Radiator Selection for 460 Swap
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Cross-Country
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
From: Sioux Falls, SD
Radiator Selection for 460 Swap
Hello all,
I took a 460 out of a 1979 F150 4x2 camper special and rebuilt it to about 450-475 hp/ft-lbs. I then installed it in my 1979 F150 4x4 with L&L engine mounts and headers. I now need to install a radiator and get this thing running but the radiator out of the 4x2 camper special was leaking and not rebuildable. The radiator shop said they can get a 4 row replacement for $675 that is identical to the one that came out of the camper special. This seems like a lot when compared to LMC and Jeff's Bronco graveyard but not sure if they are all the same. The guy at radiator shop said the one for the camper special was unique in size and so forth. I have the radiator shroud form the 4x2 camper and that is in good shape.
Suggestions anyone?
I took a 460 out of a 1979 F150 4x2 camper special and rebuilt it to about 450-475 hp/ft-lbs. I then installed it in my 1979 F150 4x4 with L&L engine mounts and headers. I now need to install a radiator and get this thing running but the radiator out of the 4x2 camper special was leaking and not rebuildable. The radiator shop said they can get a 4 row replacement for $675 that is identical to the one that came out of the camper special. This seems like a lot when compared to LMC and Jeff's Bronco graveyard but not sure if they are all the same. The guy at radiator shop said the one for the camper special was unique in size and so forth. I have the radiator shroud form the 4x2 camper and that is in good shape.
Suggestions anyone?
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 306
Likes: 23
From: Baton Rouge
The one from LMC is Chinese and on my camper special, it was a poor fit and poor quality. They sent a mid support instead of the front support. That was the only one they list for the 26x19 1/2. I recommend the local shop however, for $675, you can get an aluminum made in USA one from Griffin out of South Carolina. Tho if you go that route, you'll have to figure out how to mount the shroud. I would check if another local can recore/braze the tanks on the old one. idk about JBG but the LMC one is bad. I've only been using it because desperate.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,005
Likes: 63
From: Eastern, Idaho
I have had a modine 545 3 row super cooling radiator 26"x24" tall core but its old and scaled now and causes high temps when it is hot out and running AC or towing. Local radiator shop quoted me 400 to 800 to recore to 4 row. Currently waiting for this radiator from Summit http://www.summitracing.com/parts/GRI-7-70138
I ordered a murray aluminum 2 row super cooler replica from oreillys for about 250 but didn't care for the plastic tanks and returned it. Then I ordered the Griffin 7-70137 but it was a rear flange mount and had to send it back. The 2wd 460 shroud looks like it will fit fine on the existing holes of the radiator.
LMC doesn't list a 4 row. Although I think a new 3 row would cool it. If you get a new radiator pay attention to whether or not you have a front flange or rear/side flange mount. If you get the larger radiator it requires a different lower hose than the shorter height radiators and it is a tight fit because of the cross member on the f150s and the fact that the tall super cooling radiator extends to the bottom of the frame rail.
I ordered a murray aluminum 2 row super cooler replica from oreillys for about 250 but didn't care for the plastic tanks and returned it. Then I ordered the Griffin 7-70137 but it was a rear flange mount and had to send it back. The 2wd 460 shroud looks like it will fit fine on the existing holes of the radiator.
LMC doesn't list a 4 row. Although I think a new 3 row would cool it. If you get a new radiator pay attention to whether or not you have a front flange or rear/side flange mount. If you get the larger radiator it requires a different lower hose than the shorter height radiators and it is a tight fit because of the cross member on the f150s and the fact that the tall super cooling radiator extends to the bottom of the frame rail.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,742
Likes: 5
From: Near St. Joseph,MO
If yours is beyond repair, go to a junkyard and find one that's in better shape and have it R&R'd. I'm using a stock radiator out of the trailer special I got my engine from and a local shop quoted me $65 to clean, paint and check for leaks.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
From: Sioux Falls, SD
The radiator shop I took it to said it was bad and I messed up and didn't go pick it up over a year ago because I saw you could get a replacement for cheaper than they quoted to recore. Well now I know the more cost effective replacements are not a good option to go with so now I am stuck either paying 500-700 for a replacement or getting one from a junk yard and have it recored.
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