Can someone explain radiators to me?
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 176
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From: Minneapolis
Can someone explain radiators to me?
I need a new radiator. My fan was on backwards and flexed into the radiator when I hit the mud hole and cut a nice deep circle. I know there are 2,3, and 4 core radiators. I have been looking at all of my radiators, and all I see is that some are thicker than others. By looking at a radiator, I see fins and the "tubes" zig zagging back and forth from top to bottom. I know the tubes are the core, but what does it mean when it is a 2 vs a 4 core? How do I tell what I have? Also, on a radiator with the tranny cooler, where on a Ford radiator is the oil cooling taking place? Is there any formulas for determing cooling action of a radiator? 4 core radiators are getting hard to find in used auto parts yards, do I really need one? Thanks for the replies
Tuned
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 280
Likes: 1
From: Back in Central Texas
Can someone explain radiators to me?
First of all, wht engine do you have, and what do you use your truck for? This will help determine whether or not you need a 3 or 4 core radiator. To tell what kind of radiator you are looking at, you count the number of tubes across as you look through the fill port. As for the tranny cooling, most ford radiators, if not all of them, had the supply and return lines for the tranny on one side. There is a canister inside the radiator on the side where the lines come into. This cansister is immersed in the coolant and of course is where the tranny cooling takes place. Some radiators however have there own "cores" that run side by side withe the engine coolant cores.
Also, make sure that you have a fan shroud. Without one the air that the fan moves wont go through the radiator, it will just hit it like a wall. The shroud channels the air through the radiator.
I hope this will help.
Dg808
Proud owner of a bunch of parts that will one day be a one ton Bronco!
Also, make sure that you have a fan shroud. Without one the air that the fan moves wont go through the radiator, it will just hit it like a wall. The shroud channels the air through the radiator.
I hope this will help.
Dg808
Proud owner of a bunch of parts that will one day be a one ton Bronco!
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 176
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From: Minneapolis
Can someone explain radiators to me?
Yes I did forget to mention that it is in a F250 Highboy with a transplanted 460. It has the tranny line hookups on the bottom of the radiator. This is a mud and off road truck only.
Tuned
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 280
Likes: 1
From: Back in Central Texas
Can someone explain radiators to me?
I would go with a 3 core or a 4 core for sure. Whre are do you live? I have a radiator here that i removed from my 77 Hi Boy. YOu are more than welcome to it. The truck has a standard tranny but you can still use it and just buy an after market remote tranny cooler. The radiator is in very good condition(like new just dirty) I dont need it cause I have a new one in my project Bronco. Let me know if you are interested.
DG808
DG808
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,300
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From: Southwestern Michigan
Can someone explain radiators to me?
> My fan was on backwards and flexed
>into the radiator when I hit the mud hole and cut a nice
>deep circle.
Your fan can flex into the radiator when spinning at high RPM underwater,Try a clutch fan for your truck.
78 F150 4x4
429 CID
Dana 44 spooled Front,
9"Locked rear,
5:13 Gears
17/40/15 Gumbo monster mudders
18/39.5/15 Swamper Boggers
BIG,BAD,and UGLY.
>into the radiator when I hit the mud hole and cut a nice
>deep circle.
Your fan can flex into the radiator when spinning at high RPM underwater,Try a clutch fan for your truck.
78 F150 4x4
429 CID
Dana 44 spooled Front,
9"Locked rear,
5:13 Gears
17/40/15 Gumbo monster mudders
18/39.5/15 Swamper Boggers
BIG,BAD,and UGLY.
New User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Rocky Point USA
Can someone explain radiators to me?
New aftermarket radiators sell for $150 to $300 DEPENDING on height / width / thickness. Shrouds are expensive $75 and up. Consider an electric fan with an on/off switch in the cab so you can turn off the fan before entering the water.
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 465
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Can someone explain radiators to me?
Ok, if I read your post correctly you have made a minor mistake that no one has caught yet. You referr to zig zag 'cores'. Those are the cooling fins. They add surface area to the radiator and help it transfer heat to the air but no coolant flows through them. The 'cores' or 'rows' are tubes that run straight from one tank to the other (top to bottom or left to right depending on the type of radiator). Above was correct, remove the radiator cap and count the tubes from front to back. That number is the number of rows. More rows (tubes whatever) means more coolant flow and more surface area so greater heat transfer rate.
As to which one you need, I have a 3 row in my 390 equipped truck. It is a heavy duty radiator with HUGE tanks on it.
As to which one you need, I have a 3 row in my 390 equipped truck. It is a heavy duty radiator with HUGE tanks on it.
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