Radiators?

[knucklehead0202]

So at some point I copied a link off here for a direct-fit radiator from radiator express. I ordered it, it arrived quickly, and is completely wrong for my car. Now their website is down too, lol. Anyhow, has anyone else bought one of these and did it fit? Does anyone have a source for a good aluminum radiator for these cars? I hate plastic tank shit and would like something with a bit more capacity that'll give me room to grow. Help!

[turbo2256b]

I have had custom ones built per my specks that are a direct fit except for the lower and upper mounts need to be the ones for the stock thicker radiatore price is around 400.00.

[His Royal Ghostliness]

Spectra makes an all-metal radiator, it's brass/copper setup, two-core, a fat basterd that appears well put together. Cost is typically under $250 with tax from the Zone, part # CU552 (or A552), made in China of course, but it's got lifetime warranty and being locally-sourced it's easy to return if something is wrong. "Mine" is going in a Mk6 Lincoln, but it cross-references as a direct-fit for 5.8 cop cars as well. Do yourself a favor and install new quick-connect fittings for the transmission lines at the same time, provided your car uses those of course (some do, some do not) - part # for those would be 800-608 by Dorman, should be under $15 for the pair.

[knucklehead0202]

Thanks for the info fellas. The shop is gonna stick in a cheapy replacement and I know a place that'll make me a custom one later. For the record, don't fall for the RadiatorExpress one, it is NOT made for our cars.

[Grand Marquis GT]

Advance has a carquest branded one for about 250, 3 row all metal.

[sly]

And I plan on sticking an F150 radiator in mine for better towing..

[gadget73]

I've been using the all-brass one from Autozone for several years with no problems. I've towed with it well beyond reasonable capacity and it doesn't overheat even dragging 4500 lbs in the mountains with the AC on and 4 people in the car. Its probably the same one from Carquest, only so many people actually make radiators. Its the one specified for an 85 Vic with a 351. Need the upper hose for that application and the longer mount, but thats pretty much SOP with anything that isn't the weenie one core jobber.


All things considered, the single aluminum core probably does have comparable heat shed capabilities to an all brass 2 core one. They fail at the tanks though, which is why they suck.

[His Royal Ghostliness]

All things considered, the single aluminum core probably does have comparable heat shed capabilities to an all brass 2 core one.

Not too sure about this. Thicker core offers much more cooling surface for air to come into contact with, and considering the wall thickness of the tubing used for the cores I don't think difference in heat-transfer capabilities between alu and brass makes that much of a difference. Besides the brass ones remained in production well after introduction of aluminum and plastic as materials of choice in the non-police cars, and I'm thinking if the aftermarket could get away with using those instead of brass in those applications them cheap basterds would have done so already.

[knucklehead0202]

Yeah I just don't want a half-plastic half-aluminum piece of shit. Copper-brass is good, but aluminum has it's merits as well. Either way, i'd like an all-metal job and can likely get the custom-job hand-built and installed for the same price as something that'll be a dickache for me to install.

[pantera77]

I routinely tow 5k#+ with a stock replacement rad and have never had a problem even up steep grades in 90
+ degree weather.

I seriously wonder what you guys do to your cars that you need more.

[Tiggie]

My 88 used to routinely warm up to 220ish and up to 235 once climbing mountains and towing nothing on a stock replacement radiator. Then I replaced the fan clutch and haven't had a problem since. It was fine on relatively flat ground but anything more than a mile up a grade that required direct drive and it would heat.

[dmccaig]

Dear Panthers,
I've a 3 cell and dual electric fans and with a/c going full at 82 mph /100 degree on West Texas roads temp hangs at 220.

Donald

[sly]

I need a new fan clutch/e-fan replacement.

[DerekTheGreat]

Speaking of that, does a writeup on the SN95 Mustang fan swap exist? I can't remember if that's the fan everyone raves about though.

[His Royal Ghostliness]

Dear Panthers,
I've a 3 cell and dual electric fans and with a/c going full at 82 mph /100 degree on West Texas roads temp hangs at 220.

Donald

Your temp gauge lies tho, she reads 220 even when the IR thermometer shows 180-190 at the engine block or the lower intake. New sender didn't fix it either, pisses me off to no end!

Derek, the e-fan of choice for the budget/junkyard swaps comes off a Contour. Don't remember what model years, but we do have a thread on it somewhere.

Also I'll 2nd Tiggie's experience regarding the fan clutch. Interestingly enough some of the ones sold at the Zone are actually US-made - well some are Chinese too, it seems like a 50/50 which one you'll get given they're the same part number. But if one insists on supporting our own economy (and I suggest we all do so), and time or initial cost is not a factor, one could order two or three clutches till they get a US-made one, and then return the others - I'm yet to meet a parts store employee who wouldn't understand (and likely approve) the reasoning for these shenanigans.