So the question, first: how do I find the right radiator, and do you know of any that are better than others.


I just bought a '95 F350 Powerstroke and after a few days in NY the coolant froze... that new coolant he put in wasn't antifreeze enough...

So my shop says it just got slushy and is only leaking from the radiator and lower hose.

Problem is I seem to have that early radiator setup and the parts aren't listed. I bought the Spectra radiator listed for '95 F350 7.3L, and everything I've found to cross-reference says it's right, but it's not the same as the one I have -- doesn't have a fill cap, doesn't have a flange like mine to blot up to the support. Dealer says from the vin I have the "heavy duty cooling option" and it's all copper/brass, which looks nice, but it is also 20 years old-looking, so...

I'm just having a hard time finding any info on what radiator will fit, or is correct, or should be in there. Is it the same as the '94 radiators? That's what some are guessing. They have a fill cap and looks like the flange.

Has anyone used anything from Alumorad?

1995 1996 1997 Ford F250 F350 F450 Pickup Truck 7.3 Liter Diesel New All Aluminum Radiator


By the way, to those noticing newer aluminum radiators only have 2 rows instead of 3 or 4, that's not bad. I see people discussing this often. Surface area is what's important for cooling and the aluminum tubes can be made wider so only 2 are needed for the same radiator thickness. They say this is even better because the space between the rows adversely affects the air flow and cooling.

 

Yeah alumorad user in here! The reason i bought it is because of good reviews about alumorad radiators so i tried instead of other aftermarket brands out there. I installed it last year, so far no problems and i will let you know if i encounter one. (Hopefully not) My previous radiator was from Auto Parts Warehouse

 

Do you have a degas bottle with a pressure cap, or a cap on the radiator and external overflow?

 

Thanks madpogue, I have the overflow bottle with cap that just snaps on and fill cap on the radiator.

Looks like maybe the radiator from a '94 will fit. Spectra lists two for all '94 diesels. Is one for the IDI (short and wide rectangle) and one for my Powerstroke?

 

If you have a cap on the radiator and the overflow tank with a snap on cap you do not have a powerstroke. Powerstrokes use a sealed radiator and a pressurized surge tank.

 

Mine is a 94.5, and It's a snap on cap overflow with a cap on the fill neck of the radiator. And it's definitely a powerstroke!

 

Hmmmm I've never seem that, our 95s through 97s we've had have all had the sealed radiator and surge tank

 

I'm pretty sure that the 95's were a transition yere for the rad. Early 95's will have the old style and late will have the new

 

While the topic is here, to the OP, I used an all aluminum Champion cooling radiator.

While this thread is here, is it possible to convert to the 95-97 pressurized overflow bottle, and still retain the radiator I have now? The bottle on mine is all yellowed and nasty looking, and if I was going to replace it, I was thinking I could upgrade it at the same time.

 

Correct, and this is the basis for the question in post #3. With a '95, we have to know which type of cooling system. Having the OP describe the radiator answers that question.

 

Thanks everyone for the info

ProjectDually, I Definitely have a Powerstroke. Apparently the early builds still carried over the radiator and reservoir setup. I think you can convert yours to the new style, but from what I've seen there isn't any advantage to either way, but the hose configuration is easier on the old style so don't bother. Also easier to fil.

So, I've narrowed my options:
* Spectra CU1165 -2-row, 1-15/16" thick, aluminum/plastic $193.46 shipped from Amazon
* Alumorad 656112 -1-row, 1" tube, 1-3/4" thick, all welded aluminum $398.52 shipped --he says 1 row is better, more rows just slow down airflow and all-aluminum is way better.
* Or the champion MC1165 4-row $297.90 shipped from ebay... best deal I've seen so far, just want to check if it still has the warrantee.

I think I'm going to get that one from Champion unless any one has any feedback otherwise

 

I run the champion 4 core and have no qualms with it. Its a well built one, all aluminum and cools pretty quickly after a long haul. No towing DATA, just a long hard run with it.

 

is there a tranny cooler in out radiators?

 

Yes the tranny lines run right into the radiator first.

The rad does the majority of the cooling

 

The 94 and early 95 used the IDI radiator, found that out the hard way with my 95. The conversion isn't easy without a donor. The IDI radiator has brackets to hold the radiator to the core support with 4 bolts and the shroud bolts to those same brackets with 4 bolts. The 95.5+ radiator has pegs on the top and bottom for mounts and the shroud slips into the bottom with two bolts at the top.

I converted mine by making brackets out of the old radiator but then had to cut up the shroud to fit because all the plumbing is on opposite ends. The lower hose is different with the later version having a T in it for the degas bottle. I got around that with an international pump.