radiator fit problem

[7072f100]

hey everyone i have a 1970 f100 2wd originally came with a 302/3spd now i have a 69 360/C6 in it. ok so i bought a radiator for it standard 3 core and it wont fit do big block trucks and small block trucks have different core supports??? the problem is that the mounting flanges are at least 5to6 inches away from the core support. or are there brackets that im missing??? 2wd and 4wd radiators different ??? just learning about these cool trucks so any suggestions??? and this is the second radiator i bought 2 different manufatures too. thought the 1st was defective (flanges welded on wrong) not the case. thnks for any insight you guys have.

[fordman]

the fe and smallblock trucks had the same core support and opening size so the botl holes were in the same places. the 6 cyl coresupport had a smaller opening. by several inches. i dont know how much. the core size of your radiator should be 19z26 basiclly. for a fe enigne. compare the core size to this chart on lmctruck. this is the right chart fo rthe application you want to use. do you have pictures of yours? part number and maufacturer numbers from it? do you have pictures of your coresupport? 4wd and f350 radiators will be the same 19x26 or even thicker and maybe taller if you get a supercool radiator. http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/fb/t.aspx?Page=88

[fordman]

the only thing i can think of after looking on that chart is they sold you one for a manual transmission truck. that core is smaller by several inches. because it doesnt have the extra use for a automatic transmission cooler. so no need for extra core to help cool the bottom tank.

[70_F100]

the only thing i can think of after looking on that chart is they sold you one for a manual transmission truck. that core is smaller by several inches. because it doesnt have the extra use for a automatic transmission cooler. so no need for extra core to help cool the bottom tank.

That wouldn't be the problem.

The footnote says that the manual tranny radiators have the cooler, but it's simply plugged.

the problem is that the mounting flanges are at least 5to6 inches away from the core support. or are there brackets that im missing??? 2wd and 4wd radiators different ??? just learning about these cool trucks so any suggestions??? and this is the second radiator i bought 2 different manufatures too. thought the 1st was defective (flanges welded on wrong) not the case. thnks for any insight you guys have.

They're actually listing the same radiator for all V8 2WD trucks from 66-72 as being the same. That same radiator is even listed for the 6-cylinder trucks in 69.

The 4WD trucks list a different model.

The correct radiator should have 2 mounting flanges on each side, one for the radiator to bolt to the core support, and one for the fan shroud.

[Brokenarrow]

Maybe they sold you a radiator for a 6cyl truck?? There is 5inches difference in the width of the two. One is roughly 23 1/2" and the other is 28 1/2" bolt-hole to bolt-hole. I know it's not relevant in your case, but the core support on a 6cyl truck is cutout to fit the narrow 6cyl radiator but the correct bolt-holes are there for the wider V8 radiator. So instead of changing the core support for a I6 to V8 swap you can simply cut the opening to "V8 specs".

[fordman]

one of those radiators on the site says its like 18 3/8x18 3/8. 43-3000 it says without oil cooler. it is for a 240 and 300 engine though. what i was really thinking when i saw that though. was that the core was smaller but the tanks may have been just as large as a regular radiator. but that isnt right either. they must have shipped him a 6 cyl radiator. thats all i can think of. measure your core and check the sizes on the link i put up. that will tell you what they sent you and what you need as far as core size.

[JMcTurnan]

I had to drill holes for my new radiator, but your saying the flanges that go you bolt through stick it out too far? Thats wierd my flanges are on the side of my radiator and dont add any distance.

[70_F100]

[FORDification]

Your truck originally would have come with a basic 2-core radiator. Trucks with the Super Cooling option (larger radiator) and/or 4x4's did have a different radiator, as well as a different core support with a different mounting style to support the larger radiator.

Here's a few comparison pics. Here's how your original radiator bolted right to the core support:



Here's another pic showing a different mounting style. The upper core support in this picture is a stock support from a '70 F100 with a 302. Notice how the mounting surface is basically flat...the radiator bolts right to the core. The lower support in this picture is from a dentside-era 4x4. See how there are standoffs on each side of the radiator opening that extend outward? The radiator mounting flanges would be on the opposite side and would bolt to these stand-offs.



As mentioned, the lower support in the pic is from a dentside 4x4 (a '75 F150 IIRC), but the bumpside core supports with Super Cooling and/or 4x4 have these same stand-offs to which the radiator is mounted. Here's a close-up:



To mount your new radiator to your existing core support, you'll have to find a 4x4 truck, or a 2WD with Super Cooling, and drill out the spotwelds holding the stand-offs to the core support to remove them, and then mount these to your existing core support.

[BobbyFord]

I believe the opening in the Super-cooling core support is larger, also.

[fordman]

i don't think the super cool opening is any larger. the widest radiator is only 19 1/4 for our years of trucks. the 57-60 is wide by about an inch.

[tommyp]

I know this is an old thread but maybe you guys are still looking in. Just to make sure I understand, is the 4x4 core support different to allow for an optional super cooling radiator? If that's not the reason, do you know why the 4x4 radiator mounting is different from the 2wd?

I'm asking because I'm putting a 1969 2wd F100 body on a 1970 4x4 F100 chassis. Both trucks are 360 c.i. manual. The radiator in my 2wd is identical in physical size to the radiator in my 4x4 donar truck, but the mounting configuration is different, as shown in your pictures. My plan is to use the 2wd radiator on the 2wd core support on the 4x4 chassis. Can you think of any problems with that?

Thanks

[71Fe2O3]

I recall reading somewhere, likely here, that the 4WD radiator mounting flange on the core support is designed to position the radiator at a slight downward angle to match the angle of the drivetrain, which differs between the 4WD and 2WD trucks.

The frame crossmembers differ on 4WD and 2WD chassis, as does the oil pan sump location, and, therefore, the oil pump pickup tube.

[sargentrs]

One of the best explanations of radiator/core support difference I've read. https://fordification.com/forum/viewtop ... 3fd80a8c92

[colnago]

This might explain the problem I had with a replacement radiator. I have a 2WD F250 Camper Special with an auto trans. I bought a new radiator, and it had the mounting flanges on the BACK of the radiator, not the front! I was able to use it, but needed stand-offs to bolt it to the radiator support. I must have bought the Super-Cooling version, which used the rear flange for mounting! D'oh!

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Joseph