Radiator Help? 302
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Senior User
Joined: May 2006
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From: Central Coast, California
Radiator Help? 302
Okay I got the Buick out of my 51 F1. I am putting in a 302 and would like to know what you guys suggest and have used for a radiator with a 5.0 302..... Thanks In advance....
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Joined: Aug 2000
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From: S.C.
Mine came from a Ford a big bronco, I think it was a 78, I just went to Autozone and ask for a Ford radiator and started measuring until I had one that would fit pretty good.
P.S. I just realize you said F1 mine is a 55, I don't know if there is much difference in the measurements.
P.S. I just realize you said F1 mine is a 55, I don't know if there is much difference in the measurements.
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Rio Rancho, NM
Way back, when I was trying to decide what to to for a radiator in my F1 for my Caddy engine, I started scrounging through the online catalogs. There are several catalogs that will show you a picture of the radiator, complete with mounting flanges, inlet and outlet locations and sizes, etc. I searched until I found a listing that sounded liek it would work for my application then I went and ordered it from my local auto parts store NAPA, Checker, O'Reilley, PepBoys, etc.
What worked for me was a mid 70'd Dodge truck with a 440ci engine. Others have used the mid 70'd Dodge truck with a small block engine.
Here's a couple of good radiator links;
U.S. Radiator Catalog
Radiators, automotive radiators, condenser, oem radiators, truck radiators
Quanta Products
Good luck with it
Bobby
What worked for me was a mid 70'd Dodge truck with a 440ci engine. Others have used the mid 70'd Dodge truck with a small block engine.
Here's a couple of good radiator links;
U.S. Radiator Catalog
Radiators, automotive radiators, condenser, oem radiators, truck radiators
Quanta Products
Good luck with it
Bobby
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,976
Likes: 9,811
From: Rio Rancho, NM
Just another helpful bit of stuff for radiator swaps;
If you end up no being able to get a radiator with the inleet or outlet sizes that match your engine, Napa stocks rubber hose reducer bushings in a wide range of sizes.
Here's the part #'2 and the corresponding sizes
NBH900 from 1.5" to 1.25"
NBH901 from 1.75" to 1.5"
NBH902 from 2" to 1.75"
NBH903 from 2.25" to 2"
NBH904 from 2.5" to 2.25"
NBH605 from 3" to 2.5"
These little buggers can be quite handy
Bobby
If you end up no being able to get a radiator with the inleet or outlet sizes that match your engine, Napa stocks rubber hose reducer bushings in a wide range of sizes.
Here's the part #'2 and the corresponding sizes
NBH900 from 1.5" to 1.25"
NBH901 from 1.75" to 1.5"
NBH902 from 2" to 1.75"
NBH903 from 2.25" to 2"
NBH904 from 2.5" to 2.25"
NBH605 from 3" to 2.5"
These little buggers can be quite handy
Bobby
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 494
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From: Guelph
I used one for the mid 70s Dodge truck aswell. Had to move the lower hose pipe to the other side of the tank to get hose on same side as water pump outlet.
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Joined: May 2008
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From: Fort Walton Beach, FL
Isaiah,
I bought a reproduction 6 cylinder radiator for the '48 I'm working on. The lower radiator output is on the wrong side (passenger) as the water pump inlet is on the drivers side. I had a friend at a local muffler shop fab up some exhaust tubing to go under the harmonic balancer and then up to the lower radiator neck. I'm still putting the truck together so I haven't run it yet but it should work well. You can also check Hot Rods (www.hotrodstrucks.com) as they can get you a factory style radiator with the inlet and outlet positioned where you want and the price is very competitive. I bought mine from LMC before I realized Hot Rods sold them for custom applications.
I bought a reproduction 6 cylinder radiator for the '48 I'm working on. The lower radiator output is on the wrong side (passenger) as the water pump inlet is on the drivers side. I had a friend at a local muffler shop fab up some exhaust tubing to go under the harmonic balancer and then up to the lower radiator neck. I'm still putting the truck together so I haven't run it yet but it should work well. You can also check Hot Rods (www.hotrodstrucks.com) as they can get you a factory style radiator with the inlet and outlet positioned where you want and the price is very competitive. I bought mine from LMC before I realized Hot Rods sold them for custom applications.
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Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Burbank, WA
I built my first F-1 back in the late 70's and drove it in high school. It was a 50, and I put a 289/C4 combo with a 69 truck 9" in it, and used the stock 6 cylinder radiator. It worked fine. What kind of rad is in it now, cooling the old Buick engine?
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Littleton, New Hampshire
Check out a radiator for a 68-69 Mustang with a 390 V8. I haven't got one yet but that is the one I've been eyeballing for my 49 F-1 with a 302. It appears that the outlets are correct, comes in a three row so it should cool well, and the size is close...
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Joined: Sep 2002
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From: McAlester, OK
I used a radiator from a 70's Ford truck/e-van with my 390. I trimmed the flanges and the thing fits sunggly like it's made for it. Ran at around 180 period (Texas panhandle). Definely overkill. I have a radiator from a '91 Cougar V6 and it would fit flush with the tops of the fenders and snug side to side. The unit has room for more rows but looks a little small for a 302. Makes me wonder if the 5.0 radiator is thicker for the same year but not wider. Anyone got one?
Clayton
Clayton
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Joined: Sep 2002
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From: McAlester, OK
Got me to thinking so I just looked at the part numbers for the '91 cougar 5.0 & 3.8 radiators and they are the same. I know what I'm using now! I just crammed my 5.0 in there last week so I couldn't tell you about the cooling abilities yet.
Clayton
Clayton
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