degrees or not, never over heats.

Pete's Ponies
Mustang RUSToration & Performance

in my '69 428CJ. It was a two row I had recored(when it popped)into a three row. Cools fine, with one small electric fan.

I run a Griffin 2 row in my race car and my blown Galaxie and they work great also. Single electric fans on each.

LarryK

1964 Galaxie 2dr 390/6-71/4spd
1964 Country Sedan Wagon 428/5spd
1969 F100 428/4spd
1967 F100 352/now a 4 spd!
1959 B Model Mack