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I try not to drive the truck around without enough tools and spare parts to fix anything but a major failure. Today I was heading up the freeway (15N) when I saw my temp creeping up and smelled hot coolant. Got off the road safely and popped the hood to find that my radiator had split the seam between the top tank and the core, about 4" long split open. I had a couple of gallons of water that got me to a gas station with a water hose. I filled it up and assessed the situation. Looked in the toolbox and sure enough, there was no radiator in there. I did find a small roll of solder and a micro torch, a wire brush, and handtools needed to r&r a radiator. Even had an upper hose. I looked at the amount of solder I had, and looked at the gash in the radiator seam and knew it wouldn't work.
so I figured since the leak was at the top and the damn thing holds like 5 gallons of coolant I could leave the cap loose and drive to my shop where I have more solder, a hotter torch, air tools, fans, and shade. Oh yeah, and the spare radiator that wouldn't fit in the toolbox. So I top it off and get on the freeway but within a couple of miles the needle started moving up past my comfort zone and I had to shut 'er down. Thank gosh I still have a AAA membership.
So here I am at the shop, the radiator is out, and I remember that the radiator I harvested from my parts truck and sent out to the radiator shop to rod & repair has the flanges on the wrong side, putting it closer to the motor. No worries, I kept the fan spacer from the other truck as well as the flex fan and shorter hoses. But here's the kicker. I have no idea where I put the 5/16X24X2.5 inch bolts. I have looked EVERYWHERE except where they are. Time to dig in the used bolt bins. I found one, three to go. Got to have a (Bigger) toolbox
One more thing. Opinions wanted on whether I should use my original four-blade solid fan or the six-blade flex fan that came on the parts truck?
Should do a clutch fan for best pulling and least amount of drag. Skip the flex a junk fan and unless you put a higher amount alternator in you are not going to be running serious electric fans. If you do go the e fan route look towards the 2011+ F150. They can pull 6500cfm on high, the problem is they also require 108 amps at start and 70 running.
In my experience, flex fans cool better than 4-bladers. In my experience, when a radiator springs a leak, there is another one just waiting to happen. In my experience, AAA cards take up the least amount of toolbox space, so you might as well use it. In my experience, the toolbox could be turned into an insulated cooler and a nice, cool barley-pop would go along way to making the day more tolerable.....
In my experience, flex fans cool better than 4-bladers. In my experience, when a radiator springs a leak, there is another one just waiting to happen. In my experience, AAA cards take up the least amount of toolbox space, so you might as well use it. In my experience, the toolbox could be turned into an insulated cooler and a nice, cool barley-pop would go along way to making the day more tolerable.....
picked up barley pops as soon as AAA dropped the truck, if i have another ill be stuck at the shop. Little lady won't like that I suppose.
Oh hey, due to covid 19 I couldn't ride in the tow truck. I asked if I could ride in my truck and he said no problem!
That 66 type radiator on the 65 core support doesn't leave much room for a fan at all. A radiator shop or you if you are OK with soldering steel to brass can swap the mount brackets from the original radiator to the one you have for a better fit. I did that on my truck to get a new radiator with the right size hose fittings for a Cleveland.
That 66 type radiator on the 65 core support doesn't leave much room for a fan at all. A radiator shop or you if you are OK with soldering steel to brass can swap the mount brackets from the original radiator to the one you have for a better fit. I did that on my truck to get a new radiator with the right size hose fittings for a Cleveland.
A po of the parts truck hd already got the shorter fan spacer and hosesnto make the 66 radiator work as is, and luckily I kept them. Rather than alter the 66 rad I will get my original rebuilt. It has a larger fitting for the upper hose.
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So I top it off and get on the freeway but within a couple of miles the needle started moving up past my comfort zone and I had to shut 'er down. Thank gosh I still have a AAA membership.
