Joined: Sat Aug 19 2006, 05:03PM
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 2919
To make a long story short, this fall/winter I swapped the entire front clip on my hardtop. I installed a 26" rad support from the donor car at the same time. My original plan had been to do the Explorer rad swap, but last summer I finally fixed my cooling system heat issue by swapping to a Milodon high volume water pump, so it wasn't a big deal anymore. My revised plan was to make a filler plate to fill the gap on the passenger side and install my stock 22" rad for now.
It appeared that the drivers side mounting holes for the 26" rad were located in the exact same location as those for the 22" rad. I guess I should've measured before because they are actually inboard and up about 3/4".
I looked at the article in the tech articles section on the Explorer rad swap. It says to use a rad for an Explorer with a V6. This message thread says to use an upper rad hose for an Explorer with a V8. Further down, MoparMAN65880 claims that an Explorer V8 rad will fit as well.
What are people actually using for rad and upper rad hose? Part numbers would be appreciated if possible. Also what, if anything, are you using for a fan shroud? Thanks! <span class='smallblacktext'>[ Edited ]</span>
Joined: Wed Aug 11 2010, 10:15AM
Location: E WA
Posts: 1230
Mike66Chryslers wrote ... To make a long story short, this fall/winter I swapped the entire front clip on my hardtop. I installed a 26" rad support from the donor car at the same time. My original plan had been to do the Explorer rad swap, but last summer I finally fixed my cooling system heat issue by swapping to a Milodon high volume water pump, so it wasn't a big deal anymore. My revised plan was to make a filler plate to fill the gap on the passenger side and install my stock 22" rad for now.
It appeared that the drivers side mounting holes for the 26" rad were located in the exact same location as those for the 22" rad. I guess I should've measured before because they are actually inboard and up about 3/4".
I looked at the article in the tech articles section on the Explorer rad swap. It says to use a rad for an Explorer with a V6. This message thread says to use an upper rad hose for an Explorer with a V8. Further down, MoparMAN65880 claims that an Explorer V8 rad will fit as well.
What are people actually using for rad and upper rad hose? Part numbers would be appreciated if possible. Also what, if anything, are you using for a fan shroud? Thanks!
I have installed two of the same model Spectra Premium radiators in the last year. One was in a 383 67 Polara Convertible and the other was in a 413 64 Imperial Crown. Both radiators are all metal, look great, fit great and use the factory hoses.
I would suggest checking into something like this.
I purchased these radiators from RockAuto for under $200 each delivered but it appears that they no longer carry this particular model.
Parts Source and Canadian tire also carry Spectra Premium. Mine was a brand new Ford rad i got off E-bay for around $50. Stole that one. !police I'm pretty sure mine was the V-6 model.I've got an aftermarket cooler so i did not use the factory trans cooling ports. The std trans ones will be less $. I don't have a rad shroud as i've never had a problem with temps,but the big blocks tend to. I've got to at least build a 1/4 - 1/2 shroud up top though as my fingers came close to the fan a few times
Joined: Sat Aug 19 2006, 05:03PM
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 2919
Glen: Only Explorer V6 rad I've seen without the trans cooler is only single row, not 2-row.
NAPA showed no listing for the CU332 in their computer. Has it been discontinued? Another local parts store wants $230 for the Explorer V6 2-row rad, or $403 for the CU332 original-style rad. These are CDN prices, plus tax. If I bought one cheaper in the US it would probably cost me about the same by the time I got it shipped here, unless I could find one in stock somewhere in Niagara Falls or Buffalo and drove over to get it.
<span class='smallblacktext'>[ Edited Tue Mar 06 2012, 09:57AM ]</span>
Joined: Tue Oct 06 2009, 09:37AM
Location: Paris, KY
Posts: 1496
I got my Spectra CU332 radiator for about the price of the Summit unit from eBay. Rock Auto had already discontinued them about a year ago. I replaced my 22 inch radiator with this. It's a 26 inch. Had to get another fan shroud. If your original is a 26, this should be a direct swap. <span class='smallblacktext'>[ Edited Tue Mar 06 2012, 10:02AM ]</span>