need a new radiator

[grandwagon]

OK going to have to replace the rad in the wagon real soon and don't have alot of cash!!! so it is of to crazy rays I go, what would be the best one to look for that will fit the wagon?????would like to get the biggest one I can fit in there and being new to the hole FORD side of things I have no clue!!! should I look at Lincolns, Mercs, Fords or what??????


Thank you for any help you all can give me

[Lincolnmania]

79-91 panther is all that's going to fit

[grandwagon]

but are there some that have a better one then others do??????

[Brandon]

Nah I think they all the same. The p72's ( police interceptor) has the bigger radiator, but that'll probably be hard for you to find.

[sly]

aluminum core typically work better than the copper core I've come to find out.

[1987cp]

First time I needed a radiator, I bought whatever was cheap at AutoZone. Don't remember the brand. Came to about $140. Works good.

Second time, I looked on Fleabay and found a lightly-used one for $40. Modine brand, basically the same as my AZ find. That one worked fine too.

If you want to get crazy, go ahead and buy an aftermarket multi-core model from someone like Griffin or Be Cool, but that'll cost actual money and probably won't be a direct bolt-in (can check the dimensions on their Mustang stuff, though).



BTW, shouldn't this thread be in stock tech or something? :p

[Neal 97 250]

I have a '95 TC that has a good one in it but not sure if it will fit your needs. You are welcome to it.

[grandwagon]

thank you Neal, but after I pay to ship it all the way up here it would be cheaper to go to the yard and get one!!!!!!!! I can go to Crazy Rays and pick the one I want for like $40.00 including tax and they are about 5 minutes down the road!!!!!!

[Lincolnmania]

a new rad is 99 bucks at autozone and it has a lifetime warranty......i wouldn't buy used unless it looks new.....pop the cap and make sure the fins aren't all covered with crap

[grandwagon]

Oh I will check it out real GOOD BEFORE I buy it, I am going to take some measurements and see if I can find something that is thicker that will work so I can keep it alot cooler and last longer!!!!

[1987cp]

a new rad is 99 bucks at autozone and it has a lifetime warranty......i wouldn't buy used unless it looks new.....pop the cap and make sure the fins aren't all covered with crap

Good thought. I was only comfortable buying the one off Fleabay because the seller had pictures and insisted that it'd only been in the car a couple of months before the engine went kablooey and he got rid of it.


Is there any anecdotal evidence to suggest that multicore radiators have longer life expectancy? For me, partly since I don't live somewhere insane like Arizona, I've found that the cheap single-core (I think) replacement models keep my stuff cool just fine. TOTCG got the one in my P72 special because he wanted heavy-duty cooling; it's a copper-brass replacement unit that's thicker than my others; I think he said it's a 2-core.

[Neal 97 250]

thank you Neal, but after I pay to ship it all the way up here it would be cheaper to go to the yard and get one!!!!!!!! I can go to Crazy Rays and pick the one I want for like $40.00 including tax and they are about 5 minutes down the road!!!!!!

That's what I thought I just wanted to offer.
Good luck.

[grandwagon]

and I thank you for being so kind Neal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gstak07]

To me Crazy Ray's is the shit and it's easy to run across a decent radiator of any sort. But lately Crazy Ray's has been on the decline IMO because I am now starting to see Chevy's mixed in with Fords, piles of dirt or concrete in the walkways JUST THERE for no reason and price increases depending on who's working the window, along with other things such as not reclaiming the AC out of the vehicles before entering them into yard. But $40 isn't bad by far for a decent radiator that's used.

[86VickyLX]

along with other things such as not reclaiming the AC out of the vehicles before entering them into yard. But $40 isn't bad by far for a decent radiator that's used.

If you're looking for ac parts, it's a good indicator of what parts would be useable. The junkyard I go to has a core charge on some stuff. Radiators, condensors etc. Do they do core charges too?