Found a great site for finding radiator info - http://webbase.transpro.com/radcat/

Here's the good ol' 95 4.0 HD rad.
http://webbase.transpro.com/icarzpics/432416.jpg

Here's a 95 Aerostar 4.0 rad.
http://webbase.transpro.com/icarzpics/432178.jpg

I'm going to measure for the Aerostar rad tonite to see what's what.

I think you got the pics backwards. I think the 2178 is a Ranger rad.


oops nope. a 2217 is a Ranger/Explorer rad.

http://webbase.transpro.com/icarzpics/432217.jpg

Aha! That looks even better...what year is that one from?

1994 Explorer

OKay I have a 94 HD 4.0L radiator (was running when pulled 4.0L) and a 97 5.0L explorer rad. Unfortunatley without extensive radiator support mods in a 88 BII/Ranger they won't fit :) I am running 97 Explorer front dress and serpentine.

The conversion radiators are typically nothing more then somebody outsourcing a custom or one off rad to fit our conversions. So why not skip the outsource and have a custom unit made. Chances are they have a unit the right size.
I know alot of you guys do this and they look great. I am at the point where I am considering my options.
I want to know how well they COOL your 5.0L. I am talking about the under rad support mounted custom alumunim units.

the conversion rad's I have seen look like nothing more then a tractor, specifically a skid steer loader, style (more square, deep and narrow) unit.
I wonder if these radiators are already on the market and could be cheaper then preivously thought. :)

Any insight on this?

Dont get me wrong I don't mind spending $300 at the local rad place to have one built....but cooling is very important in my rig due to towing and long trips in the desert :)

I am gonna end up using an all aluminum racing radiator with some TIG'd in mounts to make it fit. Griffin makes em for 190-ish, same with Northern All-Pro. I don;t think anybody can really beat the price.

Brian

EDIT: Plus with the racing styles, you can get alternate inlets/outlets to make it all work. :)

Thanks for this JP3.

stock 2.3 rad...note size
http://webbase.transpro.com/icarzpics/431323.jpg

94 Explorer rad...same size
http://webbase.transpro.com/icarzpics/432217.jpg

I wonder if I'll have room with my Crown Vic accessories? I'll be ditching the smog and AC.

Same size, different mounts.

The 95 or 96's use a saddle mount connected to the core support, instead of the pin and hole mount used on earlier models. Just go with the same year you have, IMO.

Brian

Mounts would seem to be a minor obstacle...

Mounts would seem to be a minor obstacle...

Why reinvent the wheel? :poke: :poke: :E

B

:E

If I go with the same year as my truck (97, same as your 96) then the size changes.


The 4.0 Ranger rad for 95-97 shows a core size of 17-1/4 x 21-1/2 x 2-1/4
The 4.0 Explorer rad for 92-94? shows a core size of 18 x 18-3/8 x 2-1/4

That's 3" taller. I guess what concerns me is...where does that 3" go? Up or down? I'm assuming up since the mounts are fixed, and that style rests in the cradle, as you mentioned.

Input?

The extra 3" go DOWN. I had one installed at one time.... Well I THOUGHT I had a pic of it compared side to side to the old 2.3 rad... :-/

B

Thank you sir.

I have a line on a cheap rad from a 92 Explorer, we'll see how cheap they'll let it go for. I can't seem to find any used 4.0 rads around here, and $200 new seems to be the cheapest ($CDN).

Thanks again.

I paid $160US from radiators.com a FEW years ago.....

B

I'll make sure I get pics regardless of which rad I decide to go with, and post them here.

In my '88 B2 I used the radiator from a '92 Ranger with a 4.0, A/C, auto, and the HD cooling package and never had a single overheating issue.

I am using the 4 core brass Kaufmann radiator, it cools very well even in 100+ Texas summers. This is with a 4.0 clutch fan and no shroud. I'm sure you could probably get a local radiator shop to build a custom one with the same outlets for couple hundred dollars, which is about $150 less than I paid.

The rad that I am using came with a kit that I baught for ranger v8 swaps is from All Star, Alumininum Racing radiator part number 30043.

How much was it and do you ahve any pictures? I tow a boat so I want EFFICIENT and biggest I can fit in there...

Anybody ever used two smaller tanks in series? Similar to what Trophey trucks run?

Basically I baught it through a kit so I have no idea what the rad by itself would cost the whole kit was 875 Canadian with the rad, headers, mounts, oil filter relocation and a bunch of other stuff. The dimensions are, 27"X16 1/2X2 1/4, thats from outside of rad to outside.