86 ranger

[ricardo93]

I currently have an 86 with a dead motor, gonna swap in a 2.3t when. I have the money and i was wondering if anyone has swapped in a 4core radiator, and if they're even made for rangers, I also want to patch in e-fans for the radiator, where would be the best place to pick up the radiator and fans?

 

[Kenneth S]

All aluminum radiator.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/bci-61161/overview/make/ford/model/ranger/year/1986

Don't know how good this one is.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/APDTY-100-Aluminum-Radiator-For-Superseded-To-2077P-85-94-Fd-Ranger-At-Mt-2-3L-/310708567339?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year%3A1986%7CMake%3AFord%7CModel%3ARanger&hash=item4857ac7d2b&vxp=mtr

 

[scotts90ranger]

a super huge radiator isn't needed for the turbo engine but it doesn't hurt. The easiest larger radiator swap is to go to a V6 Ranger/Explorer radiator as they drop in you just have to monkey with the hoses as they are on opposite corners, for the lower hose get one for a '86 thunderbird turbocoupe, the radiator side angle isn't perfect but isn't a bad fit, I just zip tie the part that hangs down up to the radiator... (there's a bracket on the bottom with holes in it, it works fine), then for the upper hose, start with the stock hose (or a new one...) and cut it in half, measure the inside diameter there and go to the hardware store and get a 45* copper pipe solder on elbow that fits inside and two hose clamps to go around the hose at that. You can see mine:



Don't look too close, I know the engine is all nasty and grimy there, that was before the rebuild and fixing a few things... The biggest available explorer radiator is $95ish plus shipping from Rock Auto, or I'm sure you could find it somewhere local for reasonable (shipping was $40 for me, so I bought local)

On electric fans, if you use an explorer radiator, good luck... I tried once and didn't have room between the radiator and water pump pulley, you would have to do what people do with the 302 swaps... whatever that is