I need a radiator for my 2001 Ranger. Opinions on brand, etc?

[Bird76Mojo]

I think mine might actually be a single core. I plan to do some measuring when I get home to see what I can make fit. When you shortened your adapters, did you re-cut the 37 degree bevel to the I.D. of the fitting? I gotta admit, I like the idea of going to an all aluminum radiator like my V8 Ranger has. That thing would cool a V8 Ranger at the equator, even with no shroud on it.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I've seen mention of using the 2 row V8 Exploder radiator, but there are fan clearance issues and the shroud may need trimmed. Otherwise, all that's available from what I can find, are single row radiators. Not counting the custom aluminum stuff of course.

I'm going to do some measuring to see if I could fit the Exploder rad..

Lots of good input here guys!

The mounts for the Explorer rad are different, not sure if they are welded or bolted onto the support though. It may be an easy swap... may not.

I know the Explorer hoses are pretty curvy too.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

@Bird76Mojo
Your 2001 V6~4.0L~SOHC radiator problem seems near identical to mine just a year ago now.
Replaced the original 2RowPlasticTankedRadiator with a new 4RowAllAluminumRadiator.
No regrets,; should have done this years earlier.

Noticed on another forum, you had a question about the TransCooler fittings;
I ground the original compression fittings down by about a 1/2" & then they fit the new radiator,
& can still be used on the old style radiator if reverting back to that for any reason.
See the link below for detail pics on doing this.

Not shown in the pics, but also modified original 1piece fan shroud into a 2piece Upper+Lower;
got tired of wrestling original shroud around fan; easy access to belt\fan\clutch\pump now.

More info at link below
https://2001fordexplorersporttrac.fandom.com/Engine_Coolant_Radiator+Cap

View attachment 63221View attachment 63222
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That aluminum one... dang. Link to ebay is on waybackmachine and isn't really good, do a new search. Pricing is still the same.

Anyone know if the '96+ Ranger radiator brackets are removable?

 

[DILLARD000]

Saved that ebay page to the waybackmachine because too many links get old & disappear.
So yep, do a fresh search on ebay\amazon for the same 4row radiator to current availablity.
Build quality of my 4Row was good, with good strong aluminum welds all around.

 

[DILLARD000]

I did replace the 2 radiator rubber hoses with 1.5" StainlessFlex;
easy to reshape\reroute as needed & adds a little more cooling capacity (corrugated metal to air).

 

[Bird76Mojo]

I found a write-up last night that stated the V8 Explorer 2 row radiator was a direct swap to the 2001 Ranger. I can't locate it now from my work computer. lol

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I found a write-up last night that stated the V8 Explorer 2 row radiator was a direct swap to the 2001 Ranger. I can't locate it now from my work computer. lol

O'Reilly's website says the Ranger radiator core is wider than the Explorer, its about a wash, one is 23.xx wide and 20.xx tall and the other is 20.xx wide and 23.xx tall.

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c/murray-heat-transfer/cooling---heating/radiator/radiator/02ac48565f9e/murray-heat-transfer-radiator/rht0/431384/v/a/5520/automotive-truck-2001-ford-ranger?q=radiator&pos=0

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c/murray-heat-transfer/cooling---heating/radiator/radiator/02ac48565f9e/murray-heat-transfer-radiator/mht1/431328/v/a/5261/automotive-suv-1999-ford-explorer?q=radiator&pos=0

 

[Bird76Mojo]

O'Reilly's website says the Ranger radiator core is wider than the Explorer, its about a wash, one is 23.xx wide and 20.xx tall and the other is 20.xx wide and 23.xx tall.

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c/murray-heat-transfer/cooling---heating/radiator/radiator/02ac48565f9e/murray-heat-transfer-radiator/rht0/431384/v/a/5520/automotive-truck-2001-ford-ranger?q=radiator&pos=0

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c/murray-heat-transfer/cooling---heating/radiator/radiator/02ac48565f9e/murray-heat-transfer-radiator/mht1/431328/v/a/5261/automotive-suv-1999-ford-explorer?q=radiator&pos=0

They often get dimensions swapped around on Oreilly's site as well as tons of others.

 

[Bird76Mojo]

Found the post on another forum..

 

[Bird76Mojo]

I have confirmed that there is enough room between the fan clutch and the single row radiator on my 2001 4.0 Ranger that I can go with a 2 row unit from an Explorer.

Still unsure if I'll order the Ebay chineseum all aluminum unit, or just a standard plastic end tank unit.. Especially considering I just had to drop $336 on two plate stickers.

My single row with 2" or 3" top channel.

Plenty of room for a 2 row..

 

[DILLARD000]

Best to measure & confirm that 2or3inch channel, then buy same channel depth, so shroud will mate up flush against new rad all around.
In your pics, the top+bottom channels look to be 2inch depth, but again "measure twice, buy once"!

 

[racsan]

how ironic, I was reading this thread just a few days ago and yesterday I noticed under the hood of the escape that I have a coolant leak on the radiator, right side tank. One things for sure, theres just too many choices on rockauto. I also ordered coolant & some system flush. $200 for it all with shipping. Guess I know what Im doing next weekend but better now than late november.

 

[Bird76Mojo]

how ironic, I was reading this thread just a few days ago and yesterday I noticed under the hood of the escape that I have a coolant leak on the radiator, right side tank. One things for sure, theres just too many choices on rockauto. I also ordered coolant & some system flush. $200 for it all with shipping. Guess I know what Im doing next weekend but better now than late november.

I also found this review from a fellow Ranger owner using the Explorer V8 radiator:

Vista-Pro Ready Rad 431328

Free Shipping - Vista-Pro Ready Rad 431328 with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Radiators at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

These frickin plastic tanks with crimps. I swear! But all of the Ebay Chinese aluminum units require cutting and re-flaring of the trans cooler lines. UGH! Why can't the Chinese get anything right? Not to mention the Ebay aluminum units also don't have the proper clips/mounts for the factory aux trans cooler lines on the bottom.

 

[Bird76Mojo]

Well, I ordered this 2 core all aluminum (chineseum) unit. So we'll see if the trans cooler fittings are a problem or not. I have sneaking suspicion that the fittings (nuts?) on my trans hard lines will have to be shortened some to seat properly. Fingers crossed!

The cores look awfully narrow, but they do look wider overall than my single core. The top channel looks to be the same width as mine. attachment points look the same also.

Maybe unwise to spend the coin on this for a 200,000+ mile previous Ohio-salt truck that's rotten underneath, but if I keep piecing it together and patching it for much longer, I may be happy that I bought this after all.

 

[DILLARD000]

Very similar to my 4RowAllAluminum installed a year ago;
chinesuem, oh well, 99% of Ford parts are made outside of US these days.
Did have to cut off the end of the TransCooler tubes
grind factory extended barrel compression fittings about 1/2"shorter to the threads
then slip them back on & reflare the tube ends.
Why did Ford use custom fittings instead of standard plumbing parts; to jack up prices?