radiator issues???

[fordtrucknut77]

hey gang, i thought i had things figured out, i got a explorer 4.0 radiator, does it need to be a specific year? straight drive or automatic matter?
I tried mounting it, i had to cut the entire top out of my rad support to ATTEMPT to get it to fit. and even after doing this it sticks up to high to ever get the hood to shut, what gives?
Is there something I have missed or am i just the lucky sob that gets to fabricate even the simplest things from scratch lol?

 

[fordmike1]

I cut out the bottom of my core support and cut the steering linkage potector part of the frame also to get it to drop low enough to fit. I made a new piece for the front of the frame and made it support the bottom of the radiator to.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

My '94 automatic Explorer radiator (same 91-94) dropped right into my '85. I am going to do some minor tweaking to move it slightly forward for a tad more clearance but it fits with everything original.

From what I have gathered it seems that in '93 the Ranger got a new rad support setup while the Explorer carried the old style into '94

 

[fordtrucknut77]

ok thanks, im not honestly sure what year the radiator i got is for, ill try getting one for a 94. If not looks like ill be cutting the bottom out of the support.

 

[huntin_muddin_91]

another option i used a f150 4 core... very tight fit but little mod pulls right out slips right back in i cut the ears off toward the bottom left the ears on the top used small 1 in angle iron facing upward and mounted to top of core support, hood shuts good, i used the stock rubber mounts on the bottom alum welded a dial to keep in place and never worrie bout vibration or jumping, although later i moved driver side body mount bout 4'' or so just to make it a lil easier of fit sorry no pics tho

FORDMIKE1-nice tube work i like that!

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

another option i used a f150 4 core... very tight fit but little mod pulls right out slips right back in i cut the ears off toward the bottom left the ears on the top used small 1 in angle iron facing upward and mounted to top of core support, hood shuts good, i used the stock rubber mounts on the bottom alum welded a dial to keep in place and never worrie bout vibration or jumping, although later i moved driver side body mount bout 4'' or so just to make it a lil easier of fit sorry no pics tho

FORDMIKE1-nice tube work i like that!

What application F-150?

All I could find (looking at random years on O'Reilly's website because they have pics and dimensions) were really wide single cores until I got back far enough to get the old school ones with the tanks on the top and bottom of the radiator.

 

[5.0]

until I got back far enough to get the old school ones with the tanks on the top and bottom of the radiator.

I have one of the old school ones I want to use, but that thing is HUGE! It will almost hang down lower than the bumper... the ricers may think it's an IC. For my last Ranger I used a radiator from a '91 Super Coupe, it's a down flow type and looks just like the old school F-Series radiators, but a lot smaller. The metal on the sides made it super simple to work with, it simply bolted to the core support and I made a steel shroud to bolt to the other side that I mounted the fan to.

 

[fordmike1]

FORDMIKE1-nice tube work i like that!

I would like to take all the credit for it the truth is, I measured it all out and told my neighbor what I wanted and he bent it up for me. Then he helped me cut it to the right length that I wanted and we welded it in with two gussets and two stands for the rad to sit on. I think that it came out good to.

Thanks for the comment.....Mike.

 

[huntin_muddin_91]

uhhh i been threw a few its like 90-97 style its got the plastic resevors i just go down the bone yard i know what style itt looks like i even ran it when i had the 4.0 in it the height is good just the width is a lil tight till you mod it but theaR ARE ears(2) that are staggered on the side a lil from the original mounts on donor car cut them off and there is mounting brackets that stick off the top (2) straight up but towards the front of the rad keep them fortop mount, on the bottom if no axcess to weld aluminum just wire it in and set it straight on the stock rubber i tried findin you a part number but cant locate one maybe some one else knows the style im talkin i think i may have even dug oneout of a late 80's ford too