I need a radiator

frank66 · Post by **frank66** » March 27, 2008, 7:18 am

I got one from a local radiator shop. You just have to find one that speaks english.

Post by **Greg D** » March 27, 2008, 7:49 am

Doc, you will find that alot new radiators have the oil cooler in them, that way they don't have to make 2 part #s for every vehicle. I learned this the last time I bought a Mustang radiator, I told the guy behind the counter it was for an auto tranny and he said they all are now. Won't hurt a darn thing to run it with a manual, just leave the plugs in it.

willy3486 · Post by **willy3486** » March 27, 2008, 8:24 am

I have a 352 in mine and I ran a radiator out of a 72 with the oil cooler for years. I had to ream out the sides so the bolts would fit and trim it some. I think the width was less so I made a plate to add to it. But it worked fine for a while . I got lucky and found one almost new at the junkyard I go to. I took the original in to match it up. Someone was fixing a truck up and I guess gave up and sold it for scrap. I don't think it was out of a slick either. It fit perfectly. Just have them to match it up. I have seen you could even have a new core put in. They just use the frame.

dadajak63 · Post by **dadajak63** » March 27, 2008, 11:15 am

i have the original out of my `63. looks very good, though i went with a new aluminum radiator. don`t know what yr your truck is. if you want it, i can send you pics and we can work out a deal. let me know.
jack

blackagatha · Post by **blackagatha** » March 27, 2008, 2:20 pm

I got mine from a radiator shop... i got one for the biggest engine combo that ever existed in a slick, I think they told me it was for a towing application, dually, bigblock 66... I had to cut the edges of the core support so I could bolt to the front flanges. I've heard that one for a 65 would bolt right in??? I wish I had known that, but it is good anyway. I have to use regular nuts though, so it becomes a 2 man job to install/remove....

ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » March 27, 2008, 2:30 pm

both "new" radiators i have came with a sticker on them showing a cactus.must be from your neck of the woods.i will see who made them and post later.
i do think all the 6 cyl radiators are similar, 61-64 and 65/66. i will look and measure.not sure if i can post pics yet, was not working last time i tried.

jeffw · Post by **jeffw** » March 27, 2008, 6:19 pm

I bought mine from LMC Truck,,came with the auto option, just left the plugs in and the rest is history,,kept her cool in 100plus heat,, the only prob I had was the mounting holes,, had to rig the sum bish up!!

Phil · Post by **Phil** » March 27, 2008, 9:44 pm

Ive had good luck here. (up to a point)

http://www.1aauto.com/1A/Radiators/Ford/FSeriesPickup

They only go up to 67 on the site but maybe you can cross reference.
Ive bought 4 radiators here. One burst the trans cooler internally and filled my 460 with strawberry milkshake. You may want to add an external trans cooler if you havn't already.

Anyway-good luck!

DanSanDiego2000 · Post by **DanSanDiego2000** » March 27, 2008, 10:54 pm

Doc Pepper,
Hi. I just replaced the radiator in my 1965, too. What a learning experience, too!!
Is yours a 1965? I purchased a 1966 radiator for my 1965, and removed the brackets from my old radiator, and soldered them onto the new radiator.
The 1966 and 1965 are different from each other. The radiator supports are different.
As long as you know the width of your radiator, and read the specifications and measurements on your original, you will find a suitable replacement for yours.
I bought mine at Napa, and with a little handiwork and measuring, I made a 1966 radiator fit and function in my 65 like it was supposed to be there all along.
I'll lend a hand in any way I can.... when I made the modifications to mine, I knew this discussion would come up in the group. If you are handy, you can easily accomplish the same, too.
Best wishes.
Dan

DV65CustomCab · Post by **DV65CustomCab** » March 28, 2008, 5:56 am

As above, a good local shop took some other radiator (1966?) and removed and re-attached my 1965 brackets to it. Fits like a charm, and was nowhere near $500.
Performance Radiator is the vendor with the cactus on the box. Their stuff is usually very good. We use it all the time in the collision repair industry, cheaper than oem but better than a lot of the Chinese stuff out there.

fmartin_gila · Post by **fmartin_gila** » March 28, 2008, 9:10 am

Doc,
Yesterday, I stopped at the local old-school radiator shop here in town to get what info I could. He can re-core your radiator for you. He had one from a 37 ford there that he had just done for someone else, looked really good. With the price of copper so high right now, no matter which way you go, it's going to cost big time.
Fred

DanSanDiego2000 · Post by **DanSanDiego2000** » March 28, 2008, 9:40 pm

Doc,
Measure the width and height of your radiator. Then, tell me the distance from the driver side bolts to the passenger side bolts. From this, I can give you the same radiator I used for my 65.

OH, of course, which engine are you using?

