well i got the a/c workin pretty good but when i run it the old girl heats up..maybe just too many miles(almost 300k) i read a bunch of posts about overheating and it sounds like i might need one of those bigger radiators..junkyard wants $50 if ican find one..looks like new ones are about $150.at autozone...not sure what model to look for so any help will be appreciated..runs hot even without the a/c on..but a lot hotter with it on..can't really afford a new one so i gotta try everything else first lol..the thermostat is relatively new..1-2 yrs new top hose..i'll checkl the heater hoses and lower hose and anything else you guys can suggest...thanks

 

fan clutch wokring properly?

 

Check all your hoses, check your thermostat out, make sure your cooling system is completely full -- any air in the system will throw your temp reading off and make it run a little warmer than it should. And, as Jeff said, how's the clutch fan? You can also get a flex fan and get rid of the clutch fan as well.

Outside of that, you'd want at least a two-row radiator from a '91-'94 Exlporer with the full fan shroud. They are a fairly direct bolt-in, although you will have to either make BII hoses work or mix and match hoses, if I remember right. Another option is the older Ranger or BII radiator for a/c equipped trucks, the brass/copper one with two or three rows. They don't mount the same, but you can make them work if need be.

 

how can ya tell if the fan clutch is working?the fan goes round and round lol

 

> well i got the a/c workin pretty good but when i run it the old girl heats up
> anything else you guys can suggest...

Classic BII sign of two things:

1) bad clutch
2) clogged cooling system

If #2 you can try -POWER- flushing it, using just a garden hose will not probably work. If you do not already have an air compressor, then take it to a service shop and have it done.

A one core aluminum radiator will work fine. I put one in a BII and drove it off road, with the A/C on, during the summer with no problems. NAPA guy convinced me (I trusted him) to buy it instead of a multi-core radiator. He was right, worked great. I posted about it before, might have left the NAPA part number.

 

I used to use a custom flushing tee that had hookup for garden hose and LP air line that worked awesome. I don't have access to it anymore, though. If it takes more pressure than a garden hose and heater hose fitting a la the Prestone flush kit, then you have more issues to worry about. Unfortunately, the radiators and cooling systems in these aren't flushable with Muriatic acid since they are part plastic and you risk damaging the gaskets, water pump, and hoses. You can probably get the Prestone Super Flush as well as the cleaner or similar and run that through the system and then go from there. You can also blow the system out with LP air.

 

great...i have an air compressor..how would i power flush using that??

 

ok i had one of those tees that hooked up to the hose..stuff that came out was really yuchy i flushed it 4 times..should i do it till it is all clear??how bout that rad cleaner stuff is it any good?? i'm pinchin pennies so i need to know if you guys think its worth it??the kernal suggested prestone super flush and he's usually right on ..also goin with rebocardo's thinkin on the single core(seein as how i can't afford a new one)lol..i mean this is the rad that ford put in there for an a/c vehicle so it should work if i clean it up good..huh?

 

I would power flush it as best you can until you have 100% clear and bright water coming out, then drain the entire system and blow it down with the LP air like I mentioned before, then close your radiator drain petcock and any other openings in the system other than the radiator cap then fill it with the pre-mix 50/50 coolant and make sure you get it completely full as well as clean your reservoir and fill it to "full cold" with the 50/50 mix. Then, put the caps on and start it up and let it warm up and run it around the block a few times and see how she does. From what you've described, I have a feeling you're going to see some positive results and it won't run as hot anymore. Now, if you want to, you can use the Prestone / Zerex / Peak or similar Super Flush and probably get more of the junk out of the system if you'd like, but it sounds as if you've got it under control. My personal opinion, though, is, if you have the money, go ahead -- especially if you have no record of the last time the cooling system was flushed. Let us know how things turn out.

 

at the risk of sounding extremely stupid..my 86 does not have a reservoir..but there is a black boxlike thing next to the radiator on the drivers side(not the windshield washer thing)... it has 2 caps on it and looks like a filter of some sorts inside..2 small lines run into it 1 goes to the place where the air filter hose goes in..what is this??

 

ok today is the test..gonna drive it about 60 miles..i'll post the results tonight

 

That's your carbon canister.

My radiator reservoir is on the inner fender on the driver's side and doesn't have a cap on it that I recall, but I think it has a plug that can be pulled out. White translucent container with a black top. Maybe pre-'87s didn't have it or yours was removed ?