radiator replacement
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 56
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From: South Carolina
radiator replacement
1980 f100 l6 with auto--replaced small radiator with larger radiator with transmission cooler but the opening in front of radiator is not as wide as new radiator, do I need to make thisi opening as large as new radiator to get full capacity of radiator? thanks for any input.
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: southern kentucky
are you running a fan shroud?
if not then I dont think the extra opening would help much, because without a fan shroud. you wont be taking advantage of the entire radiator's cooling capacity. only the center area of the radiator would be having air pulled through it.
if you are using a fan shroud and you'r running hot, you could try opening it up a little more.
if not then I dont think the extra opening would help much, because without a fan shroud. you wont be taking advantage of the entire radiator's cooling capacity. only the center area of the radiator would be having air pulled through it.
if you are using a fan shroud and you'r running hot, you could try opening it up a little more.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 28,609
Likes: 18
From: Lake Tahoe, Nevada
"First air" does the most cooling. Certainly, if the entire surface is open to first air, or air directly hitting the fins and tubes unimpeded, your radiator will perform best. That said, I would just try it as it is and judge from the results. If it is not cooling as well as you would like, get out the angle grinder and open the hole.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,786
Likes: 28
From: Northern California
You have a couple of options.
Yes the hole in the radiator support needs to be bigger, to take advantage of the extra radiator space.
You can get another radiator support out of a truck with the larger radiator. (That's what I did). Costs about $35 at the U-pull-it. It's held on with only fourteen bolts of various sizes, and smaller screws and screwbolts. You will have to remove the grill and all the hardware Light buckets etc... and swap it over too. some adjustment is required too, headlamps and hood latch etc... It's not that hard to do, but will take about 3 to 6 hours. Replace the radiator support bushings at the same time if they are cracked or in bad shape.
Or you can cut the hole larger, and weld back on the metal lip on the side. The metal lip is important because it keeps the air from going around the radiator. You will still need to remove stuff for this as well.
A Fan shroud. Get one it will help in cooling the truck. The "E2TA-8146-RA" or "E0TA-8146-AA" shroud will fit fine. Try to get the E2TA-8146-RA shroud cause it is made out of better plastic.
A Fan Clutch. This is a very good cooling upgrade too. Get a fan blade for a fan clutch for 1980 to 1986. Then get a fan clutch for a 1980 to 1982, with the spring on the front. Unbolt the old fan and spacer from the waterpump and bolt on the new fan and clutch. That simple.
Check out the weep hole at the bottom of the waterpump. See if it is leaking water. If it is, it would be a good idea to replace the waterpump at the same time as the fan clutch upgrade.
hope this helps,
Yes the hole in the radiator support needs to be bigger, to take advantage of the extra radiator space.
You can get another radiator support out of a truck with the larger radiator. (That's what I did). Costs about $35 at the U-pull-it. It's held on with only fourteen bolts of various sizes, and smaller screws and screwbolts. You will have to remove the grill and all the hardware Light buckets etc... and swap it over too. some adjustment is required too, headlamps and hood latch etc... It's not that hard to do, but will take about 3 to 6 hours. Replace the radiator support bushings at the same time if they are cracked or in bad shape.
Or you can cut the hole larger, and weld back on the metal lip on the side. The metal lip is important because it keeps the air from going around the radiator. You will still need to remove stuff for this as well.
A Fan shroud. Get one it will help in cooling the truck. The "E2TA-8146-RA" or "E0TA-8146-AA" shroud will fit fine. Try to get the E2TA-8146-RA shroud cause it is made out of better plastic.
A Fan Clutch. This is a very good cooling upgrade too. Get a fan blade for a fan clutch for 1980 to 1986. Then get a fan clutch for a 1980 to 1982, with the spring on the front. Unbolt the old fan and spacer from the waterpump and bolt on the new fan and clutch. That simple.
Check out the weep hole at the bottom of the waterpump. See if it is leaking water. If it is, it would be a good idea to replace the waterpump at the same time as the fan clutch upgrade.
hope this helps,
