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Thread: 2.3 Radiator

  1. #1

    Default 2.3 Radiator

    At a car show today I noticed some signs of seepage from the side of the radiator. Looking at the 5.0 fox bodys, the 5.0 radiator and mine look a lot alike. Then I noticed for the first time (shame on me) that my cap was a 16 lb and not a 13 lb. Could I have a 5.0 radiator in my car or are the 2.3 and 5.0 that much alike?

  2. #2
    FEP Power Member Broncojunkie's Avatar
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    Default

    I thought they were the same thing.

  3. #3
    FEP Super Member gr79's Avatar
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    Should be fairly accurate.
    Cross flow has tank on each side of core, cap on one side tank.
    Top hose is on opposite side of cap. Bottom hose is same side as cap.
    V8 and turbo rad basically look similar. The hose size and locations may be different.
    Seem to recall could have 15" or 17" fan dia.

    HD cooling spec has cross flow, 16# cap. V8, turbo, and all a/c cars. 2 or 3 row cores.
    May or may not have fan clutch. Belt driven steel or plastic fan, full shroud. Electric fans later on.

    Have 79 turbo 2.3 no a/c. The factory rad type is 2 row cross flow, 16# cap (cap is original).
    Had a 4 blade steel fan. Changed that to steel 5 blade a/c style in 1980. Never had a fan clutch.
    My Ranger is also cross flow. 2.3, a/c, plastic fan w/clutch. Hoses and cap locations are opposite of the Mustangs.

    A lot of early regular 2.3's, I6, and v6? with no a/c, had old style down flow radiators (cap in center of rad. top tank).
    13# cap. No full plastic fan shroud. Basic 4 blade steel fan.

  4. #4
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    The basic cross flow radiator seems ro be very similar across the various applications. Ford does list a number of different part numbers. The replacement options often seem less than ideal since Ford and Motorcraft no longer supply them. If you want an original than have your radiator repaired or re-cored. An original will have Ford stamped on tn3 top center. Both of my 84 cars still have tne original unit. Others prefer the new style aluminum replacements.
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    03 Mach 1 7900 miles, 74 Mustang II, 69 Mustang, 67 Mustang, 07 GT500,
    14 Mustang CS/GT, 15 F150 FTX Tuscany, 16 F250 Crewcab, 67 Tbird 47K miles

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