Radiator size question
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Elder User
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Radiator size question
1968 f250 with the 390 and auto transmission. My rad has a leak inside.
New ones are aluminum/plastic or straight aluminium. They offer 4 row 3 row 2 row 1 row radiators huge price difference as well.
The 4 rows and 3 rows are tube size of 5/8 Other ones were 3/4 and nice shiny chrome look I prefer the stock black look..I dont want to much chrome finish.
However the 1 row radiator made by spectre. Is very cheap compared to others 156. Vs 200 300 range However the cheap one is only 1 row but has the size of 1.5in tube..Which would you pick? I have stock fan. No shroud but I'll buy one soon. I plan to pull my cars occasionally. Roughly 4k. Which would be the better radiator for me? Also I live in Houston tx. Very hot and humid and traffic sitting
Sorry for all the rookie questions. This is my first old truck. I'm use to imports
New ones are aluminum/plastic or straight aluminium. They offer 4 row 3 row 2 row 1 row radiators huge price difference as well.
The 4 rows and 3 rows are tube size of 5/8 Other ones were 3/4 and nice shiny chrome look I prefer the stock black look..I dont want to much chrome finish.
However the 1 row radiator made by spectre. Is very cheap compared to others 156. Vs 200 300 range However the cheap one is only 1 row but has the size of 1.5in tube..Which would you pick? I have stock fan. No shroud but I'll buy one soon. I plan to pull my cars occasionally. Roughly 4k. Which would be the better radiator for me? Also I live in Houston tx. Very hot and humid and traffic sitting
Sorry for all the rookie questions. This is my first old truck. I'm use to imports
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Brentwood,CA
I would and I do use the 3 row welded aluminum radiators. The best kept secret in painting them is to actually use vinyl dye as it adheres perfectly and looks way better than paint. I use VHT black vinyl dye.
I bought this one and the seller accepted 145.00
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Fit-1968-19...rd!94513!US!-1
I bought this one and the seller accepted 145.00
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Fit-1968-19...rd!94513!US!-1
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2018
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A single 1.5" will cool better than a three row 5/8. The more rows you have the more resistance the radiator has to air flow.
Edit:Unless you have a fan that pulls HIGH cfms then I would probably concider the 4 row of 3/4" or 3 row 5/8".
Edit:Unless you have a fan that pulls HIGH cfms then I would probably concider the 4 row of 3/4" or 3 row 5/8".
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Brentwood,CA
All heat exchangers for maximum thermal transfer need contact time and surface area to be the most effective. This is why you don't see any oems using single core radiators in a heavy duty application. They simply don't have the BTU rating of a multi row radiator.
Laughing Gas
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https://www.dewitts.com/blogs/news/1...etter-than-two
11-13 v8 Mustangs and f150s use single core. Not necessarily heavy duty but not light duty. I would assume multiple core radiators are still made because long flat hollow tubes get expensive as they get wider.
just my 2 cents.
Logistics Pro
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Maybe in 1980. I took mine into re-core and it was $700-800. I wound up with a 3 core welded with dual fans and shroud for $300. Cooling is all about surface area heat dissipation. Takes longer for a larger area to cool than a bunch of little ones.
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Laughing Gas
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https://www.coldcaseradiators.com/faq
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I'm really thinking about the single core. It has 1.5in tubes. In my mind bigger diameter tubes would be more surface area? I couldn't be wrong but in my mind id rather have 1.5in tube than 5/8 or 3/4
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2018
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So where are you pricing radiators?
There are two different core sizes and different mounts as well. My truck has the bigger radiator in it. RockAuto tells you core size, # of rows and thickness of rows for most its radiators. eBay can be a good place as well.
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...,radiator,2172
Also buy a fan shroud if you do not have one. It will save you from overheating in traffic.
There are two different core sizes and different mounts as well. My truck has the bigger radiator in it. RockAuto tells you core size, # of rows and thickness of rows for most its radiators. eBay can be a good place as well.
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...,radiator,2172
Also buy a fan shroud if you do not have one. It will save you from overheating in traffic.
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Im looking at summit racing for all the info poste . They do have the sizes listed but I have to see what my truck currently has.
The cheap single core radiator is 156. Others are 200 to almost 400
The cheap single core radiator is 156. Others are 200 to almost 400
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Brentwood,CA
I gave you the link to a 3 core in post 2 that was below all those prices.
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I saw it but I'm still leaning towards the spectre one from summit. Single core. $156. 1 1/2 tube size. Built in trans cooler. Stock fan setup. I will buy a shroud. If I decide to get electric fans I'll upgrade radiators later.