My radiator sprung a leak in my 2001 F150 4.2L XL, I went to Auto zone and picked up a new radiator and went through the process of switching it out. Every thing went fine until I got to installing the new radiator I noticed that the mounts were to wide for the new radiator, naturally I blamed Auto Zone for giving me the wrong part. Upon returning it to switch it out for the right part, I seen that the replacement was the exact same one as before. They called the local Ford dealer ship and got a part number from them and it matched the one they gave me, We did a by VIN look up and the out come was the same. I went to 3 other Auto part stores and its the same.. I then brought the old radiator in and Auto Zone couldn't identify it, it had no numbers stamped on it or other identifying markings. Has anyone ran in to this problem? I thought about manufacturing a mount and mounting it to the truck to make the new model radiator fit. Any suggestions?

 

Go to the ROCK AUTO PARTS website and key in your year, engine size.
Get to the radiator page, then look at the 'INFO' for dimensions and compare to what you have.
The auto parts stores do not always have the correct info.
They buy data bases that often lack the correct info.
The clerks at the stores can't do anything about it right or wrong.
Good luck.

 

Thanks Bluegrass 7, I found a radiator that fits mine and for a fair price. Fingers Crossed

 

I ran into another problem as I was working on my F150 ( this is all new to me ) the coolant bypass tube looks like it broke off in the top manifold or possibly slide out., im not sure how to fix this problem but was thinking if I cleaned up the tube and top manifold I could possibly use JB weld to mend the issue till I can figure out a permanent solution. Is this a bad idea or does anyone know a better way for a temp fix.

 

It's all a crap shoot because of the temperature and pressures involved.
May hold for some time then about in the middle of a trip it blows.
Good luck.