Radiators

I have a question about radiators. I need a radiator able to support my new engine for street driving. Being that my truck is a 1984 f150 with a inline 300 six cylinder the radiator is small. I have been told that I could swap it out for a F250 radiator but I still have questions.
My new engine will be in the 700hp range and the largest factory radiator was designed for 200hp at best engines. I've looked at aftermarket drop in radiators but they are rated for 400hp engines. Should I just use one of these aftermarket 400hp radiators and not have problems or should I talk with the custom radiator manufacturers for something rated for 700hp??

I have to admit I'm not that educated on how a radiator is designed for hp ratings.

go to Autozone, Oreillys any parts house and get a radiator for an 84 with a 460 no biggie...

the Coug wrote:go to Autozone, Oreillys any parts house and get a radiator for an 84 with a 460 no biggie...

I agree. My Dad put one in his 1980 F150, and its a 4 row. A 302 with a 180 degree stat cold barely warm it up in cool weather.

the Coug wrote:go to Autozone, Oreillys any parts house and get a radiator for an 84 with a 460 no biggie...

And be sure to use the proper shroud.

I hear good things about Champion Radiators. Decided to look into them to change my 79 Bronco from a down flow to a cross flow radiator.
Griffin Radiator wanted about 3 times as much.

I don't see 84's listed but when searching the diesels in that year group they recommended CC1451 for gas engines.

Wished I knew the differences better to say for sure you could use 85-96 radiators.


http://www.championradiators.com/ford-f-series-truck-radiator-1985-1996

I have a 7.3 ps radiator from a 88 f350

It was my understanding that the diesel radiator's for trucks in that year area required the core support to go with the diesel radiator. If you want extreme super duty cooling, I don't think anything else will surpass the it.

bbf-falcon wrote:I have a 7.3 ps radiator from a 88 f350

I put an 80's diesel radiator in 76 F150 when I put a 460 in and never had a problem even down here
in the heat & towing never went passed 1/2way on the needle. and it bolted right up.

The OP is working on a 1984 model, and The core support is different than a 76. I know the one in my 89 Diesel is huge, and I doubt it would fit the 80 model I mentioned. Never thought about putting one in my 78, buth the 4 row modine super duty works good, but had to order it special for $400 or more, most of them or 3 row with a big top tank.

Just because the bolt holes don't line up,dosen't mean it won't fit.

There were two diesel rad's in the 80's, the short/wide rad found in trucks with no AC which fit in a gasser rad support and the narrow/tall rad that requires a diesel rad support. The diesel rad support is the same for a 7.3IDI or 7.3 PSD. The diesel rad support is not available from the aftermarket so you would have to locate a factory unit. The Powerstroke rad's are huge, they would keep a BBF cool for fun. I hauled my Mustang to the body shop today down the highway at 65mph with a 9ft plow on the nose of my F350 4x4 dually, the 7.3 would hardly get up to temp with that big rad even with it being mostly blocked...LOL

its official,,, I don't know which one will fit in my F150!! LoL I can make new brackets but if I can get away with factory mounting that's a "positive"!

jones wrote:its official,,, I don't know which one will fit in my F150!! LoL I can make new brackets but if I can get away with factory mounting that's a "positive"!

What is so hard about going to the parts store and getting a radiator for an 84 with a 460 in it? I bought one for my 84 why can't you? no brackets to make BOLTS right in, It's easy now go get one...

No problems if it's that easy!

Jones I bought one for mine like I said it bolts right in same place the old one came out...

I agree with Coug and have done the same used a 460 radiator in a small block truck that was converted to big blocks

Ok it's settled then, I will order one. I will just have to get someone to build a fan shroud for the electric fans.

Look into the contour or stratus dual fan setups from factory.

I misplaced a post some how yesterday.

I looked into the Radiators on Rock-auto. They only sold one radiator for the F250-F350 7.5 but if you look under F150 5.8 They had a slew of radiators. They offer a 1 core, 2 core and 3 core cross flow.

I am pretty sure when you choose the 7.5 liter it automatically chooses the biggest radiator. The 5.8 will run fine with smaller radiators get the one for the 7.5

I don't know anything about the brands but that OSC 561 looks interesting.
It should be the same as the Spectre CU561.

With a good Taurus or Lincoln MK VIII fan( 94 and older are 2 speed and 95-96 are single speed) cooling should be ok.

These fans draw a lot of amps on start up and running. Normal part store relays will not last.

Fan controller recommendations:
http://www.hollisterroad.com/proddetail.asp?prod=MarkVIII

http://www.autocoolguy.com/#!on-line-store/ccfj
I prefer the 125 amp model.

SandHillsHillbilly wrote:I don't know anything about the brands but that OSC 561 looks interesting.
It should be the same as the Spectre CU561.

With a good Taurus or Lincoln MK VIII fan( 94 and older are 2 speed and 95-96 are single speed) cooling should be ok.

These fans draw a lot of amps on start up and running. Normal part store relays will not last.

Fan controller recommendations:
http://www.hollisterroad.com/proddetail.asp?prod=MarkVIII

http://www.autocoolguy.com/#!on-line-store/ccfj
I prefer the 125 amp model.

I just noticed the OSC 561 is under the 5.8 and the 7.5. Except it's not defined as a 3 row under the 7.5 like it is under the 5.8. The only one defined under the 7.5 is the single row. I will order the 561 as soon as I find the right fan.