Help! What radiator did you use for your gen1 BII/Ranger V8 Swap?

[markinms]

Hey guys, I need help selecting a radiator (and hoses) that will fit my 87 BII and leave room an a/c condensor.

I've been using the Northern V8 swap radiator for the past couple of years. No problems with it, works great. The issue is my wife and I are getting a bit older (65/64) and we'd like to start using the a/c again.

I currently have the Northern radiator, which sets back under the support, eliminating any room for the a/c condensor. I'm using the FEAD from a 96 Explorer along with its a/c system (new parts.) I "tried installing a heavy duty radiator (2") from a 94 Explorer with the 4.0L but it sits a bit too high and the water inlet/outlets just don't work. The top outlet has less than 1/8" clearance from the alternator pulley, leaving now working room for a hose, and the bottom outlet is angled downward, not straight out, creating a hose alignment problem.

I've been looking to a radiator from a 95 ranger (Spectra CU1721). Top outlet is lower down and angles out, helping to clear the alternator pulley. The bottom outlet come straight out making hose connection much easier. My problem with this radiator is that this radiator is larger that what I have, or have had, and I'm not sure about cutting up the radiator housing. I can and will if necessary.

Anyway, would those of you who've done a first gen BII/Ranger v8 swap and running a/c on it, please let know what radiator you're using, what mods, if any, you had to make, and what hoses worked best for you. I do well with pics so if you have some, that would be great too!

Thanks for any feedback/help you can offer!

Mark

 

[kramdua]

i know it has been a while from this post. what did you figure out with your a/c and radiator?
thanks,
mark

 

[Elutheros]

I cut the front core support sheet metal out to allow my 94 Explorer radiator to sit forward about 2-3" and welded in another lower mount for the radiator. Also using an Explorer FEAD. Plenty of room for stock fan or electric. The condenser could be mounted in front of the radiator with a little more metal removal--which I plan to do when I install a Vintage A/C system someday.

 

[kramdua]

thanks for the info. i am older and my wife is a baby and needs a/c. groing up we didn't have a/c at home or in school. high school had a/c but i still didn't want to be there.
mark

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

With the Explorer FEAD my 91-94 Explorer radiator sits on the stock mounts with a low profile flexfan on the engine and a pusher efan. It works.

I also want to add AC.

My flexfan won't cool the engine on its own right now at low speed let alone with a condenser blocking airflow and dumping heat in front of the radiator. Current efan will not coexist with a condenser.

Sooo I have been toying with the idea of a Northern or even a V8 Explorer radiator moved ahead a tad so a Explorer mechanical fan (or efan of substantial size) could fit on the back of the radiator. Judging from the shroud I do think I could get an Explorer radiator to fit in there with my bodylift. It would hang down below the normal radiator area but I THINK it would still be above the bottom of the frame and not totally hang out the bottom.

The northern tucks in the support so it would need moved back enough to fit the condenser.

I also have a condenser fan from a Mercedes C230 Kompressor that could fit on the front:



@PetroleumJunkie412 pioneered the Mercedes fan thing with his first gen