THIS HAS TO CHANGE..NOW!!!!!!!! (Radiator problems)

[blueroo]

This weekend I was supposed to be in Cincinnati for the Fairlane Club Nationals. Got up at 4 this morning, drove out of the driveway around 530. Went to the gas station and filled up. The radiator was steaming a little bit. We had to come back home though to grease the front suspension. I had to inside and when I came back out my dad said we can't take my car and pointed to the massive puddle forming underneath my radiator.

It had been repaired umpteen times before I bought the car, and once since I've had the car. A couple weeks ago it started to leak slightly, so I put a tablespoon of black pepper in and it was fine. This morning before we left to go fill up, my dad put some of that aluma-seal or whatever in the radiator.



So now, I'm replacing the radiator. I don't want a stock replacement but I'm a little restricted on size due to the frame rails. I can safely go to 24" wide by 20" tall. I'm considering a 4 cyl Ranger replacement due to the fact it deals with hotter temps and doesn't have a problem, but I'm not sure if that's the route to go.

I'm also going to an electric fan. And I'd like to change the water pump to the A/C unit but that created a problem. I can't find it. One post here listed it as Cardone #58220 but nobody seems to carry it. Has it changed numbers?

 

[LaGrasta]

My first choice is aluminum as I've had a great experience with mine since installing it into the Falcon. Although they are more expensive.

If price is a factor, just hit the local autoparts store and pick up a V8 radiator for your car. It will be a bolt-in and an increased cooling capacity (3 core).
When the cooling system is clean and working correct, it is more than efficient enough. I think any new radiator and a strong water pump will be all you need.
As for the electric fan, I'm a fan. :roll: The beauty of it is is it only comes on when you need it most, when stopped. At speed, a car doesn't need a fan. In contrast, a mechanical fan works worst when stopped.

 

[wallaka]

The V-8 one is a bolt in except the outlet on the bottom is on the wrong size. When I went to Advance, the only six cylinder radiator that they had was a 3-row as well. It's a Modine unit and was about 120 bucks.

However, the radiator from Advance is way thicker than stock. I coudn't fit the stock fan back on. I went to a flex fan, it fit but was so loud I took it off.

I took the add=a-pulley from the harmonic balancer, removed the fan spacer from the stock fan, and put it back on.

Also, the water pump I got from them is the A/C one. I didn't ask for it, but that's what they had. You can tell by looking at the impeller. If it has a flat disc on the back, then it's the A/C version.

One of these days I'll put an electric fan on, but I have more pressing concerns.

 

[blueroo]

I decided to go with the stock replacement...picked it up at Autozone for $217 ($230.01 when it was all said and done) and I'm putting it in either tomorrow or Sunday afternoon. Fan and pump will remain same...for now.


What I do need to know however is how to completely flush the system before I put the new radiator in. Any suggestions?

 

[Bort62]

217 is about 50 $ more than I paid for my AL radiator from summit.

http://fordsix.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=41676

 

[LaGrasta]

$200! Wow, that is high. I'd say about $100 more than it should have cost for a stock set-up.
I paid $190 delivered, for my aluminum set-up from ebay.

 

[blueroo]

I know it was a bit high, it was actually a lot cheaper than the company I usually go with, Dearborn Classics, they wanted 270.

I wanted an aluminum radiator, but the problem is the Fairlanes have a rather odd radiator support/surrounding area. I could safely go 2 inches wider and one inch taller than stock without having to cut the frame. I couldn't find an aluminum radiator that size.

Even still it was a tight fit. The flanges on the one I got from Autozone were too tall...I had to cut them down (or I guess you'd say up) so they wouldn't hit the frame rails.

I'm not 100% sure on this, but it appears to have provisions for an electric fan. It also has ports for an automatic transmission cooler, which I don't have and have no plans to ever put an automatic in, but nonetheless it's nice to have, who knows, I might be able to put an additional tank in to increase the capacity.

And the car runs about 10 degrees cooler.

 

[LaGrasta]

You can use the unused tranny cooler for an oil cooler if you choose.

 

[XFlow_Fairlane]

do you happen to have the part number you used?

I am looking to change back to a downflow radaitor and was thinking of a 302 early mustang radaitor (alloy direct fit one) not concerned about outlet size or location too much but mostly if it will "bolt in"

 

[cobraguy]

With the radiator out remove the thermostat and reinstall the upper hose. Stuff the end of a garden hose in the upper hose and flush away. You may want to check local rules about discharging coolant on the ground.