Explorer Rad Question, 4.0 vs. 5.0

[YooperSteeze]

Just bought a 97 ex, 4.0 OHV manual trans, 4 door, rare unit. One of the end tanks is cracked, its a single core which is odd to me, but irrelevant. Direct replacement single core, no trans cooler is $150, dual core with trans cooler for a SOHC, $117, dual core for a 5.0 is $130. Obviously I'd like to buy the cheapest, which has the advantage of a dual core, which I'm happy with. Real question is, will the v8 rad fit? A buddy has one for me for free, but I swear I've heard the v8's have a different core support. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Should be a drop in for a '97 Explorer.

91-94 Explorer radiators mount completly different, maybe that is what you heard, somebody trying to put a 5.0 96-01 Explorer rad in one of them.

 

[YooperSteeze]

Okay thanks, thats what I wanted to hear. I've got a 94 too I know those are different, and an 84 Ranger I made one of those fit in, and a 92 Ranger, but thats irrelevant haha.

 

[YooperSteeze]

I can confirm 5.0 rad works in 4.0 trucks, and should give me a major increase in cooling. New rad hangs about 3 inches lower so if you wedge a rock or something under there you'd be screwed, but this is my DD so I hoping I shouldn't be concerned with any of that. I had to remove the plastic air dams that "seal" the rad to the condenser and run the shroud from the 5.0 rad but beyond that its a bolt in affair, with major cooling benefits.