radiator options for a 65?

[frdnut]

The rad in the wifes 65 needs replaced..It is leaking from the top tank when it gets hot and the rad is not original for this truck anyway so it doesn't fit the best.I looked at LMC for 1965 V8 but didn't like the $460 dollar price tag!..Are there any cheaper units out there or rads that are easily adapted from something else?

[WrongBedDave]

Heres the setup I'm running. The radiator is about $170 from JEGS but you will have to make some sort of mounting bracket for it, or you can buy one off of JEGS. Depending on what size radiator you order from JEGS you may not have clearance for a mechanical fan. I was already running a E-fan so that wasn't a problem for me tho.

[frdnut]

Thanks for the reply Dave..Anyone else? I thought this would have been a pretty common issue.

[foodstick]

You know, as crazy as it seems I am not even sure what radiator I have in my truck.. When I built it, everything I had was bad or shaped wrong, so I had a next door neighbor say to me, I have one that I had tested, not sure what its from, i think a ford truck or van ...

It would sure be nice to drop in that nice jegs one for under 200, if i need a new one someday.

[66camperspecial]

A 77 F350 460 radiator will bolt up to a 65 core support.

[totten]

CK radiator4less.com 4.9 motor rad for 129.00 Great price. Should work with 65 rad core and v8 engine. What size v8 do you have?

[frdnut]

It's a warmed over 390..

[William-in-St George]

I use one of the cheap aluminum radiators off e-bay. Work and fit just fine. Painted the thing black cause I didn't like the shiny showing. Other than that no issues. But I think the cross flow out of jegs might be a better deal.

[WrongBedDave]

The cross flow makes a big difference. The one I'm using is actually a smaller core width and height wise to make it fit in between the arms that stick out from the radiator support and it still runs slightly cooler in traffic. If you have enough room inbetween the radiator support and your motor you could go with a wider crossflow but this would probably require the use of an efan.

[frdnut]

I am running an electric fan now(duals) so that is no problem..The only issue I have is I don't like the look of the empty space on the rad support above the crossflow style rad....It certainly seems like that is the way to go though price wise as well as for better cooling..

[WrongBedDave]

If you shop around you may be able to find a taller radiator to eliminate that issue. Jegs has tons of different sizes of those radiators

[turtle1056]

Evil bay has tons of aluminum rads specifically for our trucks, and with various motors in them - thats where mine came from.
Came delivered to the door with two electric fans for $195.

does take a bit of searching though - to find an exact fit

[HotRod66]

I got one from this guy http://stores.ebay.com/radiators4less 200$ for mine. 1966 F250 4x4
i think in Feb it will be a year! Im always driving off road with my truck, I really did not think it would do this good with all the mud and dirt roads im on.

SO far so good! Knock on Wood!

[slixtyfive]

Check with NPD too -they have 'stock replacement' radiators too.

[Michelle]

I put the 73/79 super cooler in my 65. That radiator is also known as the desert cooler, it was Fords biggest radiator for those year model trucks, you can idle it with the a/c on without over hearing it on a hot day.

[slixtyfive]

Michelle,
Is that the one with the bigger tank (~4" wide) and has staggered tubes??

[Michelle]

Michelle,
Is that the one with the bigger tank (~4" wide) and has staggered tubes??

I don't know about the staggered tubes, but it does have a larger than normal tank. I can take a picture of it if you like.

[slixtyfive]

Here are a couple pictures of the radiator in my '71 F350 (originally a motor home). This should help explain what I mean by the staggered rows. When I first saw how big the tank is, I assumed it must be a 4 or 5 core radiator but then when looking inside the radiator to verify that, I realized it is still just a 3 row core but with the tubes offset or staggered. This tube arrangement is more efficient for cooling.

[slixtyfive]

Michelle,
I'm curious if you recall where you bought your radiator and if you have the part number. NPD lists one as the 'desert cooler' (or similar) but I only see it for '57-60 model years. Is yours a 3-core or something different?

Thanks

[Marty in PA]

I think this may have already been covered but my Used a rad from a local guy specializing in '73 - '79 Ford trucks. Its a four core but bolted right up to the '65 rad support. Paid $100 and another twenty five for a shroud. Point is you may have some options.