Radiator Question for 5.0

[YooperSteeze]

I bought my 84 Ranger with a 302 already swapped in. The rad in there is real toasty and on its last legs, plus its tiny, looks to be out of a pinto or something. Through searching I've decided I need a radiator out of a gen 1 explorer, 4.0 auto trans. Now on to the questions. Super cooling or regular? I know super cooling is for auto trans with a/c, but I don't know which would be better. I've heard something or another about possibly having to reverse the inlet and outlet due to the direction of flow from the water pump. Is this necessary on all or just certain applications? Last question, how much do I need to cut out of the core support to make this fit? Thanks in advance for any answers, have a good day!

 

[kroussinoffroad]

swamped 302 on one of my trucks years ago. think i got a radiator out of a 93 explorer 4.0 auto 4x4. mounting took some minor fabbing but nothin too crazy. it allways did good keepin the mild 302 cool for me. my truck was a third gen 2wd that came factory with no A/C, powersteering, and with a 4cylinder

 

[morse johnson]

i used the 4.0 rad in my 5.0 swap with an electric fan..now on your concerns about the water flow for the rad i never heard that before, but once you get your core support cut out so that 4.0 rad will fit your hose connections for the rad will be normal upper hose goes to the thermostat housing and the lower hose goes to the water pump.again on the core support cut out its somewhat case by case no 2 people do there swap the same.just remember the least you cutout the easier and neater it would look on your swap. good luck

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The "super cooling" or "HD" radiator is literially twice what the regular radiator is.

What fits where depends on how your truck is setup. I run the HD Explorer radiator in the stock mounting with a pusher electric fan and a low profile flexfan. It looks pretty official unless the efan kicks on or you peak around the stock shroud and see the very non oem looking flexfan.

A lot of guys tuck whatever radiator they want under the radiator support and run puller fans... it all depends on what you want to do