3 Row or 4 Row?
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Senior User
Joined: May 2006
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3 Row or 4 Row?
The radiator on my 78 F250 7.5L has seen better days. A buddy gashed it and now it's time for a new one. The parts store tells me that there are two options for this vehicle, the 3 Row or 4 Row. How do I know if I have a 3 Row or 4 Row radiator now? What are these rows? Will either work? Or will the spacing be different?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 11,496
Likes: 6
From: Kansas
How hard are you using the truck? If you are doing lots of pulling which requires more work from your engine, then a 4 row is recommended. If you are driving it pretty much as you would a car than a 3 row will work just fine.
The difference between 3 vs 4 is that the 3 row has 3 horizontal tubes or cells at the same height connecting the ends. These rows are then stacked one on top another to give the rad it's height. A 4 row will have 4 tubes at each level with the intent that more surface area is available for cooling.
A two row rad is very narrow, while the 3 and 4 row is noticably thicker. You might be able to remove the cap and simply look inside the radiator. You will be looking for the tube openings. You will see either 3 or 4 tubes in a row stacked on each other.
Like this -
3-row
123
123
123
4-row
1234
1234
1234
etc.
The difference between 3 vs 4 is that the 3 row has 3 horizontal tubes or cells at the same height connecting the ends. These rows are then stacked one on top another to give the rad it's height. A 4 row will have 4 tubes at each level with the intent that more surface area is available for cooling.
A two row rad is very narrow, while the 3 and 4 row is noticably thicker. You might be able to remove the cap and simply look inside the radiator. You will be looking for the tube openings. You will see either 3 or 4 tubes in a row stacked on each other.
Like this -
3-row
123
123
123
4-row
1234
1234
1234
etc.
Last edited by Ultramagdan; May 10, 2006 at 09:28 PM.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: May 2006
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We'll be in some extreme heat, with some possibly heavy things on this truck. It won't be traveling fast, just idling around, which is perhaps the worst conditions. I'll opt for the 4 row. Thanks for your help.
-Dan
-Dan
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Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,658
Likes: 4
From: "Islander"
Make sure you have a fan shroud and clutch fan in good condition if you have a clutch fan. A recore or complete new radiator? Make sure it has a radiator cooler if your running a auto trans. I have a 5 row stagger tube, better to have extra cooling than not enough.
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