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- Joined
- Feb 17, 2023
- Messages
- 6
- Reaction score
- 4
- Points
- 3
- Location
- Virginia
- Vehicle Year
- 1983
- Engine Type
- 2.8 V6
- Transmission
- Manual
To save someone else the trouble I went through since I couldn't find any documentation:
1983 and 1984 Rangers (and bronco II) have a different radiator mount than later Rangers, and have a standard copper radiator. In replacing the hoses, the draincock and upper outlet came off cleanly on mine. Since the nearest radiator shop is something like a 2 hour drive away, I don't trust my brazing skills, and a running truck is more useful than one that's not, I attempted to order a replacement from Advanced Auto despite the $450 cost. They immediately cancelled my order. Autozone's replacement ($550) didn't ship in 2 weeks (and is non-cancellable, but I asked for a refund... another story).
Anyway, the 1985 also had the 2.8L v6, and the same radiator was essentially used for every later v6, so far as I can tell. Plastic, has two posts on the bottom and ears on the top, for bolting to the front steel. Some investigation, and I could get the front steel and radiator mounts for an 85-88 for $200 on LMC, and a replacement radiator for that vintage for $100-200 anywhere. I decided that was too smart and too much work for this project.
Old radiator: 2 row core for an automatic (oil cooler unused). New: single core for the manual, $160 from the local Advanced auto parts. The bottom outlet is shaped a little differently (straight out instead 45° in both free axes) and much shorter, so I needed to buy a longer radiator hose (just bought flex). Chopped off the plastic pegs from the bottom, and dropped it into the existing radiator mounts (photos when I get motivated). Fit is imperfect; it sits about 1" above the old height, and I had to remove some plastic clips holding the headlight cable harness along the front edge to clear the "ears" which I did not cut off (would be easy to do), but the filler neck does clear the hood, and the truck runs.
1983 and 1984 Rangers (and bronco II) have a different radiator mount than later Rangers, and have a standard copper radiator. In replacing the hoses, the draincock and upper outlet came off cleanly on mine. Since the nearest radiator shop is something like a 2 hour drive away, I don't trust my brazing skills, and a running truck is more useful than one that's not, I attempted to order a replacement from Advanced Auto despite the $450 cost. They immediately cancelled my order. Autozone's replacement ($550) didn't ship in 2 weeks (and is non-cancellable, but I asked for a refund... another story).
Anyway, the 1985 also had the 2.8L v6, and the same radiator was essentially used for every later v6, so far as I can tell. Plastic, has two posts on the bottom and ears on the top, for bolting to the front steel. Some investigation, and I could get the front steel and radiator mounts for an 85-88 for $200 on LMC, and a replacement radiator for that vintage for $100-200 anywhere. I decided that was too smart and too much work for this project.
Old radiator: 2 row core for an automatic (oil cooler unused). New: single core for the manual, $160 from the local Advanced auto parts. The bottom outlet is shaped a little differently (straight out instead 45° in both free axes) and much shorter, so I needed to buy a longer radiator hose (just bought flex). Chopped off the plastic pegs from the bottom, and dropped it into the existing radiator mounts (photos when I get motivated). Fit is imperfect; it sits about 1" above the old height, and I had to remove some plastic clips holding the headlight cable harness along the front edge to clear the "ears" which I did not cut off (would be easy to do), but the filler neck does clear the hood, and the truck runs.
