3 row vs 4 Row Radiator
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3 row vs 4 Row Radiator
My cheap autozone radiator has sprung a leak at the top tank after two years and I am going to replace it with a Champion aluminum radiator. They have two options, 3 or 4 row at only a $50 difference. Is upgrading to a 4 row worth the extra money? My truck is a stock 351M/C6 and does do some occasional towing, but nothing crazy.
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I don't have a lot of experience with selecting radiators (been lucky so far). Are fewer rows better at cooling in aluminum? I've done a lot of searching on here and found too much information on the radiator topic. A lot of conflicting opinions and information.
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I'm leaning toward this route as well. It's only $50 more. Did it run noticeably cooler after you swapped?
Grumpy goat
Joined: May 2017
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It didn't drop the mean coolant temp, but it did stabilize it. No more temp spikes on really hot days, after hard acceleration, or when pulling heavy loads. I'm running a 192 deg thermostat, and that's where it stays.
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Thanks...that's exactly what I was looking for. With this cheap, leaky radiator, my temps will spike the same way on hot days. I didn't want to put something similar back in.
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Ok, quick tech support question here...I may be overthinking this, but do I need the engine side mount or the grille side mount??
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Tuned
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 422
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From: Indiana
I recently replaced my radiator in my 78 after it over heated at a drive-drive through. I got a 3 row champion and its grate its not over heated or got hot since. truck runs better to also you might have to cut some of your core support to get one in. the one I got was wider than my old one. I had to cut the core support to the next mounting holes.
Grumpy goat
Joined: May 2017
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Mine is engine side mount...Radiator is on engine side of core support, mounting bolts go in from engine side. My truck is a 79 F150, 4wd, originally 351M, now 400. I did not have to cut the core support or modify anything.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,628
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From: Albuquerque
I used a two row Be Cool unit. Larger one available for 1977. Way more than adequate for 435 hp, auto, air hauling etc. With a double electric fan.
https://becool.com/pages/aluminum-radiators
https://becool.com/pages/aluminum-radiators
5th Wheeling
Joined: Jul 2017
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FWIW, my '79 F-350 Trailer Special which was designed for towing came with a 3 row from the Ford engineers. I've had 4000 pounds of rock in this thing and it didn't overheat, just took longer to stop. 
More rows mean more passes before it returns to the engine, but those passages are smaller to fit into the same physical space. Conversely, fewer rows equal fewer passes, but bigger passages. Both work, but it's sort of a Miller/Lincoln, Ford/Chevy thing, everybody's got their favorite. 3 row works for me, YMMV.
John
More rows mean more passes before it returns to the engine, but those passages are smaller to fit into the same physical space. Conversely, fewer rows equal fewer passes, but bigger passages. Both work, but it's sort of a Miller/Lincoln, Ford/Chevy thing, everybody's got their favorite. 3 row works for me, YMMV.John
Grumpy goat
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 3,058
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FWIW, my '79 F-350 Trailer Special which was designed for towing came with a 3 row from the Ford engineers. I've had 4000 pounds of rock in this thing and it didn't overheat, just took longer to stop. More rows mean more passes before it returns to the engine, but those passages are smaller to fit into the same physical space. Conversely, fewer rows equal fewer passes, but bigger passages. Both work, but it's sort of a Miller/Lincoln, Ford/Chevy thing, everybody's got their favorite. 3 row works for me, YMMV.
John
More rows mean more passes before it returns to the engine, but those passages are smaller to fit into the same physical space. Conversely, fewer rows equal fewer passes, but bigger passages. Both work, but it's sort of a Miller/Lincoln, Ford/Chevy thing, everybody's got their favorite. 3 row works for me, YMMV.John
5th Wheeling
Joined: Jul 2017
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Yeah, I was just going from memory which apparently isn't too good. Mine turned out to be rebuildable so I didn't look in-depth. Checked out the Be Cool site, nice stuff.