The new 1966 radiator almost bolts right into your 1965, except the core supports are opposite, and the radiators are opposite. It looks like you could drill extra holes in the 66 radiator, and use in the 65, but there were just a couple little complications that made this seem too awkward. Swapping the brackets from your original radiator makes a GREAT new factory original fit and appearance.

I am not 100% on which is which, but the flange on one of the two years is on the front of the radiator, and the flange on the other year is at the rear of the radiator.

Drain your radiator, heat up the supports with a propane torch, melt the solder, and clean them up ready to swap onto your new radiator.

If memory serves me right, I did mine for about $250.

YukonCor55 · Post by **YukonCor55** » March 29, 2008, 5:04 pm

Similar problem on my 62. The seams on both top and bottom tanks are about ready to go. the core isn't far behind. Most places don't stock or sell anything older than 1965. There's an old time radiator shop in the next town. I'm hoping he can repair my tanks, mate them to a new core, and solder on my original supports. Otherwise, it'll be a short summer for my old slick!

ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » March 30, 2008, 2:02 pm

i used a 65 FE radiator in place of the y block radiator, bolted up on the correct side of flanges.
gooseneck (thermostat housing) of y block is smaller diameter so i had to use a hose adaptor piece but otherwise no problems.

cdherman · Post by **cdherman** » March 30, 2008, 9:16 pm

I had mine redone a few years ago. Local place removed the brackets and soldered them to a new core. It had the automatic tranny cooler as noted above, which is nice now that I am changing to a C4.

I tried for the last 2 hours to upload a pic, but no can do. Beats me what the problem is.

I happen to have the radiator out of the truck, so I have a pic. Will try again tomorrow.....

up-down bolt spacing is 11" CTC
right-left bolt spacing is 29" CTC

DanSanDiego2000 · Post by **DanSanDiego2000** » April 1, 2008, 10:26 pm

Doc,

Napa number NR394 is perfectly suited for you. It is the same core size, same tank size, and will accept YOUR radiator brackets.

This is EXACTLY what I had to do for my 1965 F100 with L6 240 cid engine. I went round and round with this battle in my brain, too. Finally, with new radiator in hand, I fired up the oxy/acetylene, and I got it done. Beautiful modification, and tremendously rewarding.

Make:FORD,Core Size:18 x 24 1/8 x 1 1/4 (2 Row)
Inlet Header Size:2 7/8 x 23 3/4
Outlet Header Size:2 7/8 x 23 3/4
Inlet Connector Size:1 1/2 Top Left
Outlet Connector Size:1 3/4 Bottom Right
Type of Mount:Flange
Oil Cooler:12 Transmission
Comments:Brass Tanks with Copper Brass Core w/ 23 3/4" Between Sides & w/ Wide Flange Side

If you'd like, you can send me your old radiator, and I'll do it for you. You cover cost of shipping, and cost of radiator, and I'll "git 'er done"

Best wishes.
Dan

cdherman · Post by **cdherman** » April 2, 2008, 7:13 am

I don't think the radiator in that picture has the top inlet in the correct location for a 240/300. At least that's not where mine is. I suppose one could make it work with one of those universal hoses, but I am near certain that the exact correct radiator is available.

I am taking my radiator to a radiator shop later today (working on some cosmetic issues with the goober job the first shop did on the brackets) and I will ask them if they know a part # or source for the core I have. It was purchased just 4 years ago....

DanSanDiego2000 · Post by **DanSanDiego2000** » April 2, 2008, 9:26 pm

Wide tab??

Oh, you must mean this one then.....

This is the readily available 1966-up style. The flange on yours is opposite.

This is Napa number NR393.

Get it, take the brackets off of your current radiator, swap them, and you're done. Waiting to fit a wider radiator?? Why bother? This new, clean radiator will perform better than the 40 year old one you are now struggling with. It's so close you can almost touch it!!

Best wishes.

Dan

cdherman · Post by **cdherman** » April 2, 2008, 10:57 pm

top inlet is on the passenger side on 240/300. That pic (both pics) have the inlet on the driver side.

Idiot me -- I was at the radiator shop this AM and I forgot to ask the fellow if he knew where to get a core like mine. I will be there again Friday.....

cdherman · Post by **cdherman** » April 3, 2008, 7:49 am

Doc, one of the "universal" hoses == the one's that look like a streched out slinky -- that would allow you to hook up to the drivers side inlet on top. But if you can hold off, I'd keep looking.

Perhaps a clue -- the fellow that got me my new core 4 years ago said it was for a v-8 -- it has more rows of water channels than the original and also an automatic tranny cooler. But it is identical in every other way to the original in terms of fit. But the side brackets did have to be soldered on. In other words, there IS a correct core out there, but it may be listed under some other application.