Who makes a good new radiator for a 55 Ford club sedan with a 302 in it? The inlet and outlets appear to be originals on the one in it. Looking for direct replacement or what else fits. Thanks, George D.
sure.....real easy 65-68 mustang. ive got a 68 mustang big block rad in my 54 ford. fit like a glove. works well
Thanks guys, We had this one recored about 8 years ago but since installing vintage air it runs hot at high speeds. Already checked timing, jetting etc. radiator shop says it can't keep up. Does the mustang rad have the same outlet position and how much work for mounting holes. Need something real close because of a/c condensor. Thanks, George
there is almost no work to install. i have a 302 in mine with the mustang radiator. the inlet and out lets are in the correct place. when you buy the hoses order them for the mustang ...you will have to trim them to fit. they are too long. also if you buy the 3 core radiator you may have a issue with the stock fan being too close. it you use the 2 core you will have no problems. i have the 3 core in mine and im runnin a electric fan. works very well for me. let me know if you have any isses ill help where i can......................john
You beat me to it. My old Customline had a 302 and that's the one I used. Slipped right in. I got mine from Advance Auto Parts for about $159.
I have a 55 Ford with a 302 in it, with A/c, (vintage air, or similar) and the stock style radiator. With the A/C on, it gets hot at low speeds, in traffic. I plan on installing an electric fan before summer. I hope to find the proper fan shroud too. That should handle it. If not, I'll just turn off the A/c.
Good point on that one. Every Ford I've had liked to run kinda hot, so I augmented my stock fan with an electric. That kept everything below 200, no matter the outside temp or how much traffic I was stuck in.
When I got my '55 in '81 it had already been subjected to a 289/C4 swap. Radiator looks to be out of a '65 'Stang or Fairlane, which is probably also from the donor car for the drivetrain. It looks like it bolted up to the original radiator support "U" unless they had to drill some holes in the radiator mounting flange. And check the front inner sheet metal for cracks - mine is tearing at the upper side near the mount. The one thing I don't like is that I lose the period appearance of that '55 rad's big upper tank: I've been wanting to get a new '55 rad (check out catalogs for Larry's and Concours Parts & Acc'ys - they're advertised in Crown Victoria ***'n's "FoMoCo Times") and have the outlets moved to match up with the 289. But if there are cooling issues, maybe I'll stay with the 'Stang one.
I like the Mustang ones too, look for one that came in a 390 powered car, they're thicker than the others. You can try adapting a junkyard shroud, I've done that with success. I like the idea of adding an electric fan and keep it simple with a manual switch. Keep an eye on the water temp, flip it on as needed. Bob
OK, good thread here. Excellent. I've been all over the web the last couple of days lookin' for a radiator for my '56. They are expensive as hell if you get a relatively good one. The cheapest I've found is $330. Ok, what exactly is the Mustang radiator that will fit? I mean does it drop and bolt right in? The 4 bolts on the side and all of that stuff? Mine is 19" wide and 25" tall (core). Including sides is 23" wide.
customline vicky...its a bolt in thing. any mustang rad from 65-68 will fit. just as long as you buy it for a v8. i paid 265 a few years back for a brand new 3 core from mustangs unlimited. it was actually for a big block mustang...works well with my 302 the only issue is if you but the three core there is a issue with the fan...you will need to run a electric. the four bolts that are on you rad support....the u shaped part... are in the same location. worse case you might have to drill new hole is the support..but i doubt it. i did mine a few years ago so its not too fresh in my memory. but its a nice easy job. if you have any other questions i can probebly help.
It looks to me like on a V8 Mustang that both hoses are on the same side. The 6 cylinder one has one on each side, like mine, but the radiator isn't wide enough. It is only 16 and change wide on a Mustang 6 cylinder and mine is 18.5 X 19 (core). As far as the fan goes it looks like the radiator could be mounted in front of the bracket and get some room there if the fan is in the way. I looked at "radiatorbarn" and they have the specs there. Don't know about this ..
customline vicky if you go on to mustangs unlimited web site the page is 132. the 2 row part number is f1985 the three row 78146. the top hose is on the center of the top tank. the bottom is on the left side. try this....let me know
I went there and checked it out. That F1985 was a shroud. I checked the radiators and still didn't find one I thought would be a drop in. Mine has a 1 1/2" top hose and looks to be a 2" bottom hose. And the only one that looks close to me is a 6 cylinder one. I'll keep lookin' though. I don't have a "U" shaped cradle for it to slide into so that is a good thing. It just hangs there and is held by 2 bolts on each side.
www.speedwaymotors.com check out Item number 9175030 for same side outlets, or for left hand outlets like I used on my 56 customline with fe engine 9175064, or 917348
The Jalopy Journal
