I'm building a 53 f100 and am on a tight budget. I'm looking for suggestions on what radiator to use. I'm running a 93 5.0 engine with an aod. I'd like to use a common radiator that will do the job and not cost an arm and a leg. I'm going to run electric fans. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks,

 

Well for my setup I am running a rad from a 66 Mustang with a Taurus 3.8L electric fan. Just had to do a little fabbing for the mounts but nothing too serious. Best thing is they are off the shelf parts, and the Taurus fan is actually readily available in the junkyard.

 

Hi If you have the original 53 rad maybe check on the cost of having it re-cored and trans cooling lines added. You would probably want a new rad anyway. If you feel it may be to small a rad shop could possibly add an extra row of cores to the rad also. In my opinion the original rads look the best in these trucks but to each his own, just a thought.
Good luck and welcome.

 

You could contact Superior Radiator in Mt. Clemens, MI.

They make these:



I found this one on ebay with a "best offer" tag. I offered $275 & they took the offer. Add $50 for shipping. There are other options. Some guys are using stock radiators from late model Dodge pickups. I hear it's more or less a bolt-in deal & that the new radiators are around $145 at the local auto store. Maybe somebody will weigh in here with a part number.

Dan

 

I'm using a 97 f250 radiator I found on Craigslist for $45. Bolts right in. It's thicker than stock, and its aluminum.

 

Bobby researched this and came up with a mid 70's dodge truck radiator, which is what I'm using also. We've got F1's, but it may work with f100's also. Cheap at any parts store or u pull em.

 

Hi again, On second thoughts this wouldn't work unless your truck had a 6 cyl. in it or you had a rad out of a 55-56.

 

While my truck is sort of unique in powerplant choice, I ran a radiator from a mid 70s Dodge truck for 3 years without major problems until I installed A/C. I then had some major issues with cooling my Mercedes diesel. I am now running the Desert Cooler radiator that Mid-Fifty sells and can testify that it will cool just about any engine you put behind it.