Custom Radiator for 302?
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Standish ME
Custom Radiator for 302?
Hey all I was wondering if any of you have used a custom radiator for your 302? i was wondering how big it had to be to work... i have a '48 f1 with a '71 302. how bigdo i have to go? and where can i get a good price?
thanks
alec
thanks
alec
Hotshot
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,170
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From: The hills of No. Calif.
The general rule of thumb is, "The bigger, the better." So basically you want to go with the largest rad that will fit in the space available. It's better to have a rad that's too big than to find out that the expensive one you just put in isn't quite big enough. I'm not sure there actually is such a thing as "too big".
I have an aluminum radiator that I got from Summit that I'm putting into my Ranger, I think it was about $160. It has a two-row core, but the two tubes are 1" wide so it should have good flow. Be sure you pay attention to which side your inlet and outlet are on, the 302/5.0 water pumps of different years had the inlet on either side so you need a rad to match.
I have an aluminum radiator that I got from Summit that I'm putting into my Ranger, I think it was about $160. It has a two-row core, but the two tubes are 1" wide so it should have good flow. Be sure you pay attention to which side your inlet and outlet are on, the 302/5.0 water pumps of different years had the inlet on either side so you need a rad to match.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2006
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I just finished a restoration of my 86 F250. It has a 302 EFI in it. I bored it out .030 and did plenty of other things to make the motor better. I knew it would run hotter so I bought a three core compared to the single core that was in there. I have never even seen the temp guage pass the o of normal. I would recomend that. I bought mine from LMC truck.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2005
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the only thing you will run into putting a large radiator into a truck with a small v8 is that it will take longer to heat the coolant up to operating temps which isnt a big deal ... til its cold as hell outside and your running late but all in all going a lil bigger than stock isnt such a bad thing i wouldnt recomend going over a 3 core tho ... 4 is just way overkill imo
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Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,658
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From: "Islander"
Small motor with big radiator or a Pinto radiator on a big motor will come up to operating temperature in the same amount of time, same with your heater / defrost. That is the job of the thermostat. Granted a stone cold motor at 20 below takes longer to reach operating temp vs a motor at 90 degrees in Hawaii, 200 vs 90 degree differential to reach 180.
So what if the radiators cold output is 95 or 130 degrees, motors happy at 180 controlled by Mr. stat and you have a lot of radiator reserve for hot days or stop and go traffic.
So what if the radiators cold output is 95 or 130 degrees, motors happy at 180 controlled by Mr. stat and you have a lot of radiator reserve for hot days or stop and go traffic.
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