PINTO CAR CLUB of AMERICA

Welcome to FordPinto.com, The home of the PCCA => General Help- Ask the Experts... => Topic started by: biggrgivens on August 11, 2014, 12:22:40 PM

Title: stock radiator good enough for 2.3 SVO Turbo motor?
Post by: biggrgivens on August 11, 2014, 12:22:40 PM: Is the stock 72 runabout radiator good enough for a turbo 2.3 motor? I heard I can use a caravan, but this is a budget build and I want to reuse as much stock items as possible.
Title: Re: stock radiator good enough for 2.3 SVO Turbo motor?
Post by: russosborne on August 11, 2014, 02:44:17 PM: If the stock radiator was for a 1.6 or 2.0 probably not. Others have had issues with cooling with those.
Russ
Title: Re: stock radiator good enough for 2.3 SVO Turbo motor?
Post by: Pinto5.0 on August 11, 2014, 03:23:47 PM: CU426 at Autozone is the largest, cheapest radiator available.

I used CU981 in my 80. It's as big as I can fit under the hood & will cool a V6 in a Dodge Dakota. The IN/OUTLETS are on the correct sides & the stock Pinto sizes. I built my own mounts for it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RADIATOR-FOR-DODGE-FITS-DAKOTA-2-2-2-5-3-9-/261528149956?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3ce44adfc4&vxp=mtr (http://www.ebay.com/itm/RADIATOR-FOR-DODGE-FITS-DAKOTA-2-2-2-5-3-9-/261528149956?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3ce44adfc4&vxp=mtr)
Title: Re: stock radiator good enough for 2.3 SVO Turbo motor?
Post by: Wittsend on August 12, 2014, 12:08:53 AM: I can't say it isn't good enough, but I put the factory 20" radiator in my '73 Turbo conversion. I widened the cradle about 3"-4" on the drivers side. I used the excess in an overlapped fashion to strengthen the area. This question seems to come up a lot. I think I have posted to this (or similar) question a good number of times,.
Title: Re: stock radiator good enough for 2.3 SVO Turbo motor?
Post by: 74 PintoWagon on August 12, 2014, 07:57:21 AM: Mine came with the top one, I put the one on the bottom from the Zone in(a perfect bolt in)and you could sit and idle all day long in 115* weather and not never over heat..

(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b131/GoFastRacer/74%20Pinto%20Wagon/NewRadiator.jpg?t=1371508016)
Title: Re: stock radiator good enough for 2.3 SVO Turbo motor?
Post by: dick1172762 on August 12, 2014, 03:19:31 PM: Art! What's the part number from Autozone? Is it listed as a Pinto radiator?
Title: Re: stock radiator good enough for 2.3 SVO Turbo motor?
Post by: 74 PintoWagon on August 12, 2014, 04:08:39 PM: Dick, I'll have to look for the number it was listed for the Pinto, I believe it's for A/C if I remember right???.
Title: Re: stock radiator good enough for 2.3 SVO Turbo motor?
Post by: Pinto5.0 on August 12, 2014, 06:00:28 PM: Quote from: dick1172762 on August 12, 2014, 03:19:31 PM
Art! What's the part number from Autozone? Is it listed as a Pinto radiator?

CU426 is that number
Title: Re: stock radiator good enough for 2.3 SVO Turbo motor?
Post by: 74 PintoWagon on August 12, 2014, 09:51:49 PM: Just found my paperwork that's the number..
Title: Re: stock radiator good enough for 2.3 SVO Turbo motor?
Post by: Wittsend on August 12, 2014, 10:29:10 PM: Just a note of caution. If you look at 74 Pinto Wagon's stock radiator it has a panel on the left (viewing) side. That panel allows the the smaller 17" radiator to bolt in where a the larger 20" radiator is also available. That would be for '74 and up cars. So, in essence, the '74 and up Pinto's were designed for the larger radiator and the smaller radiator was adapted with the side panel to work.

If you have an early (71-73) Pinto the larger radiator will not be a direct bolt in. They were designed only (as far as I know) for the smaller 17" radiator. This is evident in the picture of my '73, small, 17" radiator (there is no side panel). You must modify the opening to accommodate the larger 20" radiator.