Fitting a 2 row rad into a 5-speed truck

[EHeaney]

First post on this forum. I can't seem to find a definitive answer on how this fits on a stock truck.

I have a '93 4.0 4x4 with the 5-speed. Came with the crappy 1-row radiator that can't keep up in 100+ degree California weather. I want to swap in a 2-row rad from the automatic trucks. Seems logical to me that it would fit, right? I can tell I'll need a lower rad hose, but can I reuse my stock fan, fan clutch, and shroud? I'm trying to avoid going to electric fans if I can.

EDIT, an update for anybody who finds this with search: Okay, I did it. I bought a radiator for a 1993 Ranger 4.0L with A/T and A/C, as well as the lower rad hose. Went to a junkyard and found a 1993 Explorer with the same radiator and grabbed its fan shroud. Installed them both with no issues. There was still plenty of clearance between the fan and the new rad, and the shorter shroud/thicker radiator combo was about as thick as the stock long shroud/thin radiator combo. The lower outlet on the new radiator is pointed downwards rather than straight out, so I swapped the lower rad hose as well, but you could probably make it work with the original hose. However, if you're going to do it, do it right, I recommend just paying the $15 to get the correct hose. Also, I got some bolts to plug the A/T cooling ports from getting any moisture inside, though I'm not sure how necessary that was.

Took it for a test drive, though it was only maybe high 80s, but I had the A/C blasting, I cruised in overdrive, I cruised in 4th gear, I sat and idled, never had the temperature go above the R on the word "NORMAL" on the gauge. If anybody finds this thread and is thinking about doing it, JUST DO IT.

 

[EHeaney]

Cool, there's only about 1000 Explorers at the local junkyard, so I should have luck finding a shroud. Thanks!

Hopefully I'll have it in this weekend.

 

[Elutheros]

It is plug and play. I put one in my '94 Ranger, my '87 BII and my '92 with the 5.0 without any mods to the first two. The 5.0 required some cutting and pasting, but they all cooled wonderfully.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I have heard people say that the bigger radiator will overcool smaller engines and not let them get up to temp in colder weather.

I have the 4.0HD radiator in my 5.0 truck, it is probably at the upper end of what the radiator is capable of with no A/C (yet) and it does ok.

The mounting tabs are spaced differently at the bottom between the two shrouds (or at least they were on mine)

 

[AllanD]

M the thermostat makes sure the engine gets to proper temp in cold weather, it may take a couple more minutes to get up to temp because of the few more quarts of coolant in circulation, but it's really not a big issue..

I've been running a Gen1 A/T radiator in my Ranger for far longer than I've had a 4.0 engine...


You think that big rad keeps a 4.0 from overheating? you should try it in a Gen1 Ranger with no A/C and a 2.9 engine!