Fatter radiator
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 177
Likes: 24
From: Vancouver
Fatter radiator
Hello everyone.
1990 f150 , 302 manual transmission 4x4
I have the above vehicle and it does not run hot.
but in the summer if we are pulling our 2000lb boat up and over the mountain in 35c ( 95f plus)
it runs hot….in second gear on the steepest part, I had to pull over and let it cool, the one hill in particular is 15 miles up hill..the coquihalla
the bottom line is I was in the junk yard today and saw and picked up a radiator that is twice as thick as mine.
mine is manual, so I won’t be using the auto trans cooler fittings.
but the rest looks the same just thicker.
im assuming it will fit, but the truck in question has no shroud.
im hoping you good folks are going to tell me mine will work as my stock radiator is about 1 inch thinner.
the thick radiator came from a 1990 f250 5.8 ..
thanks in advance…..Roy
1990 f150 , 302 manual transmission 4x4
I have the above vehicle and it does not run hot.
but in the summer if we are pulling our 2000lb boat up and over the mountain in 35c ( 95f plus)
it runs hot….in second gear on the steepest part, I had to pull over and let it cool, the one hill in particular is 15 miles up hill..the coquihalla
the bottom line is I was in the junk yard today and saw and picked up a radiator that is twice as thick as mine.
mine is manual, so I won’t be using the auto trans cooler fittings.
but the rest looks the same just thicker.
im assuming it will fit, but the truck in question has no shroud.
im hoping you good folks are going to tell me mine will work as my stock radiator is about 1 inch thinner.
the thick radiator came from a 1990 f250 5.8 ..
thanks in advance…..Roy
More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 607
Likes: 153
From: Canada
The shroud will do more for cooling than swapping a radiator. It's very important for drawing air through. I personally upgrade my radiators to aluminum multi row with electric fans. So they don't overheat on me. Would find that shroud.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 903
Likes: 119
Yes you need a shroud but the radiator itself will likely do enough or at least a lot to fix the issue.
The fan doesn't matter all that much at speed on a vehicle with a huge amount of frontal area force feeding the radiator like these trucks.
In no universe is an electric fan an upgrade over the stock fan. While you might free up a couple horsepower and a fraction of an MPG you will not move more air.
The fan doesn't matter all that much at speed on a vehicle with a huge amount of frontal area force feeding the radiator like these trucks.
In no universe is an electric fan an upgrade over the stock fan. While you might free up a couple horsepower and a fraction of an MPG you will not move more air.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,519
Likes: 2,028
From: North Texas
Sounds like the 'super cooling' radiator that was in the towing package, it drops in and works fine...I use them on anything. These trucks also had a different fan blade (4.9s for sure) or since you have a small block, just toss in a H.O. fan blade. Works fine and pulls far mere air.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,556
Likes: 851
Sounds like the 'super cooling' radiator that was in the towing package, it drops in and works fine...I use them on anything. These trucks also had a different fan blade (4.9s for sure) or since you have a small block, just toss in a H.O. fan blade. Works fine and pulls far mere air.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 177
Likes: 24
From: Vancouver
Thanks, I appreciate the answers here.
I think I should pop in and get the shroud for the sake of 10 bucks.
especially as I’m a couple of hundred miles from home and won’t get another chance.
but it’s good to know I could make mine work, if push comes to shove.
I think I should pop in and get the shroud for the sake of 10 bucks.
especially as I’m a couple of hundred miles from home and won’t get another chance.
but it’s good to know I could make mine work, if push comes to shove.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 10,401
Likes: 2,607
From: Near Salt Lake City
Shroud might just fix your issue completely if yours was missing
A thicker radiator is always a good idea when towing a boat
A thicker radiator is always a good idea when towing a boat
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Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,811
Likes: 1,022
Rarely does one recommend to seal the gaps around the radiator. Air will find the easiest path and Ford left plenty of gaps for air to bypass the radiator. Take the grill off and start filling the gaps.
I have a supercharged 351w and tow a 10klb 5th wheel, I don't have cooling problems with the stock towing radiator.
I have a supercharged 351w and tow a 10klb 5th wheel, I don't have cooling problems with the stock towing radiator.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,811
Likes: 1,022
I have also read that an electric fan sucks less air than the stock fan and is not good for towing. I inquired about one from a business that sells electric fan systems and they too recommended not to do it.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 177
Likes: 24
From: Vancouver
No mine is there, but I have the standard 2 core radiator and shroud.
i wondered if the new thicker radiator would be able to use the old shroud or if it would interfere with the serpentine powered fan.
When you get in the mountains of British Columbia here in Canada it gets very hot in the summer.
thanks for your answers….Roy
i wondered if the new thicker radiator would be able to use the old shroud or if it would interfere with the serpentine powered fan.
When you get in the mountains of British Columbia here in Canada it gets very hot in the summer.
thanks for your answers….Roy
Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,556
Likes: 851
No mine is there, but I have the standard 2 core radiator and shroud.
i wondered if the new thicker radiator would be able to use the old shroud or if it would interfere with the serpentine powered fan.
When you get in the mountains of British Columbia here in Canada it gets very hot in the summer.
thanks for your answers….Roy
i wondered if the new thicker radiator would be able to use the old shroud or if it would interfere with the serpentine powered fan.
When you get in the mountains of British Columbia here in Canada it gets very hot in the summer.
thanks for your answers….Roy
There is the standard single core, and then there is the 'super cooling option' that has a 2 core.
If you already have the 2 core radiator, there is nothing to upgrade to.
The single core and dual core shrouds are different.
The best improvement my truck had for cooling, was a working thermostat and a new fan clutch.
ps. I am in BC as well.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 177
Likes: 24
From: Vancouver
No problem, I’m in Vernon right now.
thats why I stopped at the pick and pull in kelowna.
there was a truck like mine there that had a much thicker radiator.
last time in the summer when we were climbing the coquihalla with 5 pretty big people inside( ac off) the 8 foot bed was probably over loaded with huge rounds of wood to the top of the canopy and it did not over heat other than climbing the big mountains.
id like to avoid that especially in the 40 plus heat of the summer in the okanagan and say Lytton.
il take some pictures today when I pop in to get the shroud.
and of mine.
thats why I stopped at the pick and pull in kelowna.
there was a truck like mine there that had a much thicker radiator.
last time in the summer when we were climbing the coquihalla with 5 pretty big people inside( ac off) the 8 foot bed was probably over loaded with huge rounds of wood to the top of the canopy and it did not over heat other than climbing the big mountains.
id like to avoid that especially in the 40 plus heat of the summer in the okanagan and say Lytton.
il take some pictures today when I pop in to get the shroud.
and of mine.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 1,697
Likes: 416
I've got a dual core radiator and an oil cooler. I've driven through a hilly desert with the AC (kinda) running. Didn't even get close to overheating. I have a 5.0, 5 speed and heavy mud terrain 33s.
Perhaps look into an oil cooler as well. I'm not sure what options had the 5.0 and one stock.
Perhaps look into an oil cooler as well. I'm not sure what options had the 5.0 and one stock.
Hotshot
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 12,811
Likes: 2,431
Agree. The stock single row radiator should not be overheating. Something else is wrong.
I have converted two trucks from single to two row radiators. I got the shorter shroud from the junkyard as well as the tube that goes from the top of the throttle body to the radiator.
I have converted two trucks from single to two row radiators. I got the shorter shroud from the junkyard as well as the tube that goes from the top of the throttle body to the radiator.